Transgender Services at Mary’s Center: Supporting You on Your Health Journey

Transgender Services at Mary’s Center: Supporting You on Your Health Journey

TRANSGENDER SERVICES

From a small basement clinic offering prenatal care in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of DC in 1988, Mary’s Center has grown into an all-encompassing community health center offering medical, dental, behavioral health, education and social services, to nearly 50,000 people in DC and Maryland. We are very proud of our expansion over the last 30 years. We are equally proud of our commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and to providing high-quality care to everyone who walks through our doors. We particularly welcome members of the transgender community. Mary’s Center is a place where you can feel safe and comfortable talking about your body and feelings, with a multidisciplinary team (including medical and behavioral health providers) that understands challenges faced by transgender people.

As primary care providers, our role is to support you on your health journey. Transition can be a long process, and Mary’s Center can serve as a “home base” for you. Our team can:

  • Help you to find insurance coverage;
  • Connect you with the appropriate surgical specialists;
  • attest to your commitment to the process;
  • Provide mental health signoff for insurance approval for surgery if required;
  • Prescribe hormone therapy; or
  • Help you manage the medical side effects of treatment;

We also have a designated behavioral health provider who can assist transgender children, adolescents and adults with any emotional or physical trauma they may have suffered. Trans individuals also experience depression and suicidal tendencies at higher rates, so mental health care is important.

In addition, we can help you protect your sexual health, through free HIV testing available at our clinics in Adams Morgan, Petworth, Fort Totten (DC) and Montgomery and Prince George’s County (MD).

We can also prescribe PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), a daily pill which, when used with condoms, is up to 92% effective in reducing your risk for HIV. PrEP, which is also known as Truvada, can be used by transgender, heterosexual, bisexual, and gay individuals, as well as by pregnant women and people who inject drugs. It is generally safe and well tolerated, although some side effects, including nausea, headache, weight loss and abdominal pain, were reported in clinical trials.

Mary’s Center is ready to partner with you on your health journey. Don’t hesitate to contact us using the information below.

  • Call 202-851-3971 for more information about HIV prevention and HIV/STI Testing.  
  • Call 844-796-2797 for a Medical, Dental and/or Behavioral Health appointment.

Useful Resource:

Ten Things Transgender Persons Should discuss with Their Healthcare Care Provider by GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality