TY - JOUR
T1 - Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender content on reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinic websites
AU - Wu, Harold Y.
AU - Yin, Ophelia
AU - Monseur, Brent
AU - Selter, Jessica
AU - Collins, Lillian J.
AU - Lau, Brandyn D.
AU - Christianson, Mindy S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Society for Reproductive Medicine
PY - 2017/7
Y1 - 2017/7
N2 - Objective To assess geographical distribution and practice characteristics of fertility clinics inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients. Design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) None. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Prevalence and geographical distribution of fertility clinic websites with LGBT-specific content, indicated by keywords and home page cues specific to the LGBT patient population. Assessment of relationship between LGBT-specific content and clinic characteristics, including U.S. region, clinic size, private versus academic setting, and state-mandated fertility insurance coverage. Result(s) Of 379 websites analyzed, 201 (53%) contained LGBT content. Clinics with the highest proportion of LGBT website content were in the Northeast (59/82, 72%) and West (63/96, 66%), while the lowest proportion was in the Midwest (29/74, 39%) and South (50/127, 39%). Most frequently used terms included lesbian (72%), LGBT/LGBTQ (69%), and gay (68%), while less used terms included trans/transgender (32%) and bisexual (15%). Larger clinic size was associated with LGBT-specific website content (odds ratio, 4.42; 95% confidence interval, 2.07–9.67). Practice type and state-mandated fertility insurance coverage were not associated with a clinic website having LGBT content. Conclusion(s) Over half of Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology member fertility clinics included LGBT content on their websites, yet those in the Midwest and South were significantly less likely to do so. Predictive factors for having LGBT website content included location in northeastern and western regions and increasing clinic size. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether inclusion of LGBT content on clinic websites impacts use of reproductive services by the LGBT patient population.
AB - Objective To assess geographical distribution and practice characteristics of fertility clinics inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients. Design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) None. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Prevalence and geographical distribution of fertility clinic websites with LGBT-specific content, indicated by keywords and home page cues specific to the LGBT patient population. Assessment of relationship between LGBT-specific content and clinic characteristics, including U.S. region, clinic size, private versus academic setting, and state-mandated fertility insurance coverage. Result(s) Of 379 websites analyzed, 201 (53%) contained LGBT content. Clinics with the highest proportion of LGBT website content were in the Northeast (59/82, 72%) and West (63/96, 66%), while the lowest proportion was in the Midwest (29/74, 39%) and South (50/127, 39%). Most frequently used terms included lesbian (72%), LGBT/LGBTQ (69%), and gay (68%), while less used terms included trans/transgender (32%) and bisexual (15%). Larger clinic size was associated with LGBT-specific website content (odds ratio, 4.42; 95% confidence interval, 2.07–9.67). Practice type and state-mandated fertility insurance coverage were not associated with a clinic website having LGBT content. Conclusion(s) Over half of Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology member fertility clinics included LGBT content on their websites, yet those in the Midwest and South were significantly less likely to do so. Predictive factors for having LGBT website content included location in northeastern and western regions and increasing clinic size. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether inclusion of LGBT content on clinic websites impacts use of reproductive services by the LGBT patient population.
KW - LGBT
KW - assisted reproduction technology
KW - bisexual
KW - healthcare disparity
KW - transgender
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U2 - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.05.011
DO - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.05.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 28579417
AN - SCOPUS:85020086119
VL - 108
SP - 183
EP - 191
JO - Fertility and Sterility
JF - Fertility and Sterility
SN - 0015-0282
IS - 1
ER -