Some Screenings Depend on the Organs You Have
Not every preventive screening is based on gender. Some cancer screenings depend on the organs and tissue you have. These screenings can help find cancer earlier and allow treatment to begin sooner.
Taking care of your health is personal. If you’re transgender or non-binary, preventive care should reflect who you are, the body you have, and your individual health needs.
Preventive care can help you stay healthy and find health problems early, when they may be easier to treat. Your care may include routine checkups, vaccines and health screenings, as well as care related to hormone therapy or your sexual and reproductive health.
Start With Your Annual Checkup
A good place to start is with a primary care provider (PCP) you trust. Plan to see your PCP once a year, or as often as they recommend. During your visit, you can talk about your health history, health goals, and any questions or concerns you have. Together, you and your provider can decide which preventive services are right for you.
Routine preventive care may include:
-
Checking your blood pressure, height, and weight
-
Reviewing your family health history
-
Talking about physical activity, tobacco or alcohol use, and other lifestyle factors
-
Staying up to date on vaccines
-
Screening for conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, hepatitis C, and colorectal cancer when recommended
-
Talking about mental health, dental health, and other parts of your overall well-being
Recommendations can change based on your age, health history, and individual risk factors, so talk with your provider about what you need and when.
If you have a cervix, talk with your provider about cervical cancer screening, including Pap and HPV testing.
If you have breast tissue, follow the recommended mammogram schedule–national guidelines recommend beginning mammograms at age 40 unless you have a higher risk.
If you have a prostate, talk with your provider about prostate cancer screening.
If You Use Hormone Therapy, Regular Monitoring Matters
If hormone therapy is part of your gender-affirming care, your provider may recommend certain health checks.
These may include an annual metabolic panel, or testing as advised by your provider, and a lipid panel every one to two years. Bone-density testing, also called a DEXA scan, may be considered if you have had long-term hormone suppression or are over age 50.
Make Sexual and Reproductive Health Part of the Conversation
Your sexual and reproductive health needs are personal, too. Open conversations with your provider can help you make informed choices about your care.
Your provider can also help determine how often you should be screened for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as syphilis, hepatitis C, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Screening recommendations may depend on your anatomy and individual risk factors.
Keep Up With Vaccines and Other Screenings
Based on your age and health history, your provider may recommend vaccines for flu, COVID-19, tetanus and diphtheria, HPV, shingles, or pneumococcal disease.
Other preventive services change with age. For example, colorectal cancer screening is generally recommended from ages 45 through 85, using options such as a colonoscopy or stool-based test.
Your provider may also recommend other screenings based on your health history and risk factors.
Your Whole Health Matters
Preventive care is also a chance to discuss nutrition, physical activity, mental health, substance use, sexual health, dental care, family planning, and other concerns that affect your well-being.
Support for your behavioral health is part of your whole health.
Explore our Behavioral Health Resources for information about mental health and substance use support, or learn how to access virtual behavioral health care.
You do not have to cover everything in one visit. An ongoing relationship with a provider you trust can make these conversations easier.
Schedule a visit with your PCP and ask which vaccines, tests, and screenings are right for your body, health history, and goals. Bring any questions about gender-affirming care and how it may affect your preventive health needs.
Preventive care recommendations are adapted from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This article is not intended to provide medical advice. Talk with your doctor about which preventive services are right for you. Refer to your plan contract for coverage details.