If you’re LGBTQ+ or supporting someone who is, you likely already know firsthand: it can be hard to find a doctor who listens, wants to understand, and isn’t judgmental! 

In a survey, 1 in 6 LGBTQ adults said they’d avoided seeking health care because they anticipated facing discrimination from a provider, and even more reported already having been discriminated against. Those numbers grew for the trans community, where 1 in 5 said they had avoided seeking care.

How did we get here, and what can we do?

Historically, doctors haven’t gotten adequate training

In a 2011 study, deans at medical school across the US and Canada shared details on LGBTQ specific training in their schools’ curriculums. On average, med students got 5 hours of focused instruction on LGBTQ health. Out of those 5 hours, most of the topics covered were HIV, sexual health, sexually transmitted infections, and defining gender identity and sexual orientation. 

“HIV is important,” Dr. Lily Rolfe told NBC News in an interview. “We should learn about it. But that shouldn’t be the entirety of LGBT health.”

Today, some schools are doing incredible work to train tomorrow’s doctors to care for LGBTQ people. As one example, Indiana University offers a human sexuality and health scholarly concentration, which covers health disparities in LGBTQ populations and best practices. The university also offers a gender affirmation surgery elective, where students can rotate with urology, OB/GYN, and plastic surgery staff “to experience a wide range of gender affirming surgeries.” 

With early intervention, some conditions can have positive outcomes 

When healthcare engagement is lower for any reason, the window for early diagnosis narrows. In reproductive and hormonal health, early and consistent clinical care matters. Conditions like endometriosis, PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, formerly referred to as PCOS), thyroid disorders, and hormonal imbalances are best caught and managed through ongoing relationships with providers who know your story and medical history.

Many older LGBTQ patients didn’t have access to quality care earlier in life or felt like they had to withhold information to avoid judgment. Today, those who have an affirming healthcare system report that they’re more likely to have seen a doctor in the past year and have been screened for cancers than those who didn’t have an affirming provider (source). 

If you’re thinking about going on hormones or transitioning, ask about fertility preservation options

Gender-affirming hormone therapy can impact fertility, sometimes permanently. If having biological children is something you want (or you want to keep as a future option), talk to your doctor about it at your next appointment, even if they don’t initiate the conversation. You have options, including going through fertility preservation, like egg or embryo freezing. Even if you’re not sure if you ever want to have kids, it’s worth having a discussion to understand how hormones might impact your ability to have kids later in life. You can make an informed decision when you have the right information!

Research shows conversations like these don’t often happen in practice. A 2025 study from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that nearly a quarter of transgender participants had never had any fertility preservation conversation with a healthcare provider, and the remainder said the counseling they received was inadequate or misleading, typically missing information about costs, clinic options, or how hormone therapy would specifically affect their fertility.

If you're trans or non-binary, it’s an important conversation worth bringing up early in your journey.

Where to find an LGBTQ-affirming doctor, no matter where you live

The Tegan and Sara Foundation and GLMA - Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality host a comprehensive (and free!) healthcare directory called the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory. Whether you need a therapist, a primary care doctor, someone who specializes in trans and nonbinary care, they can connect you to an affirming doctor who wants to help. The directory also includes telehealth and virtual providers, if going into an office isn’t possible.

Wrapping up

The bottom line: everyone deserves access to respectful and comprehensive healthcare so they can live their best life, whatever that looks like for them.

Finding a provider with experience in LGBTQ+ affirming care makes a real practical difference, and affirming provider directories are searchable and available.

For trans people in particular, reproductive health conversations are worth having early in the process so that you have as many options as possible to preserve your future fertility.