Recruiting transgender men in the Southeastern United States for genital microbiome research: Lessons learned (Q30429)

abstract

Transgender men (TGM) are underrepresented in genital microbiome research. (English)

BACKGROUND (English)

background section

1

Copyright: © 2024 Van Gerwen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)

2024

1 reference

Our prospective study in Birmingham, AL investigated genital microbiota changes over time in TGM initiating testosterone, including the development of incident bacterial vaginosis (iBV). (English)

BACKGROUND (English)

background section

2

Copyright: © 2024 Van Gerwen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)

2024

1 reference

Here, we present lessons learned from recruitment challenges encountered during the conduct of this study. (English)

BACKGROUND (English)

background section

3

Copyright: © 2024 Van Gerwen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)

2024

1 reference

Inclusion criteria were assigned female sex at birth, TGM or non-binary identity, age ≥18 years, interested in injectable testosterone but willing to wait 7 days after enrollment before starting, and engaged with a testosterone-prescribing provider. (English)

METHODS (English)

methods section

4

Copyright: © 2024 Van Gerwen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)

2024

1 reference

Exclusion criteria were recent antibiotic use, HIV/STI infection, current vaginal infection, pregnancy, or past 6 months testosterone use. (English)

METHODS (English)

methods section

5

Copyright: © 2024 Van Gerwen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)

2024

1 reference

Recruitment initiatives included community advertisements via flyers, social media posts, and referrals from local gender health clinics. (English)

METHODS (English)

methods section

6

Copyright: © 2024 Van Gerwen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)

2024

1 reference

Between February 2022 and October 2023, 61 individuals contacted the study, 17 (27.9%) completed an in-person screening visit, and 10 (58.8%) of those screened were enrolled. (English)

RESULTS (English)

results section

7

Copyright: © 2024 Van Gerwen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)

2024

1 reference

The primary reasons for individuals failing study screening were having limited access to testosterone-prescribing providers, already being on testosterone, being unwilling to wait 7 days to initiate testosterone therapy, or desiring the use of topical testosterone. (English)

RESULTS (English)

results section

8

Copyright: © 2024 Van Gerwen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)

2024

1 reference

Engagement of non-White TGM was also minimal. (English)

RESULTS (English)

results section

9

Copyright: © 2024 Van Gerwen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)

2024

1 reference

Despite robust study inquiry by TGM, screening and enrollment challenges were faced including engagement by TGM not yet in care and specific study eligibility criteria. (English)

CONCLUSION (English)

conclusion section

10

Copyright: © 2024 Van Gerwen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)

2024

1 reference

Excitement among TGM for research representation should be leveraged in future work by engaging transgender community stakeholders at the inception of study development, particularly regarding feasibility of study inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as recruitment of TGM of color. (English)

CONCLUSION (English)

conclusion section

11

Copyright: © 2024 Van Gerwen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)

2024

1 reference

These results also highlight the need for more clinical resources for prescribing gender-affirming hormone therapy, especially in the Southeastern US. (English)

CONCLUSION (English)

conclusion section

12