Safer Sex Tips for Transgender People
HIV IN THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY
- Transgender women are one of the most highly impacted groups in the HIV epidemic to date, yet they are disproportionately under-researched and under-served by current treatment efforts. Transgender women have 49 times higher odds of HIV infection compared to other groups, a disparity that exists across race, culture, and socioeconomic boundaries.
- Disparate prevalence rates of HIV are particularly pronounced for African American transgender women when compared with transgender women of other races and ethnicities. Furthermore, HIV positive transgender women have an almost three-fold higher community viral load than non-transgender HIV positive adults in San Francisco, and likely elsewhere.
- HIV-related mortality and morbidity rates have also been found to be higher among transgender women. In addition, there is evidence that current efforts to provide effective treatment to transgender women living with HIV are not as successful as with other populations. In the only study of its kind to date, transgender women living with HIV were less likely to be receiving antiretroviral therapy than a control group of non-transgender men and women.
- Transgender women living with HIV who were on antiretroviral therapy demonstrated worse adherence than non-transgender people, reported less confidence in their abilities to integrate treatment regimens into their daily lives, and experienced fewer positive interactions with their healthcare providers. To date, there are few studies of HIV incidence among transgender men in the literature. Transgender men at risk for HIV are those that report sex with non-transgender men.
- Trans MSM (men who have sex with men) is a subgroup that has only recently begun to receive attention in public health research. The few research studies focused on trans MSM to date have found relatively high levels of reported risk behavior, but lower levels of HIV prevalence (0-3 percent). Some trans men who are on cross sex hormone therapy (i.e. testosterone, or ‘T’) self-report a link between testosterone use, increased sex drive, increased interest in engaging in sexual activity, and exploration of sexual behaviors that may include sex with non-trans men. For trans men on testoserone, the masculinization of the body may lead to increased access to non-trans MSM partners, and a willingness to take sexual risks that could potentially place trans MSM at risk for STI and HIV infection.
SPECIFIC SAFER SEX TIPS
Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/transgender-hiv.htm
Retrieved from http://www.handbasketproductions.com/Trans%20Sex%20Ed%20%28ezine%29.pdf
- Disparate prevalence rates of HIV are particularly pronounced for African American transgender women when compared with transgender women of other races and ethnicities. Furthermore, HIV positive transgender women have an almost three-fold higher community viral load than non-transgender HIV positive adults in San Francisco, and likely elsewhere.
- HIV-related mortality and morbidity rates have also been found to be higher among transgender women. In addition, there is evidence that current efforts to provide effective treatment to transgender women living with HIV are not as successful as with other populations. In the only study of its kind to date, transgender women living with HIV were less likely to be receiving antiretroviral therapy than a control group of non-transgender men and women.
- Transgender women living with HIV who were on antiretroviral therapy demonstrated worse adherence than non-transgender people, reported less confidence in their abilities to integrate treatment regimens into their daily lives, and experienced fewer positive interactions with their healthcare providers. To date, there are few studies of HIV incidence among transgender men in the literature. Transgender men at risk for HIV are those that report sex with non-transgender men.
- Trans MSM (men who have sex with men) is a subgroup that has only recently begun to receive attention in public health research. The few research studies focused on trans MSM to date have found relatively high levels of reported risk behavior, but lower levels of HIV prevalence (0-3 percent). Some trans men who are on cross sex hormone therapy (i.e. testosterone, or ‘T’) self-report a link between testosterone use, increased sex drive, increased interest in engaging in sexual activity, and exploration of sexual behaviors that may include sex with non-trans men. For trans men on testoserone, the masculinization of the body may lead to increased access to non-trans MSM partners, and a willingness to take sexual risks that could potentially place trans MSM at risk for STI and HIV infection.
SPECIFIC SAFER SEX TIPS
- Traditional safer sex approaches frequently don't work for trans people.
-Barriers for having oral sex with trans men include cutting the fingers off of a latex glove and cutting the glove along the pinky-side. Folding open the glove will make for a trans penis sized condom with extended barrier for the surrounding area.
- Barriers for having oral sex with trans women include using plastic wrap, which has been recommended by activists, though no studies have shown how effective it is. Be sure not to use microwave safe plastic wrap as it has tiny holes to let steam out and this is not good for safe sex.
- Latex or nitrile gloves and condoms are all very useful for penetrative sex.
- Lubrication is very important as trans people often need it more than cis people.
- Communication: It is especially important to talk about what each of you like and are up for doing and it can be really useful to check in about potential body triggers or if any areas are off limits.
- Disclosure: There is no obligation to disclose trans status to a partner any more than there is an obligation to disclose religion, political affiliation, survivor status, occupation, and food allergies.
Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/transgender-hiv.htm
Retrieved from http://www.handbasketproductions.com/Trans%20Sex%20Ed%20%28ezine%29.pdf