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LGBTQ+ Health

Relevant Subject Headings

General LGBTQIA+

"Sexual and Gender Minorities"[mesh]

"Sexuality"[mesh]

"Homosexuality"[mesh]

"Gender Identity"[mesh]

Gay

"Homosexuality, Male"[mesh]

Lesbian

"Homosexuality, Female"[mesh]

Bisexual "Bisexuality"[mesh]

Transgender

"Transsexualism"[mesh]

"Transgender Persons"[mesh]

"Gender-Nonconforming Persons"[mesh]

"Health Services for Transgender Persons"[mesh]

"Gender-Affirming Care"[mesh]

Intersex

"Intersex Persons"[mesh]

"Disorders of Sex Development"[mesh]

*This is not a comprehensive list of search terms - it is a starting point. Always use the subject headings that are appropriate for your research question and your population

General LGBTQIA+

"Sexual and Gender Minorities"/

Sexuality/

Homosexuality/

Gender Identity/

Gay Homosexuality, Male/
Lesbian Homosexuality, Female/
Bisexual Bisexuality/
Transgender

Transsexualism/

Transgender Persons/

Gender-Nonconforming Persons/

"Health Services for Transgender Persons"/

Gender-Affirming Care/

Intersex

Intersex Persons/

"Disorders of Sex Development"/

*This is not a comprehensive list of search terms - it is a starting point. Always use the subject headings that are appropriate for your research question and your population

General LGBTQIA+

LGBTQIA+ People/

LGBT People/

Sexual Orientation/

Homosexuality/

"Sexual and Gender Minority"/

Gay

Homosexual Male/

Male Homosexuality/

Lesbian

Lesbianism/

Homosexual Female/

Bisexual

Bisexuality/

Bisexual Female/

Bisexual Male/

Transgender

Transgender/

Transgenderism/

Transgender and Gender Nonbinary/

Female to Male Transgender/

Male to Female Transgender/

Gender Nonbinary/

Gender Identity/

Intersex

Intersex/

Hermaphroditism/

Disorder of Sex Development/

Asexual Asexual People/

*This is not a comprehensive list of search terms - it is a starting point. Always use the subject headings that are appropriate for your research question and your population

General LGBTQIA+

(MH "LGBTQ+ Persons")

(MH "Black LGBTQ+ Persons")

(MH "Sexual and Gender Minorities")

(MH "Gay Persons")

(MH "Queer Persons")

(MH "Homosexuality")

Gay (MH "Gay Men")
Lesbian (MH "Lesbians")
Bisexual (MH "Bisexual Persons")
Transgender

(MH "Transgender Persons")

(MH "Trans Men")

(MH "Trans Women")

(MH "Transsexual Persons")

(MH "Gender-Nonconforming Persons")

(MH "Nonbinary Persons")

(MH "Hijras")

Intersex

(MH "Intersex Persons")

(MH "Intersexuality")

(MH "Disorders of Sex Development")

(MH "Pseudointersexuality")

Asexual

(MH "Asexuality")

(MH "Asexual Persons")

*This is not a comprehensive list of search terms - it is a starting point. Always use the subject headings that are appropriate for your research question and your population

General LGBTQIA+

LGBTQ/

Homosexuality/

Sexual Identity/

Sexual Orientation/

Sexual Minority Groups/

Gay Male Homosexuality/
Lesbian

Lesbianism/

Bisexual Bisexuality/
Transgender

Transgender/ 

Transsexualism/

"Transgender (Attitudes Toward)"/

Gender Affirming Care/

Gender Dysphoria/

Gender Expression/

Gender Identity/

Gender Nonbinary/

Gender Nonconforming/

Gender Reassignment/

Gender Transition/

Intersex

Intersex/ 

Hermaphroditism/

Endocrine Sexual Disorders/

Asexual Asexuality/
Pansexual Pansexuality/

*This is not a comprehensive list of search terms - it is a starting point. Always use the subject headings that are appropriate for your research question and your population

Search Hedges

Search hedges are carefully constructed search strategies designed to efficiently retrieve relevant literature on a specific topic from databases. These expertly crafted combinations of keywords, subject headings, and Boolean operators serve as powerful tools for comprehensive literature searching, particularly in fields requiring systematic reviews or evidence-based practice. The following search hedges were developed by the LGBTQ+ librarian and are not validated. If you are using or adapting one of these search hedges, please remember to cite them appropriately.

  • Transgender & Gender Nonconforming People: Philippopoulos, Eleni, 2024, "Search Hedge for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals", https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/XJUANZ, Borealis, V2
  • Women Who Have Sex With Women: Philippopoulos, Eleni, 2024, "Search Hedge for Women Who Have Sex With Women", https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/N1PFO9, Borealis, V1

Other Resources

Lee, J. G., Ylioja, T., & Lackey, M. (2016). Identifying Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Search Terminology: A Systematic Review of Health Systematic ReviewsPloS one11(5), e0156210. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156210

Librarian

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Eleni Philippopoulos
she/her/elle
Contact:
Schulich Library
809 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1Y2

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