Research Gaps in Medical Treatment of Transgender and Nonbinary People

In 2021, there was a significant need for more comprehensive research on the medical treatment of transgender and nonbinary individuals, particularly regarding the effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy. The document highlighted that hormone therapy could potentially impact health in various ways, such as altering levels of proinflammatory cytokines and white blood cells, affecting cardiovascular disease risk, and changing insulin resistance and fasting glucose levels. However, the overall incidence of malignancy was found to be similar to cisgender controls. The document also noted that research in this area was often limited by factors like inconsistent access to care, young study subjects, and lack of control groups. It concluded that despite an increasing body of literature, large gaps remained in transgender medical research, with challenges including a lack of dedicated infrastructure and funding.