Disclosing Fetal Gender to Pregnant Women

Communication Approach

The American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends using the patient's chosen name and pronouns throughout the interaction, particularly important for transgender and gender-diverse pregnant individuals who may experience gender dysphoria during pregnancy 1, 2
The American Society of Anesthesiologists suggests demonstrating empathy and respect during the disclosure, and using gender-inclusive language when appropriate, particularly for transgender and gender-diverse patients who may have varying degrees of comfort with gendered terminology 1, 2, 3

The American Society of Anesthesiologists advises confirming preferred language and terms before discussing pregnancy-related information, as individuals may have different degrees of dysphoria around gendered language and anatomical names 1, 2, 3
The American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends avoiding assumptions about how the patient wishes to discuss their pregnancy or fetus based on their gender presentation 4, 5
The American Society of Anesthesiologists suggests recognizing that pregnancy can exacerbate gender dysphoria, anxiety, and depression in transgender and gender-diverse individuals 1, 2, 3

The American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends recording the patient's preferred name, pronouns, and communication preferences in the medical record to prevent repeated uncomfortable conversations 6, 7

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics advises against using legal names that differ from preferred names during clinical interactions, particularly for transgender patients 7, 8