Jun 23
Breakthrough Study Finds Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy Reduces HIV Risk Among Transgender and Nonbinary Individuals
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New Evidence Links Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy to Lower HIV Risk
A recent study published in The Lancet HIV has provided robust evidence that gender-affirming hormone therapy leads to a substantial decrease in both HIV acquisition and viral transmission risk among transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse individuals. Researchers analyzed the health records of over 8,000 patients at prominent LGBTQ+ health centers in Boston and New York City from 2013 to 2019, finding that those who received hormone therapy were 37% less likely to acquire HIV compared to peers who did not receive such treatment. Additionally, transgender and nonbinary people living with HIV who received hormone therapy were 44% less likely to have detectable levels of the virus in their blood, a key factor in reducing onward transmission and improving long-term health outcomes [University of Michigan School of Public Health, https://sph.umich.edu/news/2025posts/hiv-risk-decreases-in-transgender-nonbinary-and-gender-diverse-individuals.html, 2025-03-28][STAT News, https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/27/new-data-shows-gender-affirming-hormones-protect-from-hiv/, 2025-03-27].
Lead author Sari Reisner, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, emphasized the importance of these findings within broader public health efforts. “Trans communities have been hard-hit by the HIV epidemic,” Reisner noted, highlighting the urgent need for interventions that address both physical and social determinants of health for transgender people [University of Michigan School of Public Health, https://sph.umich.edu/news/2025posts/hiv-risk-decreases-in-transgender-nonbinary-and-gender-diverse-individuals.html, 2025-03-28]. The World Health Organization estimates that transgender people are about 13 times more likely to be HIV-positive than adults of reproductive age, yet face significant barriers to accessing health care due to stigma, discrimination, and legal restrictions [University of Michigan School of Public Health, https://sph.umich.edu/news/2025posts/hiv-risk-decreases-in-transgender-nonbinary-and-gender-diverse-individuals.html, 2025-03-28].
Intersection of HIV Treatment Innovation and Funding Challenges
These scientific advances come at a time of heightened uncertainty regarding federal HIV/AIDS funding in the United States. In April-May 2025, the Trump administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal called for eliminating all federal funding for Part F of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program—a critical source of support for innovative care and prevention services in LGBTQ+ communities [HealthLGBTQ.org, https://healthlgbtq.org/advocacy_brief/overview-2025-executive-actions-impacting-lgbtq-health/, 2025-06-16]. Leading HIV and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations have condemned proposed cuts, warning that reductions could jeopardize community-based prevention programs, disrupt access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), and undermine the progress made in HIV care over the past decade [Fenway Health, https://fenwayhealth.org/leading-lgbtq-hiv-and-health-organizations-across-u-s-condemn-trump-administrations-move-to-close-cdc-hiv-prevention-division/, 2025-03-19].
In parallel, the field has recently seen advances in long-acting injectable medications for both HIV prevention and treatment. These injectables promise to make adherence easier, especially for individuals facing stigma, housing insecurity, or limited access to traditional health care settings [Whitman-Walker, https://www.whitman-walker.org/what-is-next-and-new-in-hiv-for-2025/, 2025-06-16]. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the expansion of telehealth, increasing access to HIV testing, counseling, and medication—though digital divides remain, especially for rural and marginalized populations [Whitman-Walker, https://www.whitman-walker.org/what-is-next-and-new-in-hiv-for-2025/, 2025-06-16].
LGBTQ+ Perspectives and the Path Forward
For many LGBTQ+ advocates, these developments reinforce the need for intersectional, community-driven approaches to HIV prevention and care. The affirmation of gender identity is now not only recognized as a mental health benefit, but also as a protective factor against HIV. Psychological safety, medical validation, and social support all play a role in reducing high-risk behaviors and increasing engagement in preventive care [STAT News, https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/27/new-data-shows-gender-affirming-hormones-protect-from-hiv/, 2025-03-27].
Diana Tordoff, a Stanford University epidemiologist not involved in the new study, described the results as a “thoughtful, well-done study confirming” the positive impact of gender-affirming care on HIV outcomes. “This has been a strong hypothesis for a while,” Tordoff said, “and it’s really nice to see a very thoughtful, well-done study confirming this, with a pretty significant effect size” [STAT News, https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/27/new-data-shows-gender-affirming-hormones-protect-from-hiv/, 2025-03-27].
Despite scientific progress, gaps in health equity remain. Transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse people continue to experience disproportionately high HIV rates, compounded by systemic obstacles to care. Advocates stress that sustaining and expanding funding for comprehensive, affirming care—including hormone therapy, PrEP, and community-based support—is essential to ending the HIV epidemic among LGBTQ+ populations [Fenway Health, https://fenwayhealth.org/leading-lgbtq-hiv-and-health-organizations-across-u-s-condemn-trump-administrations-move-to-close-cdc-hiv-prevention-division/, 2025-03-19][HealthLGBTQ.org, https://healthlgbtq.org/advocacy_brief/overview-2025-executive-actions-impacting-lgbtq-health/, 2025-06-16].
Conclusion
The intersection of medical innovation, policy decisions, and community advocacy defines the current landscape of HIV/AIDS in LGBTQ+ communities. As new research highlights the life-changing benefits of gender-affirming hormone therapy, the future of HIV prevention and care hinges on sustained investment and the affirmation of LGBTQ+ identities at every level of the health system.
