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Fowler JA, Warzywoda S, Franks N, Mendis M, Lazarou M, Bisshop F, Wood P, Dean JA. Highs, Lows, and Hormones: A Qualitative Metasynthesis of Transgender Individuals' Experiences Undergoing Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy. JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY 2024; 71:1652-1683. [PMID: 36884002 DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2023.2186759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) is a key therapeutic approach which aims to help trans and gender diverse (or simply "trans") individuals' transition from their sex-presumed-at-birth to their experienced gender identity. Previous reviews have focused on synthesizing quantitative experiences; however, a qualitative lens is important to understand the personal journey of GAHT. This review provides a qualitative meta-synthesis of the experiences of trans people around the world who have undergone GAHT to elicit contextualized understanding of the changes experienced. Systematic searches of eight databases identified an initial 2670 papers, refined to a final 28 papers. Overall, findings suggested that the GAHT journey is unique and elicited a myriad of changes which, whilst challenging at times, were life-changing and brought about positive psychological, physical, and social changes. Other themes explored GAHT not being treated as a fix-all for associated mental health issues, the rules that govern appraisal of physical changes, how privilege and social identity evolve, and the power of affirmation. This work offers important recommendations to improve the care offered to trans people undergoing GAHT. Namely, person-centered support is essential, and peer-navigation may be a useful future direction to explore.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Fowler
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sarah Warzywoda
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nia Franks
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, Centre for Health Research, Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
| | - Marini Mendis
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mattea Lazarou
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Fiona Bisshop
- Holdsworth House Medical Practice, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Penny Wood
- Alexander Heights Family Practice, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Judith A Dean
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Smith G, Robertson N, Cotton S. Transgender and gender non-conforming people’s adaptive coping responses to minority stress: A framework synthesis. NORDIC PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/19012276.2021.1989708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Greg Smith
- School of Psychology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - Sue Cotton
- Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Gender Identity Clinic, Daventry, UK
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