Gender-affirming care access for transgender Veterans

Understanding perceived access and receipt of gender-affirming treatments among transgender Veterans

NIH-funded research Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital · NIH-11269170

This project finds out what helps or stops transgender Veterans from getting gender-affirming care through VA and VA Community Care.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionEdith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Bedford, United States)
Project IDNIH-11269170 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You may be asked whether you received hormones, surgeries, or other gender-affirming treatments and whether those services came from VA facilities or VA Community Care. The team will review VA and community-care records to map which treatments Veterans get and where they get them. Researchers will also ask about practical barriers like housing, transportation, costs, and experiences of discrimination through surveys or interviews to learn what helps or blocks access. Findings will be shared with VA LGBTQ+ health partners to recommend ways to make gender-affirming care more accessible and equitable for transgender Veterans.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Transgender Veterans who have sought, received, or desired gender-affirming treatments within VA or VA Community Care are ideal candidates to participate.

Not a fit: People who are not Veterans or who are not seeking gender-affirming care through the VA are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could help the VA improve how gender-affirming care is delivered so transgender Veterans can get the treatments they need more easily and fairly.

How similar studies have performed: Some civilian studies have described barriers to gender-affirming care, but this will be one of the first projects to characterize treatments and access specifically for transgender Veterans within VA and Community Care.

Where this research is happening

Bedford, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.