Transgender Pelvic Health Initiative - Pelvic Health Survey

In 2010, 50% of transgender people reported having to teach their health care providers about how to care for their body. Although there is research available for hormonal, surgical, and mental health considerations, minimal research exists to help health care providers understand the prevalence of specific pelvic health issues in this population, making evidence-based treatment very challenging. This survey aims to ask questions to expand existing knowledge on health care concerns, including pelvic issues, for the trans, intersex, and gender nonconforming community. Our hope is that we can create a base of information that allows health care providers to ask better questions for further follow up in this population, which would in turn improve access to appropriate interventions, including pelvic health care.  

The study’s researchers are Heather Edwards, PT, Mary Ellen Kramp, DPT, CLT-LANA, and Alicia Fernandez-Fernandez, PT, DPT, PhD, CNT. This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Nova Southeastern University, FL (http://www.nova.edu/irb/), with Dr. Fernandez-Fernandez as principal investigator (Associate Professor, Physical Therapy department, Nova Southeastern University). If you have questions about the study, you may contact Dr. Fernandez-Fernandez at alicfern@nova.edu.

The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Your participation is completely voluntary. No personally identifiable information will be collected unless you choose to provide it in a comment box, and your responses will be kept confidential. No risks or discomforts are anticipated from taking part in this study, but please be advised that some of the questions address sensitive topics regarding pelvic health, including questions about sexual life and history; and some questions utilize medical terminology for genital anatomy. All questions are designed to obtain information that is relevant to achieving a better understanding of your health, and as such, we appreciate that you provide complete and honest answers . However, if any question makes you uncomfortable, you are free to not answer that question and move on to the next question.

By submitting this survey, you are agreeing to participate in this study so that your answers can be used by the investigators to expand existing knowledge on health care concerns, including pelvic issues, for the trans, intersex, and gender nonconforming community. The results of the study will be used for scholarly purposes only.