Journal Club Session 2 – Barriers to Care in Accessing ObGyn as LGBTQIA+ Individuals | SIMSOG

SIMSOG presents Journal Club 2.0, this session was moderated by Dr. Aqsa Shaikh—Professor at Hamdard Institute, Transgender Rights Activist, and TEDx/Josh Talks speaker. With her unique blend of academic insight and lived experience, she framed the discussion around why inclusivity in OB/GYN services is not just progressive, but necessary for equitable healthcare.

The paper was presented by Dr. Deepika Balani, MD (Hom), Sanjeevani Homoeopathy CRC, who shared a systematic review from the University of Toronto on the barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in accessing fertility care. The review screened over 1,700 records and included 25 studies, analyzing both patient and provider perspectives. The findings were clear: heteronormativity, cisnormativity, discriminatory gatekeeping, higher costs for same-sex couples, and lack of tailored care for trans and non-binary patients remain pressing barriers. Providers also reported fears of “saying the wrong thing,” a lack of resources, and inadequate training.
Patients in these studies cited straightforward but effective remedies, such as gender-neutral environments, preferred pronoun usage, inclusive language, and open nondiscrimination policies. Providers demanded written guidelines, community cooperation, systematic training, and systemic inclusivity measures.

Dr. Aqsa expanded on this by bringing up the Indian context, reminding us that transgender individuals are not covered by current surrogacy and ART laws, which influences provider attitudes and access. She drew attention to the underrepresentation of Asian and intersex people in global data and pushed participants to consider intersectionality and cultural context critically. She also highlighted the shift from mere cultural competence to cultural humility, stressing lifelong learning and genuine collaboration with LGBTQ+ communities. Her statement that "every interaction might be crucial—students and doctors must ensure LGBTQ+ patients never feel like outsiders in their own healthcare" caught my attention.

The lack of gender-inclusive OB/GYN training in India, financial obstacles, and the necessity of humility in hectic clinical settings were also discussed. "Compassion and respect are not optional—they are as mandatory as signing a consent form," Dr. Aqsa succinctly put it.
More than a discussion of papers, this session served as a call to action for researchers, physicians, and students to create procedures and systems that make inclusivity the rule rather than the exception.

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