For transgender or gender-diverse patients, receiving routine or specialty medical care can be challenging. When transgender patients seek care, they may face obstacles such as:
- Misunderstanding by the medical community about transgender issues
- Refusal of care by a medical professional
- Questions about their gender that are unrelated to the medical visit
These obstacles can result in avoidance of medical care and mental health concerns such as depression. The was established in 2016 to create an environment where people who are transgender (those whose gender identity is different from that assigned at birth) or gender-diverse (those who identify as neither strictly male or female) can receive excellent medical care.
Comprehensive care in a comfortable setting
Transgender or gender-diverse people may have different needs, depending on how they want their bodies to align with their gender identities. The UCLA Gender Health Program offers comprehensive prevention and primary care services including:
- Vaccinations
- Health risk assessments
- Screenings for diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease
- Nutrition, weight and healthy lifestyle support through group classes and one-on-one sessions
- Chronic disease management in conjunction with specialty care providers
- Behavioral health services including assessments, anxiety and depression management, and suicide prevention
Practitioners also provide health services that meet the distinct needs of transgender or gender-diverse patients, such as:
- Hormone management
- Sexual health services
- Reproductive and fertility counseling
- Prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
- Gender-transition counseling
- Gender-affirming procedures to modify the body
Expert care for a diverse population
The UCLA Gender Health Program’s compassionate staff has considerable knowledge about transgender issues. The team participates in ongoing training and strives to foster a comfortable care environment built on respect for patients. For example, patients are called by their preferred names and preferred pronoun identifiers.
The program’s physicians coordinate care with a network of UCLA Health providers, including:
- Surgeons
- Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Endocrinologists
- Behavioral health specialists
UCLA is committed to helping every patient receive compassionate, leading-edge care. Patients will receive relevant, individualized care from exceptionally trained providers. The program provides acute care services every day of the year.
To learn more about the UCLA Gender Health Program, call 310-208-1001 or visit .
