“Don’t disrespect me, I’m Ms., not Mr.”
Care of the transgender patient living with HIV is not too dissimilar from the care of any patient living with HIV. Clinicians should be comfortable asking patients about their gender identity and sexual orientation. Once preferred gender has been identified, providers should be mindful of using the patient’s preferred name and pronouns even if not incorporated into the patient’s medical record. Obtaining an organ inventory is an important element to the clinical examination as patients may use terms other than the anatomical names of body parts to refer to their bodies. All transgender patients living with HIV should be offered antiretroviral therapy (ART), with the goal of achieving an undetectable viral load. HIV and ART are not contraindications to gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). Many of the currently approved ART regimens do not interact with GAHT and can be safely coadministered. Importantly, continuation of GAHT has been associated with improved adherence to ART. Last, immunizations against infectious diseases are an important component of care for transgender individuals living with HIV.