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#TranscendentHealth: A Text Messaging Pregnancy Prevention Program for Transgender Boys
Sponsor: Center for Innovative Public Health Research
Summary
Transgender and gender-diverse young people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB), including transgender boys, nonbinary youth, and others, face real sexual health disparities. Existing pregnancy and HIV prevention programs are designed for cisgender girls and do not meet the needs of AFAB trans youth, leaving this group without programs that speak to their lives. #TranscendentHealth is a text messaging sexual health program developed specifically for AFAB transgender and gender-diverse youth ages 14 to 18. It builds on Girl2Girl, a program shown to improve sexual health behaviors in LGB+ cisgender girls, and updates the content to reflect the identities, relationships, and health needs of AFAB trans youth. The study has two parts. In the first part, AFAB trans youth help shape the program through focus groups, Content Advisory Teams (youth review panels that give feedback on program messages), and a small pilot test. In the second part, a national randomized controlled trial enrolls 467 AFAB transgender youth ages 14 to 18 across the United States. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either #TranscendentHealth or a general sexual health text messaging program. Both programs are delivered entirely by text message over 5 months, with no in-person visits required. Youth complete short online surveys at the start of the program, at program end (5 months), and at 3 and 6 months after the program ends. The study's main goals are to determine whether #TranscendentHealth improves rates of condom-protected sex, use of other birth control methods (such as the pill, shot, or IUD), and HIV/STI testing. Secondary goals include reducing unintended pregnancy, increasing PrEP uptake among eligible participants, and improving intentions to use sexual health services.
Official title: #TranscendentHealth - Adapting an LGB+ Inclusive Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program for Transgender Boys
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
14 Years - 18 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
467
Start Date
2026-06-30
Completion Date
2028-06-30
Last Updated
2026-07-02
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
#TranscendentHealth
A 5-month text messaging sexual health program for AFAB transgender and gender-diverse youth ages 14-18, adapted from the Girl2Girl program. Content is gender-inclusive and addresses sexual health protective behaviors, gender-affirming care, relationships, and social stressors specific to AFAB trans youth. Delivered entirely via text message; no in-person contact is required.
Universal Sexual Health Program
5-month general (non-gender-tailored) text messaging sexual health program covering contraception, STI testing, and healthy relationships - same duration and message volume as Arm 1, no Text Buddy feature
Locations (1)
Center for Innovative Public Health Research (CiPHR)
San Clemente, California, United States