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Abortion experiences and preferences of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people in the United States. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Moseson, H. n., Fix, L. n., Ragosta, S. n., Forsberg, H. n., Hastings, J. n., Stoeffler, A. n., Lunn, M. R., Flentje, A. n., Capriotti, M. R., Lubensky, M. E., Obedin-Maliver, J. n. 2020

Abstract

Transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive (TGE) people who were assigned female or intersex at birth experience pregnancy and have abortions. No data have been published on individual abortion experiences or preferences of this understudied population.To fill existing evidence gaps on the abortion experiences and preferences of TGE people in the United States to inform policies and practices to improve access to and quality of abortion care for this population.In 2019, we recruited TGE people assigned female or intersex at birth and aged 18 years and older from across the United States to participate in an online survey about sexual and reproductive health recruited through The PRIDE Study and online postings. We descriptively analyzed closed- and open-ended survey responses related to pregnancy history, abortion experiences, preferences for abortion method, recommendations to improve abortion care for TGE people, and respondent sociodemographic characteristics.The majority of the 1,694 respondents were less than 30 years of age. Respondents represented multiple gender identities and sexual orientations and resided across all four United States Census Regions. Overall, 210 (12%) respondents had ever been pregnant; these 210 reported 421 total pregnancies, of which 92 (22%) ended in abortion. For respondents' most recent abortion, 41 (61%) were surgical, 23 (34%) were medication, and 3 (4.5%) used another method (primarily herbal). Most recent abortions took place at or before nine weeks gestation (n=41, 61%). If they were to need an abortion today, respondents preferred medication abortion to surgical abortion three to one (n=703 versus n=217), but 514 (30%) respondents did not know which method they would prefer. Reasons for medication abortion preference among the 703 respondents included a belief that it is the least invasive method (n=553, 79%) and the most private method (n=388, 55%). To improve accessibility and quality of abortion care for TGE patients, respondents most frequently recommended that abortion clinics adopt gender-neutral or gender-affirming intake forms, that providers utilize gender-neutral language, and that greater privacy be incorporated into the clinic.These data contribute significantly to the evidence base on individual experiences of and preferences for abortion care for TGE people. Findings can be used to adapt abortion care to better include and affirm the experiences of this underserved population.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.09.035

View details for PubMedID 32986990