Understanding Perceived Access and Receipt of Gender-affirming Treatments Among Transgender Veterans

Transgender Veterans (trans Vets) frequently experience gender dysphoria or distress related to discord between their gender identity and birth sex. Gender-affirming treatments (GATs) are medically necessary treatments to reduce gender dysphoria. However, not much is known about the barriers and facilitators that influence GAT access and receipt in VA and VA Community Care (CC), among trans Vets who desire GATs. The goals of this mixed-methods study are to determine which GATs trans Vets receive and in which setting, identify barriers and facilitators associated with desired GAT receipt in VA and CC, examine association of GAT receipt, specifically mental healthcare and hormone therapy, with mental health and suicide risk and understand trans Vet experiences related to receipt and desire for mental healthcare and hormone therapy in VA and CC.