According to Ilene Wong, M.D., “Studies have shown that up to 80% of intersex patients have changed their care based on discomfort with their medical providers.”¹ That is a lot of patients. As healthcare providers, we should strive to avoid contributing to that patient discomfort and trauma. Providing intersex-affirming, trauma-informed, and inclusive care can help. Below are just three ways to educate yourselves and provide better care to patients who are Intersex.

1. Educate Yourselves

Following Intersex activists and organizations on social media and sharing their stories can be a great way to learn from Intersex folx. Reading books and memoirs, and watching movies or videos by Intersex folx about their lived experiences, is another way to educate yourself.^{2, 3, 4, 5}

2. Provide Trauma-Informed Care

Some patients may have a history of trauma. There are many different ways trauma can manifest in a person. Identify the different signs of trauma a patient may have, and seek to prevent re-traumatizing patients.⁶

3. Recommend Peer Support Groups

Meeting other Intersex folks with similar lived experiences can empower patients, foster community, and build connections. Recommending patients and their families to peer support groups can be a great way to promote these things.^{6, 7}

Learn More With Molly

Want to learn more ways to provide intersex-affirming healthcare and learn how to be an ally to patients who are Intersex? Molly’s remote course takes you deeper into the genetics, history, variations, and clinical care that help you support Intersex patients with skill and compassion.

Resources

1. Lambda Legal & interACT. (2018, July 20). Intersex-Affirming Hospital Policy Guide: Providing Ethical and Compassionate Care to Intersex Patients. lambdalegal.org
2. Lindhal, H. (2018, June 2). We Need to End Intersex Erasure in Queer Communities. Them. them.us
3. National Health Service England. (Accessed 2026, June 21). How to be an Intersex Ally. NHS Health Education England. madeinheene.hee.nhs.uk
4. Lindhal, H., Brown-King, B., Wall, S.S., & Pagonis, P. (Accessed 2026, June 21). 26 Ways Allies Can Support Intersex Awareness Day on Oct 26. interACT. interactadvocates.org
5. Intersex Human Rights Australia, Intersex Peer Support Australia, & National LGBTI Health Alliance. (Accessed 2026, June 21). Raising the Bar: How to Be An Intersex Ally. Interaction. interaction.org.au
6. interACT. (Accessed 2026, June 21). What We Wish Our Doctors Knew Brochure. interactadvocates.org
7. National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center. (2020). Affirming Primary Care for Intersex People 2020. lgbtqiahealtheducation.org