LGBTQ+ affirming health care services
Expert, affirming care from routine visits to specialized care
Access to LGBTQ+ affirming health care that is culturally responsive and based on the community’s needs is something that everyone deserves. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to LGBTQ+ affirming care. At Penn Medicine, our care is specific to each person.
We offer multiple LGBTQ+ health services to help you meet your goals, including comprehensive primary care, behavioral health, reproductive and family building services, surgical care, and more sexual health and gender-affirming care across specialties. Many of these services are available for self-scheduling with a primary care provider or through a referral to a specialist. If your needs are more complex or you don’t know where to start, our LGBTQ+ patient navigator is here to help connect you with the right providers.
Our commitment to LGBTQ+ health is reflected in our providers, programs, and standards. While many of our providers care for LGBTQ+ patients, we also have designated LGBTQ+ affirming providers who are part of our Affirming Care Network. They meet specific standards set by Penn Medicine to ensure you receive exceptional care and a positive experience. Since 2016, we have been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, reflecting our ongoing commitment to advancing inclusive policies, expanding affirming services, and continuously improving the care experience for LGBTQ+ patients and families.
Primary care and specialty health services
Our LGBTQ+ health services support you at every stage of life. Whether you are seeking preventive care, routine primary care, gender-affirming services, sexual health care, family-building support, or treatment for a complex medical condition, our team is here to help you achieve your health and wellness goals.
We take a whole-person approach to care, recognizing that every individual has unique experiences, priorities, and needs. Our primary care and specialty providers work together to coordinate care that is affirming, comprehensive, and personalized. We listen to what matters most to you and use a shared decision-making approach to develop a care plan that reflects your values, interests, and goals.
Primary care is the foundation of lifelong health. Our LGBTQ+ affirming providers offer routine checkups, preventive screenings, vaccinations, chronic disease management, sexual health services, and referrals to specialty care when needed. Whether you’re focused on staying healthy, managing an ongoing condition, accessing gender-affirming care, or improving your overall well-being, our team provides coordinated, respectful care centered on what matters most to you.
Our LGBTQ+ affirming endocrinology providers offer specialized care for hormone-related health needs across all stages of life. Whether you are seeking gender-affirming hormone therapy, support with hormone monitoring, management of diabetes, thyroid conditions, osteoporosis, or other endocrine disorders, our team provides expert, personalized care in a welcoming and inclusive environment. We work closely with your primary care provider and other specialists to ensure your treatment plan aligns with your health goals, values, and overall well-being.
Supporting your long-term health and wellness is at the heart of what we do. Our HIV and sexual health providers offer prevention, screening, treatment, and ongoing care for HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases. Whether you’re seeking preventive services or managing a chronic condition, our experienced team is here to help you live a healthy, fulfilling life.
HIV PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a highly effective way to reduce the risk of HIV and can be an important part of your overall wellness plan. Our primary care and infectious disease providers work with you to determine whether PrEP is right for your needs, helping you make informed decisions about your health with confidence. We also offer HIV PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), which can help lower the risk of HIV within 72 hours of a possible exposure. Our dedicated PrEP navigators can connect you with a provider through our free, confidential hotline and support you every step of the way.
- PrEP hotline: 267-601-5332
- PEP hotline (for Philadelphia residents): 833-933-2815
Lancaster residents: PEP is available through LG Health Comprehensive Care
Whether you’re planning for parenthood now or exploring your options for the future, our LGBTQ+ family-building specialists can help you achieve your reproductive goals. We offer affirming fertility and family-building services for same-sex couples, transgender and nonbinary individuals, and anyone seeking LGBTQ+ inclusive reproductive care. Our team works closely with you to create a personalized plan and guides you through the options available, including intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), gestational carriers, donor services, and fertility preservation.
Our behavioral health specialists, including providers in our LGBTQ+ General Ambulatory Psychiatry (GAP) Clinic, offer affirming, evidence-based care that recognizes how sexual orientation, gender identity, physical health, life experiences, and social factors can influence mental health and well-being. We provide evaluation and treatment for concerns that include anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress, along with psychiatric medication management tailored to your individual needs. Our team can also provide evaluations and letters of support for gender-affirming surgical procedures when appropriate.
In addition, we offer comprehensive support for tobacco cessation and substance use disorders, including outpatient and inpatient treatment options and recovery services through our Center for Opioid Recovery and Engagement (CORE). As a Pennsylvania Department of Human Services-designated Center of Excellence, CORE connects individuals to compassionate, person-centered care and multiple pathways to recovery that support long-term health and wellness.
Our neurologists provide affirming, patient-centered care for LGBTQ+ individuals with an understanding of how LGBTQ+ people's lived experiences and overall health can influence neurological care. We’re also experienced in managing the unique considerations that may arise between gender-affirming hormone therapy and certain neurological conditions, helping ensure treatment plans are coordinated, safe, and aligned with your goals.
We want you to feel comfortable and supported when you see doctors across our specialties, including gastroenterology. Whether you’re here for a screening test or for treatment, our providers offer inclusive and respectful health services.
Our hematologists provide affirming, personalized care for LGBTQ+ individuals and understand the unique considerations that may arise as part of LGBTQ+ affirming care, including gender-affirming care. We work closely with you and your care team to monitor, evaluate, and manage hematologic conditions and other health concerns, ensuring your treatment plan supports both your overall health and your individual goals.
Our physical and occupational therapy services help LGBTQ+ individuals improve mobility, function, comfort, and quality of life. Whether you’re managing a health condition, addressing pelvic floor concerns, preparing for or recovering from a gender-affirming procedure, or pursuing personal wellness goals, our therapists provide individualized care to support your health, recovery, and overall well-being. These services are available from Penn Medicine’s physical therapy experts and our provider partner, GSPP Rehabilitation.
Our LGBTQ+ affirming OB/GYN team provides compassionate, expert care for cisgender women, transgender men and women, nonbinary individuals, and anyone seeking gynecologic or reproductive healthcare. Services include annual wellness visits, cancer screenings, contraception, pregnancy care, fertility services, menopause care, and treatment for gynecologic concerns. We are committed to creating a comfortable, inclusive experience where your identity is respected, and your care is tailored to your individual health needs and goals.
Gender-affirming health services
Our specialists meet you wherever you are on your gender journey. Gender affirmation looks different for everyone and does not have to involve medical treatment. Whether you’re exploring your identity, seeking information and support, making social changes, or pursuing gender-affirming medical care, our team is here to help. If medical interventions, like hormone therapy or surgery, are part of your goals, we’ll work with you to develop a personalized plan that supports your needs, priorities, and overall well-being.
Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is medication that may help align physical characteristics with an individual’s gender identity and goals. Available through primary care, endocrinology, and other specialties, GAHT may include estrogen, testosterone, and other medications. Our providers work closely with you to discuss options, expected effects, and your goals to create a care plan that supports your health and gender affirmation.
Our plastic surgery, gynecologic surgery, urologic surgery, and otolaryngology surgery specialists offer several types of gender-affirming procedures. Some of these, like top surgeries, are available at several of our locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Other types of surgeries can be accessed through select hospitals. Our team will explain what to expect during and after the procedure, and we’ll answer any questions you have. The gender-affirming surgeries we provide include:
- Chest surgery (top surgery): We offer breast augmentation, bilateral mastectomy, radical reduction, and chest reconstruction to meet each patient’s gender-affirming goals. For all chest procedures, our surgeons can perform nipple resizing.
- Facial surgeries: We offer multiple procedures that can give you a more “feminine” or “masculine” facial appearance.
- Gynecologic surgeries: Gender-affirming treatment plans may include removing the uterus (hysterectomy), ovaries (oophorectomy), or fallopian tubes (salpingectomy).
- Urologic surgeries: Our surgeons can perform a procedure to remove the testicles (orchiectomy).
- Vocal Surgeries: Our specialists offer gender-affirming voice and vocal surgery services to help align voice and communication with your gender identity and personal goals.
Your voice is a powerful expression of who you are. Our voice and speech specialists, in partnership with GSPP Rehabilitation speech therapy, provide gender-affirming voice therapy focused on pitch, resonance, vocal quality, vocal weight, and vocal health to help you develop a voice that feels authentic, comfortable, and confident in everyday, social, and professional settings.
Find an LGBTQ+ affirming provider
We can connect you directly with a team of LGBTQ+-affirming providers, including primary care doctors and specialists. When you see the rainbow icon, it means your Penn Medicine provider is part of the LGBTQ+ Affirming Care Network through the Program for LGBTQ+ Health.