Transgender men who become pregnant are at an increased risk of depression and face difficulty getting medical care due to a lack of knowledge among healthcare providers, say researchers.
The findings, published in the journal Maturitas, examined healthcare research on transgender men who become pregnant aged 35 or more, to determine their medical and mental health needs.
According to study lead author Justin Brandt, Assistant Professor at Rutgers University,
Transgender men who have transitioned hormonally and are taking testosterone but retain their female reproductive organs, have the potential to become pregnant.
According to the US Transgender Survey, nearly 40 per cent of its 28,000 respondents reported attempting suicide -- nearly nine times the national average. That risk can be increased in transgender men with unwanted physical changes resulting from pregnancy.
The study also found that nearly 25 percent of transgender people reported negative healthcare experiences in the last year.
This correlates with the finding that about 44 per cent of pregnant transgender men seek medical care outside of traditional care with an obstetrician.
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