Transgender patients have similar healthcare needs to those of their cisgender counterparts. You may have faced discrimination or uninformed healthcare professional that make it difficult for you to get the right treatment and healthcare you deserve. Sometimes, you may need to have specialized care that is associated with transitioning medically. Transgender patients have special needs in their healthcare, even though they deserve primary care like other patients. If you are a transgender patient, you may want to seek a New York transgender medicine specialist to help with your treatment. So, how do you go about ensuring that you get better healthcare?
Let the doctor know that you are transgender
You may be surprised to find that not all doctors understand the needs of transgender patients. When you fail to find a doctor who understands your healthcare needs, you will likely postpone your medical care. Sometimes, your status may contribute to disrespect and discrimination and these are things you need to know how to deal with. If a doctor cannot provide you with the appropriate medical care, they can refer you to a specialist doctor who deals with transgender patients. However, that can only happen if you inform the doctor you are transgender. Sometimes, you may even have to teach your medical care provider about transgender healthcare.
Learn to overcome emotions
Some transgender patients, because of abuse, social stigma, neglect, harassment, and unfair treatment, are likely to face emotional and psychological abuse, anxiety, and depression. You want to find ways to deal with these challenges and emotions because they can worsen your health and well-being. If you are injured or ill and you are also suffering from stress or depression, your health may deteriorate fast. You need to discover ways to overcome stress and depression and seek healthcare servicers that understand your needs.
Find a transgender-inclusive healthcare provider
While it may not be easy to ask if a practice offers transgender healthcare, there are ways you can find transgender-inclusive healthcare providers. Some websites list and feature transfer healthcare service providers, so this could be an excellent point to start. You may also ask your friends and family if they know of a transgender doctor or healthcare facility. You may also ask doctors whom you have dealt with before to refer you to such healthcare providers.
A transgender healthcare provider has experience in caring for the patients. They can provide you with medical advice on managing hormones, getting health screenings, and having after-surgery care. They also should have a proper understanding and respect for sexual orientation as well as gender identity. The facility should have amenities that are gender-neutral, for instance, the bathrooms.
Transgender health care provides personalized health plans for every patient. You should be able to get the right treatment and in the right environment from these facilities. Whether you seek help with depression and anxiety management, immunization, hormone therapy, primary and preventive healthcare, or sexual and reproductive healthcare, you should be able to get them from a transgender healthcare service.