Gava, Giulia, Renato Seracchioli, and M. Cristina Meriggiola. "Telemedicine for endocrinological care of transgender subjects during COVID-19 pandemic." Evidence-based mental health (2020).

The transpopulation represents a vulnerable population segment both socially and medically, with a higher incidence of mental health issues. During the COVID-19 outbreak, transgender persons have faced additional social, psychological and physical difficulties. In Italy and in several other countries access to healthcare has been difficult or impossible thereby hindering the start or continuation of hormonal and psychological treatments. Furthermore, several planned gender-affirming surgeries have been postponed. These obstacles may have caused an additional psychological burden given the positive effects of medical and surgical treatments on well-being, directly and indirectly, reducing stressors such as workplace discrimination and social inequalities. Some organisational aspects should also be considered: binary gender policies may worsen inequalities and marginalisation of transgender subjects potentially increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality.

As with the general population, during the lockdown, the Internet and social media were useful in reducing isolation and, in this particular population, were also relevant for keeping in touch with associations and healthcare facilities with the support of telemedicine services. Addressing the role of the telemedicine in the transpopulation, between May and June 2020 we conducted an anonymous web-based survey among transgenders living in Italy (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04448418). Read more via BNJ