SGM Health

Question 1

Best way to start a medical encounter in a gender-inclusive way

Answer 1

Hi, my name is ___, I use ___ pronouns. How would you like me to refer to you?

Question 2

How to ask about gender identity?

Answer 2

Is there a word you use to describe your current gender identity?

Question 3

Starting discussion of partners

Answer 3

Are you in any romantic or intimate relationships?

Are you romantic with the same individuals you are sexual with?

Question 4

Introducing the sexual history?

Answer 4

Is it okay for me to ask about your sexual history today?

And further: In asking about your sex life, I will need to know specific information about what you do during sex. How would you like for me to talk about this with you? Are there any words I should try to avoid?

Can you tell me what body parts you use during sex and what body parts your partner uses?

Question 5

Using anatomy to ask questions about sexual activity

Answer 5

What anatomy do your sexual partners have?

Do you forsee yourself having sex with partners with different anatomy?

Anatomy can always be replaced with “body parts”

Question 6

Pregnancy considerations

Answer 6

You should always ask one of the following two questions:

“Do you have plans for starting a family in the next year?”

or

“Are you interested in discussing any pregnancy planning or prevention today?”

Question 7

Are gender-affirming hormones safe pregnancy protection

Answer 7

NO!

Alternative modes of pregnancy protection are indicated.

Question 8

Asking about STIs

Answer 8

Good place to start is: “Are you interested in discussing ways to protect yourself against STIs?”

Then: “Have you ever been diagnosed with an STI?”

And: “What precentage of the time do you use condoms or other barriers during sex?”

Question 9

If someone discloses that their intimate partner has HIV, you may recommend. . .

Answer 9

. . . preexposure prophylaxis (PreP).

Question 10

Screening for coercion

Answer 10

Often you should not ask this in the first visit

“In the past year, did a current or former partner make you feel cut off from others, trapped, or controlled in a way that you did not like?

or make you feel afraid that they might try to hurt you in some way?

or pressure or force you to do something sexual that you did not want to do?

or hit, kick, punch, shove, or otherwise physically hurt you?”

Always give patients space and time to decline every part of this question.

Question 11

How to conclude

Answer 11

Is there anything else about your sex life that you would like me to know?