Is New Age Medicine Creating Barriers Against the Trans Community

Members of the Trans Community in the UK face unique challenges in their everyday lives, and this can include medical and health care. Read on for more information…

In the UK, the Trans Community faces a number of challenges on a daily basis, all of which can make life difficult to navigate. As well as a lack of understanding in mainstream medical care, defective medical product claims and general medical negligence claims can be seen across the board for Trans patients.

People also face barriers when it comes to new age medicine. The one thing that Trans individuals should be able to rely on is equality in healthcare and, in this article, we’re examining the barriers created by new age medicine in the Trans Community.

What Does Transgender Mean?

Transgender refers to a person whose current gender identity or expression differs to the one stated on their birth certificate. Many people – between 200,000 and 500,000 in the UK – have chosen to change their gender to the one which they believe is the right one for themselves. These individuals may undergo surgery and hormone treatment in order to achieve this transition. 

Healthcare for All

In the UK, all British residents are entitled to health and medical care regardless of age, race or gender, but there are suggestions that this equality does not always extend to the Trans Community.

In 2019, the Royal College of General Practitioners stated, ‘The Royal College of GPs recognises that GPs are not experienced in treating and managing patients with gender dysphoria and trans health issues. Gender dysphoria and gender identity issues are not part of the GP curriculum or GP Specialty Training, and GPs are currently required to refer patients experiencing gender dysphoria to gender identity specialists for further assessment and treatment advice.

“GPs face difficulties in accessing gender identity specialists in a timely way which often has severe implications for the mental and physical health of their patients. As such, GPs are under increasing pressure to provide services which are usually provided in specialist clinics, as they lie outside the remit of a GPs generalist expertise, with limited access to specialist support.”

Since that time, many feel that little has changed for the Trans Community, with many still struggling to gain adequate care.

What Health Problems do Trans People Face?

Members of the Trangender Community face a number of health related challenges and we’ll explore some of these in this section: 

• Cancer – Studies show that Transgender patients who are receiving hormone treatment may face a greater risk of developing breast cancer – an illness which kills over 11,500 people in the UK every year. 
• Medication adverse events – Trans patients make up a staggering 60% of medication adverse events – i.e. adverse reactions to medication which, in some cases, can be life threatening.
• Mental health issues – While mental health issues can affect anybody, they can be particularly challenging for members of the Transgender Community who may not have the same kind of support network and empathy from healthcare professionals when suffering conditions such as depression and anxiety. 

Mental health issues in particular can be a grave concern for the Transgender Community. Worldwide, suicide attempt rates among the Trans Community range between 32% and 50% – an unacceptably high level which is often the result of challenges in daily life becoming insurmountable.  

New Age Medicine and the Transgender Community

As well as a disconnect between mainstream medicine and the Trans Community, it is suggested that similar issues exist within the world of new age medicine which focuses on alternative treatments such as acupuncture and energy medicines. As these treatments are not governed or regulated by the NHS, practitioners are usually not trained in specific care for Transgender patients and often do not have an understanding of the unique issues that they face. This creates significant barriers for Trans people who will often find themselves frustrated by the practitioner’s lack of understanding. 

In some cases, this may lead Transgender patients to turn to the internet to buy products such as homoeopathic medicines. Unfortunately, a great number of these products are unregulated and can lead to dangerous side effects for vulnerable members of the Transgender Community. 

Transforming Healthcare in the UK

Although the NHS and other healthcare organisations in the UK recognise Transgender patients and, subsequently, provide training to their employees on specialist care for this section of the community, it’s clear that there is still work to be done. This is particularly true in the case of young Trans people.

Studies show that Trans people who begin treatment in their teens are less susceptible to suicidal thoughts. It is, therefore, essential, that mainstream and new age medical practitioners strive to achieve a greater understanding of the physical and mental challenges faced by the Transgender Community in the UK in order to better provide adequate medical care and healthcare tailored to those specific needs. 

In 2019, King’s College Hospital in London launched CliniQ, the UK’s first sexual clinic for Transgender people. The hope in the Trans Community is that this is just the beginning and that, in the very near future, further clinics, including those specialising in new age medicine, will be available to them.

Thank you for reading this post. Why not check out some of my other posts like 5 Things to Help Ahead of Your Transgender GRS Surgery you can also access more info on my Resources Page. If you found it useful, you can buy a coffee or perhaps treat yourself to some KelZo Jewellery to say thanks! Don’t forget to follow on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and you can also donate to Zoey’s fundraiser.