The Penn State Health Approach to Gender Affirming Health Care for Adults

Penn State Health Internal Medicine provides care for transgender and gender-diverse adults aged 18 years and older in a supportive and safe environment. Primary care clinicians and other health care providers at Penn State Health are trained in gender-affirming care, and they support the comprehensive health needs of transgender and gender-diverse adult patients throughout central Pennsylvania and the surrounding mid-Atlantic region.

Patient-Centered Comprehensive Care

Gender affirming care for adult patients at Penn State Health Internal Medicine may include primary care services or consultative care services. Our clinicians can diagnose and treat gender dysphoria and other gender-related health concerns, including menstrual health, sexual health, vocal health and other health needs that support gender embodiment - an individual’s experience of living in their gender.

Understanding that each patient’s gender-specific health needs are unique, our clinicians work with each adult patient to develop an individualized plan to help them achieve their goals for comprehensive health and gender embodiment.

Using an informed consent model, our clinicians can provide estrogen, testosterone and other hormonal therapies to adult patients. They can also provide referrals for gender-affirming services for mental health, fertility and reproductive care, sexual health, vocal therapy and surgical care.

Why Choose Penn State Health Internal Medicine for Gender-Affirming Health Care for Adults

Penn State Health Internal Medicine offers compassionate and supportive gender-affirming care for adults. Our health care providers are trained to understand and respond to the social, emotional and physical health needs of their adult patients within a supportive and safe environment. Adult patients may seek primary care services, or consultative care services if they prefer to access primary care services elsewhere within or outside of Penn State Health’s regional health care systems. 

Next Steps

Penn State Health Internal Medicine welcomes adults aged 18 years and older who are seeking affirming primary or consultative care services. Adult patients can be referred by their primary care or other health care providers, or they may self-refer by calling 717-232-5443 (Harrisburg), 717-531-6015 (Hershey) or 814-235-2480 (State College).

Our Commitment to Gender-Affirming Care at Penn State Health Internal Medicine

Penn State Health Internal Medicine follows the standards of care outlined by the Endocrine Society, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and other professional organizations in providing medically necessary, gender-affirming health care to adults.

We are committed to celebrating the dignity and ensuring the privacy of adult patients receiving health care from Penn State Health. The health system does not permit intolerance directed at any individual patient, family member or caregiver based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and other domains of personhood.

Caring for patients in three locations:

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

For which patients do the clinicians at Penn State Health Internal Medicine provide gender-affirming care?

We provide gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse adult patients aged 18 years and older.

The Gender Health Clinic at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital provides gender-affirming care for children, adolescents and young adults from ages 10 to 24 in a supportive and safe environment. For more information, visit The Penn State Health Approach to Gender-Affirming Health Care.

What kind of gender-affirming treatments are provided for adult patients?

We provide medical care inclusive of hormonal and non-hormonal therapies for gender affirmation. We also provide referrals for mental health, vocal care, fertility and reproductive care, sexual health, and surgical care for gender affirmation. Our clinicians offer all gender-affirming medical interventions through an informed consent model, consistent with all other health care for adult patients.