CONTRACEPTIVE CARE FOR GENDER-AFFIRMING PATIENTS: ADDRESSING BARRIERS AND ENHANCING ACCESS

Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services, including reproductive health care. In the United States alone, there are over 1.6 million TGNC individuals aged 13 and above, highlighting the pressing need for inclusive and accessible healthcare (Meerwijk and Sevelius, 2017). Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) play a vital role in providing primary reproductive health care, particularly in underserved settings such as Federally Qualified Health Centers and rural areas, aligning with the American College of Nurse Midwifery's (ACNM) Hallmarks of Midwifery (Butler et al., 2020). However, TGNC individuals remain disproportionately underserved for general healthcare due to a multitude of structural, interpersonal, and individual-level barriers to care (Hay et al., 2019). This review explores the unique healthcare needs of TGNC individuals, with a focus on reproductive health care provision by CNMs. It discusses the barriers faced by TGNC individuals in accessing healthcare services and the implications of these barriers on their health outcomes. Additionally, it highlights the importance of culturally competent and inclusive care delivery in improving access to reproductive health services for TGNC individuals.