Article by Cecile A Ferrando, MD, MPH

Comprehensive Care of the Transgender Patient is meant for individuals who are care providers or individuals seeking more information about the health care needs that transgender patients face, as well as transition-specific care that transgender patients seek.

The book is comprehensive as its title indicates. Gender identification can take on several meanings and it is embedded within our societal and cultural norms. Readers will be able to gain an appreciation for the history and evolution of gender minority individuals over time and throughout the world. Knowing the progression we have had in understanding the gender spectrum and recognizing individual’s rights to self-expression provides an important foundation for caring for the transgender patient.

This book provides an in-depth view of transition care, which includes medical transition with cross-sex hormone therapy and surgical transition with gender affirming procedures. The surgical authors of this textbook have made a significant contribution by describing the steps of their procedures in detail, highlighting important pearls and pitfalls of their surgeries, and providing pictures of their outcomes.

Routine health maintenance remains an important topic in transgender care. This includes gynecologic and primary care. Without this type of care, transition is not possible. While the care is similar to the care rendered to cisgender individuals, there are nuances that exist and providers caring for transgender patients should be aware of them.

Cecile A. Ferrando, MD, MPH is a Urogynecologist and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgeon at the Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic. She is the author of Comprehensive Care of the Transgender Patient.