Health

Abstract

This chapter discusses data on health generated by the 273 FtM transgender Australians in the 2013 E-Males study. Participants mainly considered their physical health in the past year to have been good or very good. Unfortunately, they reported that many of the health service-providers they had used, such as doctors, had a lack of knowledge about transgender issues. There were reports of doctors making offensive statements and misgendering patients. The participants often found themselves having to “educate” health-care practitioners due to gaps in their education on transgender issues. There was a lack of transgender healthcare services in rural areas, so some participants travelled long distances to access treatment. Participants greatly valued health-care providers who educated themselves on transgender issues, were friendly, treated them in accordance with their gender identity and arranged assistance from other services that they required. Some participants did not disclose their transgender identity to their health-care providers.