RT Book, Section A1 O’Banion, Danielle A1 Mitchell Barr, Sebastian A2 Keuroghlian, Alex S. A2 Potter, Jennifer A2 Reisner, Sari L. SR Print(0) ID 1184176639 T1 Obtaining a Gender-Affirming Sexual History T2 Transgender and Gender Diverse Health Care: The Fenway Guide YR 2022 FD 2022 PB McGraw Hill PP New York, NY SN 9781260459937 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1184176639 RD 2024/03/28 AB Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals deserve high-quality health care in which they feel safe and empowered. Critical to achieving this aim is creating a clinical space where a comprehensive health history can be discussed, free of judgment or shame. No such history is complete without a respectful understanding of patients’ sexual experiences and behaviors; therefore, it is recommended that a sexual history be obtained from all patients. Because all patients need an open-minded and nonjudgmental approach to feel comfortable discussing their sensitive personal experiences, use of a gender- and sexuality-inclusive framework is of paramount importance. Studies suggest that many TGD people do not disclose their gender identity to a health care professional; as many as 60% of TGD patients do not disclose they are transgender or gender diverse to some of their health care professionals, and 30% do not disclose to any of them.1 Other patients may not yet be aware of being TGD when they first begin care with a health care professional. Therefore, it is not uncommon for many health care professionals to have TGD patients whom they inaccurately believe to be cisgender. Due to the spectrum of possibilities in clinical practice, it is important to maintain an open and neutral approach with all patients that fosters opportunities for disclosure instead of creating barriers. This chapter has been written particularly with primary health care professionals in mind; those in other specialties and disciplines, however, may also benefit from incorporating aspects of obtaining a gender-affirming sexual history into their practice.