First name
Jamie
Middle name
E
Last name
Mehringer

Title

Experience of Chest Dysphoria and Masculinizing Chest Surgery in Transmasculine Youth.

Year of Publication

2021

Number of Pages

Date Published

2021 Feb 03

ISSN Number

1098-4275

Abstract

<p><strong>OBJECTIVES: </strong>Transmasculine individuals, those assigned female sex at birth but who identify as masculine, have high rates of suicidal behavior and often suffer from chest dysphoria (discomfort and distress from unwanted breast development). Growing numbers of transmasculine youth are pursuing definitive treatment with masculinizing chest surgery (MCS), and adult studies reveal marked benefits of MCS, although little is known about the impact of chest dysphoria on transmasculine youth or the optimal timing of MCS. In this study, we aimed to explore youth experiences of chest dysphoria and the impact of MCS.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Transmasculine youth aged 13 to 21 were recruited from a pediatric hospital-based gender clinic. Participants completed a semistructured qualitative interview exploring the experience of chest dysphoria and thoughts about or experiences with MCS. Interview transcripts were coded by 3 investigators employing modified grounded theory, with the median interrater reliability at κ = 0.92.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Subjects ( = 30) were a mean age of 17.5 years, and 47% had undergone MCS. Youth reported that chest dysphoria triggered strong negative emotions and suicidal ideation, caused a myriad of functional limitations, and was inadequately relieved by testosterone therapy alone. All post-MCS youth reported near or total resolution of chest dysphoria, lack of regret, and improved quality of life and functioning.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>We observed consensus that chest dysphoria is a major source of distress and can be functionally disabling to transmasculine youth. MCS performed during adolescence, including before age 18, can alleviate suffering and improve functioning. Additional research is needed to develop patient-reported outcome measures to assess the impact of chest dysphoria and MCS.</p>

DOI

10.1542/peds.2020-013300

Alternate Title

Pediatrics

PMID

33536330
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Title

Outcomes of a Rapid Adolescent Telehealth Scale-Up During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Year of Publication

2020

Number of Pages

Date Published

2020 Jun 28

ISSN Number

1879-1972

Abstract

<p><strong>PURPOSE: </strong>To describe the first 30 days of rapid adolescent telehealth scale-up in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at a single academic medical center and assess for disparities in visit completion rates by patient characteristics.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Visit outcome and patient demographic data were obtained via electronic health record (EHR) reports. Telehealth visit completion rates were compared by patient characteristics using the chi-square test and t-test. We used zip code data to generate latitude- and longitude-based maps of the range and density of service delivery. Patient cases highlighting challenges and opportunities for adolescent telehealth were summarized.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Between March 16 and April 15, 2020, 392 telehealth visits were scheduled in 331 unique patients, with an 82% appointment completion rate. Video visits were conducted for eating disorders (39%), contraception/menstrual disorders (22%), gender-affirming care (17%), general adolescent medicine (15%), HIV treatment (6%), and substance abuse (1%). The majority of telehealth patients were female Caucasian minors with private insurance. There were no significant differences in telehealth visit completion rates by age, sex, gender, or insurance. Patients coded as non-white (African-American, Asian, or other) in the EHR had lower visit completion rates than white patients (p&nbsp;= .003). Telehealth patients were distributed across five states, with the highest concentration in the zip codes nearest to the clinic.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Rapid scale-up of telehealth for Adolescent Medicine was achieved at this large academic medical center. Future implementation research is needed to assure telehealth reaches adolescents without widening health disparities.</p>

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.05.025

Alternate Title

J Adolesc Health

PMID

32611509
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Title

Opportunities and Challenges for Previsit Screening for Sexual and Gender Identity Among Adolescents in Primary Care.

Year of Publication

2020

Number of Pages

133-134

Date Published

2020 Feb

ISSN Number

1879-1972

Abstract

<p>Many sexual minority youth are at higher risk for poor health outcomes because of stigma, shame, and discrimination they may face because of their identity. Professional guidelines, including the American Academy of Pediatrics' Bright Futures, encourage discussion of sexual attraction and behavior in adolescent health supervision visits so that clinicians can support healthy adolescent sexual development, assure that the health needs of youth of all sexual identities are met, and facilitate family acceptance and support of youth when needed. Although these discussions have been recommended as best practice for many years, we know that pediatricians generally spend little time addressing sexual health. In one study of audio-recorded pediatric well visits, one-third spent no time discussing sexuality or sexual health, and the average amount of time spent was only 36&nbsp;seconds. To address this gap between recommendations and practice, some pediatric providers are incorporating questions about sexuality into electronic or other previsit screening tools. In this issue of the <em>Journal of Adolescent Health</em>, Parmar et&nbsp;al. are the first to report findings from a large-scale implementation of a standardized assessment of sexual attraction at adolescent health supervision visits.</p>

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.11.298

Alternate Title

J Adolesc Health

PMID

31952564
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Title

Sexual and reproductive health considerations among transgender and gender-expansive youth.

Year of Publication

2019

Number of Pages

100684

Date Published

2019 Nov 14

ISSN Number

1538-3199

Abstract

<p>Sexual and reproductive health are an integral part of all youths' health and wellbeing, including youth who are transgender and gender-expansive. This article will discuss general approaches to the sexual and reproductive health care of transgender and gender-expansive youth, and review the topics of contraception and menstrual suppression, fertility preservation and family building, and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV in this population. Although transgender youth on testosterone therapy often become amenorrheic, ovulation and pregnancy can still occur, and thus all youth on testosterone therapy should be counseled on the potential for pregnancy and have access to effective contraception. Many forms of hormonal contraceptives are both safe and efficacious when used by youth on testosterone therapy. Hormonal contraceptives may also be used to provide menstrual suppression for those experiencing dysphoria from unwanted uterine bleeding. All transgender youth should receive counseling on fertility preservation and reproductive options prior to starting pubertal blockers and/or gender-affirming hormones, therapies that have varying effects on long-term fertility potential. Several different methods of fertility preservation exist, however there are numerous barriers to transgender youth receiving fertility preservation services, and rates of utilization of these services is low. Transgender individuals suffer from a disproportionate burden of HIV compared to their peers-thought to result from stigma, marginalization, and lack of access to appropriate care. All providers caring for youth should be informed about HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which may help to prevent HIV acquisition.</p>

DOI

10.1016/j.cppeds.2019.100684

Alternate Title

Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care

PMID

31735693
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