Article Text
Abstract
Background Most cervical cancer can be prevented through routine screening. Disparities in uptake of routine screening therefore translate into disparities in cervical cancer incidence and outcomes. Transmasculine people including transgender men experience multiple barriers to cervical screening and their uptake of screening is low compared with cisgender women. Comprehensive evidence-based guidelines are needed to improve cervical screening for this group.
Methods We searched for and synthesised clinical and programmatic guidelines for the provision of cervical screening for transmasculine patients.
Findings The guidelines offer recommendations addressing: (1) reception, check-in and clinic facilities; (2) patient data and invitation to screening; (3) improving inclusion in screening programmes; and (4) sexual history taking, language and identity. Guidelines offer strategies for alleviating physical and psychological discomfort during cervical screening and recommendations on what to do if the screening procedure cannot be completed. Most of the guidelines were from and for high-income countries.
Discussion The evidence base is limited, but existing guidelines provide recommendations to ensure life-saving screening services are available to all who need them. We were only able to identify one set of guidelines for a middle-income country, and none for low-income countries. We encourage the involvement of transmasculine people in the development of future guidelines.
- sexually transmitted diseases
- Early detection of cancer
- Health Services Accessibility
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Footnotes
Twitter @ejnicholls_, @cicely
Contributors EJN: Conceptualisation, formal analysis, investigation, writing – original draft, writing – review and editing. CRM: Conceptualisation, methodology, writing – original draft, writing – review and editing, supervision. SM: Formal analysis, writing – original draft. LB: Validation, writing – original draft. LD: Project administration, supervision, writing – original draft. SR: Writing – original draft. DM: Writing – original draft, funding acquisition. CM: Conceptualisation, writing – original draft, writing – review and editing, funding acquisition.
Funding This project was funded with UK aid (Grant number 3 00 055–105) from the UK government (FCDO) as part of the ACCESS Consortium led by the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
Disclaimer The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies or that of all consortium partners.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
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