Why Transgender Women Need to Be Concerned About High Rates of HIV

One of the most comprehensive reports on transgender health in America shares staggering statistics: 42% of transgender women in seven major U.S. cities are living with HIV.

In April, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, (CDC) released a report on HIV infection, risk, prevention and testing behaviors among 1,608 transgender women who participated in a National HIV Behavioral Surveillance study in 2019 and early 2020.

Internal medicine specialist James Hekman, MD, says these statistics bear out what many healthcare providers already knew and feared: “In terms of risk factors, trans women face a significant number of complex healthcare challenges,” he says.

Dr. Hekman delves deeper into the topic of HIV infection, testing and prevention for transgender women.

Disparities abound

The report — which shares study data from 1,608 trans women in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle — shows significant racial disparities in trans women’s health across racial lines.

Statistics revealed that 62% of Black transgender women are living with HIV, compared with 35% of Hispanic/Latina transgender women and 17% of white transgender women.

Socioeconomic status, too, plays a role. The report shows that 1 in 6 respondents (63%) lived at or below the federal poverty level, and 42% had experienced homelessness in the past year.

Sex work is a major risk factor

High levels of poverty and unemployment are directly related to the struggles that trans women face in a heteronormative society, Dr. Hekman says — which often drives them to engage in high-risk behavior such as sex work in order to make ends meet.

“Options for employment for trans women may be limited, based on societal discrimination and bias,” he says. “Having limited resources available to maintain their socioeconomic survival, they may turn to high-risk situations like sex work for survival — to prevent homelessness.”

And sex work can increase the likelihood of unsafe sex practices, including diminished condom use. “We know that a lot of times, the exchange of sex for drugs or money is a risk factor for HIV itself,” Dr. Hekman says.

Trans people face barriers to care

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) — a once-daily medication is for people who do not have HIV but may be at high risk for contracting it — is a vital tool for HIV prevention in the LGBTQ+ community. And it’s incredibly effective, having been shown to reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90%.

But the study identifies factors that may sway transgender women from taking PrEP.

Medical mistrust following experiences of transphobia

PrEP use is most common in trans women who have access to trans-competent healthcare providers — but they’re not always easy to find.

“There is a shortage of healthcare providers who know how to provide culturally competent care for trans people,” Dr. Hekman says. “There is also a shortage of resources available to trans individuals.

A lack of trans-inclusive PrEP marketing

Marketing for PrEP primarily targets gay and bisexual men — messaging that doesn’t resonate with transgender women. Though the newest study data shows that knowledge of PrEP is high among trans women (92%), it found that only about one-third actually take it

Concerns that PrEP will negatively interact with hormone replacement therapy

Transgender women who are on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) worry that taking PrEP will interfere. “That’s a longstanding concern,” Dr. Hekman says, “and unfortunately there’s not a lot of study in this area, so there’s not a lot to guide people.”

The key, he says, is for trans women who are on HRT to speak with their doctors about these concerns. “You can do yourself a service by having your sexual health addressed in a clinic where you’re also receiving hormonal therapy,” he says.

Your doctor will work with you to ensure that you can both remain on the correct levels of HRT and protect yourself from HIV.

Why you need to know your HIV status

“Knowing your status is of key importance to an individual’s self-care,” Dr. Hekman says. “It’s also a benefit to the community that people know their status and not unknowingly pass it on.”

Only in knowing your HIV status can you take steps to ensure that you don’t transmit it. So it’s vital that people who learn they are HIV positive get linked to treatment that will help them manage their condition and prevent its transmission.

How to get tested for HIV

The actual process of being tested for HIV is simple. You can get tested at many doctors’ offices and community organizations that offer both confidential, anonymous HIV testing.

Medical professionals may perform a test that involves a finger prick or venipuncture (blood collected through a vein, usually inside the elbow or atop the hand) or a buccal swab (swabbing the inside of your cheek).

Rapid tests can provide results in as little as an hour, though you may need additional tests to confirm their accuracy. Lab tests from non-rapid tests are available within a few days and require you to return to the office to receive your results.

When you go in for an HIV test, you may be tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the same time. You’ll receive information about how to protect yourself from HIV — and if you test positive for HIV, you’ll receive counseling to help you figure out what to do next.

“With proper care, an individual with HIV is highly unlikely to pass it on,” Dr. Hekman says. “When you’re linked to care, you can get the help you need.”

Preventing HIV exposure

Dr. Hekman encourages all patients to take steps to prevent HIV exposure. For trans women, in particular, those steps include:

• Asking your doctor about starting PrEP.
• Using condoms during all sexual situations.
• Seeking assistance and support for other situations and behaviors that may be increasing your risk, such as abuse and mental health issues. “If those are getting in the way of protecting you, we as healthcare providers can link you to treatments, services and care that can help you find a way out of those situations,” Dr. Hekman says.

If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV — say, if the condom breaks — you should seek out post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), an HIV prevention treatment for HIV-negative people who have been exposed to the virus.

“If you come into an ER or clinic with 72 hours, you can be started on therapy that dramatically reduces the likelihood of HIV,” Dr. Hekman explains. “But beyond 72 hours, there’s no benefit.”

Seeking out trans-competent healthcare

Dr. Hekman reminds transgender patients that they, like everyone else, deserve competent, compassionate healthcare — and that such care exists. If you’re not sure where to find it, local LGBTQ+ support organizations are a good starting point for connecting you with doctors in your community.

“We want trans patients to know that they are seen and valued, and that healthcare professionals have improving skillsets in meeting their needs,” he says. “We welcome them, we value them and we’re here for them.”