PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Study shows elevated rates of inadequate pap tests in transgender men

Cervical cancer can still occur in female-to-male transgender men

2014-01-15
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Joan Robinson
joan.robinson@springer.com
49-622-148-78130
Springer
Study shows elevated rates of inadequate pap tests in transgender men Cervical cancer can still occur in female-to-male transgender men A new study finds that female-to-male (FTM) transgender patients had over 10 times higher odds of having an inadequate Papanicolaou (Pap) test compared to female patients. The findings¹, by Fenway Health's Jennifer Potter, MD, and colleagues at Fenway, Harvard Medical School and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, appear in the Journal of General Internal Medicine², published by Springer.

The researchers found that FTM patients were more likely to have an inadequate Pap, with prevalence of inadequate samples 8.3 times higher among tests of FTM patients (10.8% vs. 1.3% of tests); were more likely to have had multiple inadequate Pap tests; and had longer latency to follow-up testing. Time on testosterone therapy was also independently associated with, but did not fully account for, Pap inadequacy.

Cervical cancer can still occur in FTM transgender men, the majority of whom do not undergo complete sex reassignment surgery or undergo total hysterectomy later in life. Because of this, national guidelines recommend that transgender men with a cervix follow the same screening protocol as non-transgender females.

This study points to the need to better understand and address possible reasons for Pap inadequacy among FTM patients, including cytological changes induced by testosterone and patient/provider discomfort with the pelvic exam. In addition, alternatives to repeated Pap testing, such as cytologic reprocessing of inadequate samples or primary HPV DNA screening should be studied for efficacy and acceptability among FTM patients.

"Pap tests are important for FTM patients but it can be challenging to obtain interpretable results," said Dr. Potter, Director of Women's Health at Fenway Health. "More information is needed on the effects of testosterone on the cervix and effective cervical screening strategies that do not rely on a Pap test. While we wait for results of studies that address these questions clinicians should do everything possible to increase patient comfort during the exam and alert FTM patients that repeat Pap testing may be necessary after an initial, inadequate result."

This retrospective electronic medical record review study analyzed results of Pap tests performed on 233 FTM and 3625 female patients at an urban community health center between 2006 and 2012.

### References 1. Potter, J. et al (2014). Female-to-Male Patients Have High Prevalence of Unsatisfactory Paps Compared to Non-Transgender Females: Implications for Cervical Cancer Screening, Journal of General Internal Medicine. DOI 10.1007/s11606-013-2753-1 2. The Journal of General Internal Medicine is the official journal of the Society of General Internal Medicine.

The full-text article is available to journalists on request.


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

First comprehensive test to detect genetic modification in food

2014-01-15
First comprehensive test to detect genetic modification in food As the abundance of genetically modified (GM) foods continues to grow, so does the demand for monitoring and labeling them. The genes of GM plants used for food are tweaked to make them more ...

Living in fantasyland? Luck is more important than fantasy sports players think

2014-01-15
Living in fantasyland? Luck is more important than fantasy sports players think ANN ARBOR—Fantasy sports players can spend thousands of dollars and certainly that many hours developing sophisticated leagues and playing strategies steeped in analysis and superstition—all ...

Layered security: Carbon nanotubes promise improved flame-resistant coating

2014-01-15
Layered security: Carbon nanotubes promise improved flame-resistant coating Using an approach akin to assembling a club sandwich at the nanoscale, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers have succeeded in crafting ...

Finally, a way to authenticate premium chocolate

2014-01-15
Finally, a way to authenticate premium chocolate For some people, nothing can top a morsel of luxuriously rich, premium chocolate. But until now, other than depending on their taste buds, chocolate connoisseurs had no way of knowing whether they were getting ...

Parental leave policies best promote gender equity and well-being in women's health

2014-01-15
Parental leave policies best promote gender equity and well-being in women's health Future research needed on full effect of public policies on both women's and men's health TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2014—Government policies that allow both parents to take time off after ...

Quantum physics could make secure, single-use computer memories possible

2014-01-15
Quantum physics could make secure, single-use computer memories possible Computer security systems may one day get a boost from quantum physics, as a result of recent research from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). ...

Take a stand and be active to reduce chronic disease, make aging easier, research finds

2014-01-15
Take a stand and be active to reduce chronic disease, make aging easier, research finds MANHATTAN, KAN. -- People who decrease sitting time and increase physical activity have a lower risk of chronic disease, according to Kansas State University research. Even ...

New strategy emerges for fighting drug-resistant malaria

2014-01-15
New strategy emerges for fighting drug-resistant malaria Malaria is one of the most deadly infectious diseases in the world today, claiming the lives of over half a million people every year, and the recent emergence of parasites resistant to current treatments ...

Cover story: The chemical industry heads into 2014 on solid footing

2014-01-15
Cover story: The chemical industry heads into 2014 on solid footing After spending three years struggling to recover from the 2007-2009 recession, the global chemistry industry can finally look forward to a rosier year ahead. The cover story of Chemical & ...

Research: 'Sourcing hub' could help create more efficient supply chain

2014-01-15
Research: 'Sourcing hub' could help create more efficient supply chain Firms can manage their sourcing better by developing relationships not only with their suppliers but also with their suppliers' suppliers, according to two papers co-written ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Pink skies

Monkeys are world’s best yodellers - new research

Key differences between visual- and memory-led Alzheimer’s discovered

% weight loss targets in obesity management – is this the wrong objective?

An app can change how you see yourself at work

NYC speed cameras take six months to change driver behavior, effects vary by neighborhood, new study reveals

New research shows that propaganda is on the rise in China

Even the richest Americans face shorter lifespans than their European counterparts, study finds

Novel genes linked to rare childhood diarrhea

New computer model reveals how Bronze Age Scandinavians could have crossed the sea

Novel point-of-care technology delivers accurate HIV results in minutes

Researchers reveal key brain differences to explain why Ritalin helps improve focus in some more than others

Study finds nearly five-fold increase in hospitalizations for common cause of stroke

Study reveals how alcohol abuse damages cognition

Medicinal cannabis is linked to long-term benefits in health-related quality of life

Microplastics detected in cat placentas and fetuses during early pregnancy

Ancient amphibians as big as alligators died in mass mortality event in Triassic Wyoming

Scientists uncover the first clear evidence of air sacs in the fossilized bones of alvarezsaurian dinosaurs: the "hollow bones" which help modern day birds to fly

Alcohol makes male flies sexy

TB patients globally often incur "catastrophic costs" of up to $11,329 USD, despite many countries offering free treatment, with predominant drivers of cost being hospitalization and loss of income

Study links teen girls’ screen time to sleep disruptions and depression

Scientists unveil starfish-inspired wearable tech for heart monitoring

Footprints reveal prehistoric Scottish lagoons were stomping grounds for giant Jurassic dinosaurs

AI effectively predicts dementia risk in American Indian/Alaska Native elders

First guideline on newborn screening for cystic fibrosis calls for changes in practice to improve outcomes

Existing international law can help secure peace and security in outer space, study shows

Pinning down the process of West Nile virus transmission

UTA-backed research tackles health challenges across ages

In pancreatic cancer, a race against time

Targeting FGFR2 may prevent or delay some KRAS-mutated pancreatic cancers

[Press-News.org] Study shows elevated rates of inadequate pap tests in transgender men
Cervical cancer can still occur in female-to-male transgender men