TREATING THE HUMAN TRAFFICKED PREGNANT TRANSGENDER MALE.

Best practices on survivor-informed care for transgender pregnancies are needed and best driven by trans males with experiences who sought healthcare and shelter while living on the streets.

The needs of the trans man are challenging enough without the complications of pregnancy. How do clinicians treat trans men? What about nonbinary people? How schooled are clinicians in servicing the transgender pregnant individual?

It may hinge on where in the U.S. they are living on the streets. If they live on the streets in San Francisco, they may stand a better chance of receiving proper care due to the efforts put forward by the U.C.S.F. Check them out. Supporting transgender and gender-diverse people during pregnancy

Also, as a reminder, since we tend to become complacent when life is good, it might be a good time to mention that this does not mean that transgender and nonbinary individuals do not experience discrimination within this beautiful city. However, chances for receiving services and care are better than someone, let's say, living in the rural part of Virginia.

In concert with governmental agencies and organizations supporting and addressing reproductive health, partnerships would serve the trans population best, providing clinical guidance on affirming care in transgender pregnancies. Advancing the need for shelters, care, and support in a friendly and accepting environment is critical when receiving trans and nonbinary survivors.

In trafficking and exploitation cases, some trans and nonbinary individuals experienced rape, sexual assault, sexual violence that led to their pregnancy. Clinicians may see a male present in their clinics, E.M.S. may be called upon to tend to injuries, and dentists may need to address dental injuries incurred while under the control of their trafficker. Check out this article, Human Trafficking: Red Flags for Dental Professionals.

As clinicians come upon transgender pregnancies, can you recognize the red flags that this person may be a trafficking victim? Do you as clinicians hyperfocus on the trans pregnant individual because you have never seen a pregnant male? If you do, you may end up bypassing the primal connection between your gut and brain, screaming to get your attention to what you would otherwise have done in the absence of the person's identity and presentation. Check out the gut-brain connection. Gut Feelings-the "Second Brain" in Our Gastrointestinal Systems

It is essential to check our internalized biases, get training, and get comfortable treating trans people, but remember, many trans and nonbinary people are homeless and trafficked every year. You may provide patient-person-centered perinatal care for the transgender man.