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Journal article

Reframing hematologic and thrombovascular care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals: a scoping review

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals experience well-documented inequities in health care access and quality. Within hematologic and thrombovascular (thrombosis and vascular medicine) care, existing literature has largely emphasized physiologic risk, particularly thromboembolic risk associated with gender-affirming hormone therapy, whereas less attention has been paid to how care is delivered, experienced, and operationalized across clinical settings. The objective of this review was to map and synthesize the literature describing the delivery of hematologic and thrombovascular care for TGD individuals, with a focus on care gaps, facilitators, provider preparedness, and patient experience. We conducted a scoping literature review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, EmCare, and PsycINFO were searched from inception to 1 July 2025. Eligible sources included qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies addressing hematologic or thrombovascular care in TGD populations. Findings were synthesized descriptively and thematically. A total of 31 articles met the inclusion criteria. The following 4 dominant themes emerged: (1) narrow biomedical framing of thrombovascular risk; (2) variability and uncertainty in clinical decision-making; (3) patient-reported barriers related to stigma, misgendering, and fragmented care; and (4) limited provider training and system-level preparedness. Evidence addressing longitudinal management, shared decision-making, and interdisciplinary care models was sparse. The existing literature on TGD hematologic and thrombovascular care is limited in scope and heavily weighted toward risk reporting/management rather than care delivery. Substantial gaps remain in evidence informing best practices, provider education, and system design. These findings underscore the need for inclusive clinical guidance, education, and consensus-building initiatives.

Authors

Sandre AR; Joshi S; Pai M; Bates SM

Journal

Blood Advances, Vol. 10, No. 21, pp. 7197–7208

Publisher

American Society of Hematology

Publication Date

November 10, 2026

DOI

10.1182/bloodadvances.2026020735

ISSN

2473-9529

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Reframing hematologic and thrombovascular care for...