Transgender Identity and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Including HIV

The term sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is used to refer to a variety of clinical syndromes caused by pathogens that can be acquired and transmitted through sexual activity. STDs are among the most common infectious diseases, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is of major public health importance worldwide. Transgender communities are among the groups at highest risk for HIV and other STD infections. The high burden of HIV infection among transgender people is not attributable only to individual behaviors but also to many cultural, socioeconomic, and health-related factors. HIV prevention involves combinations of behavioral strategies, early antiretroviral therapy (ART) after infection, preexposure and postexposure antiretroviral prophylaxis. The use of antiretroviral agents as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is the most important strategy for preventing occupationally acquired HIV infection among health-care workers (HCW).