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Related Research Units

Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Research

Research Overview

Dr. Charlton is known as a leading scholar documenting reproductive health and cancer disparities affecting sexual and gender minorities. The second focal area of her research is on contraception use and family planning among people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Her research has sustained continuous funding for the last decade from the NIH and foundations including the American Cancer Society. She has been the Principal Investigator on 18 grants including her most recent NIH-funded R01 award focused on sexual orientation-related disparities in obstetrical and perinatal health. Additionally, she collaborates with colleagues across the globe on a host of large-scale studies. Dr. Charlton has published over 60 original research papers including in the BMJ, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, and American Journal of Public Health.

In addition to Dr. Charlton’s research program, she co-leads Harvard SOGIE—a 125+ member collaborative that brings together sexual and gender minority health researchers from across the university. Further, Dr. Charlton leads a number of mentoring initiatives, particularly for underrepresented minorities. She is a Certified Facilitator through the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences and she is the founder of the Harvard Sexual and Gender Minority Health Mentoring Program. Dr. Charlton is an award-winning mentor and has individually mentored more than 40 scholars including early-career faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and trainees. In the classroom, Dr. Charlton is the Course Director for a number of classes across Harvard in epidemiology and reproductive health research. In the realm of medical education, she helps to lead efforts with Harvard Medical School's Sexual and Gender Minority Health Equity Initiative—a multi-year enterprise to enhance the ability of medical school students and faculty to provide evidence-based care by integrating sexual and gender minority health content across the curriculum.

Dr. Charlton received her MSc and ScD from the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Research Background

  Dr. Brittany Charlton is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute in the Department of Population Medicine and at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the Department of Epidemiology. She is also the Co-Director of the Harvard SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) Health Equity Research Collaborative and Adjunct Faculty at The Fenway Institute.

Publications

  1. Association of Multi-Level LGBTQ+ Stigma and Hypervigilance With Health Outcomes Among LGBTQ+ Cancer Caregivers. Psychooncology. 2026 Jan; 35(1):e70379. View Abstract
  2. Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Prevalence by Sexual Orientation: A Repeated Cross-sectional Study of US Adults, 2022 to 2023. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2025 Dec 01; 34(12):2294-2301. View Abstract
  3. Differences in Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Diagnosis Across Sexual Orientation in a Longitudinal Cohort of U.S. Adults. LGBT Health. 2026 Jan; 13(1):39-46. View Abstract
  4. Masculinizing Testosterone Therapy Reduces the Incidence of PIK3CA-Mutant/ER? Breast Cancer but Not BRCA1-Associated Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. medRxiv. 2025 Sep 19. View Abstract
  5. Inequities in eating disorder diagnoses in college students: An intersectional multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (MAIHDA). Soc Sci Med. 2025 Nov; 384:118587. View Abstract
  6. Effective and inclusive mentorship in the field of epidemiology. Am J Epidemiol. 2025 Aug 05; 194(8):2140-2143. View Abstract
  7. Discrete choice experiment to evaluate preferences for tailored social media messages for vaping initiation prevention among sexual and gender minority youth. Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 02; 15(1):23216. View Abstract
  8. Administrative Claims Data Show Increased Morbidity Risk For US Adults In Same-Sex Versus Different-Sex Relationships. Health Aff (Millwood). 2025 Jul; 44(7):846-854. View Abstract
  9. Mammography screening and risk factor prevalence by sexual identity: A comparison of two national surveys. Cancer. 2025 May 15; 131(10):e35852. View Abstract
  10. Differences in Abortion Use by Sexual Orientation in 3 National Cohorts. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 05 01; 8(5):e258644. View Abstract
  11. Disparities in perinatal outcomes among births to same-sex and different-sex married couples: a cross-sectional study using birth certificate data. F S Rep. 2025 Jun; 6(2):177-184. View Abstract
  12. Participants' reactions to the inclusion of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) measures in an established large-scale cohort: The California Teachers Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2025 Apr 16. View Abstract
  13. In Reply. Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Apr 01; 145(4):e138-e139. View Abstract
  14. Use of medically assisted reproduction and the risk of multiple live births across sexual orientation groups-results from a national longitudinal cohort. Fertil Steril. 2025 Aug; 124(2):369-371. View Abstract
  15. Sexual Orientation Disparities in Subjective Cognitive Decline in a Large Cohort of Female Nurses. LGBT Health. 2025 Aug-Sep; 12(6):428-438. View Abstract
  16. Cervical cancer screening and risk factor prevalence by sexual identity: A comparison across three national surveys in the United States. Prev Med. 2025 May; 194:108262. View Abstract
  17. Gender-Affirming Medications Among Transgender Adolescents in the US, 2018-2022. JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Mar 01; 179(3):342-344. View Abstract
  18. Perspectives of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth on Anti-Vaping Messages in Social Media. Nicotine Tob Res. 2025 Jan 22; 27(2):291-299. View Abstract
  19. Barriers, facilitators, and best practices for successful vaping prevention campaigns for sexual and gender minority youth. Ann Behav Med. 2025 Jan 04; 59(1). View Abstract
  20. Natural menopause timing and menopause symptoms among lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual women in the Nurses' Health Study II. Menopause. 2024 Dec 01; 31(12):1049-1054. View Abstract
  21. Mapping the scientific literature on obstetric and perinatal health among sexual and gender minoritized (SGM) childbearing people and their infants: a scoping review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024 Oct 12; 24(1):666. View Abstract
  22. Sexual Orientation-Related Disparities in Neonatal Outcomes. Obstet Gynecol. 2024 Dec 01; 144(6):843-851. View Abstract
  23. Sexual Orientation-Specific Policies Are Associated With Prenatal Care Use in the First Trimester Among Sexual Minority Women: Results From a Prospective Cohort Study. Ann Behav Med. 2024 Aug 07; 58(9):594-602. View Abstract
  24. Sexual orientation disparities in gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2024 Sep; 38(7):545-556. View Abstract
  25. Addressing Gaps in Access to LGBTQIA?+?Health Education Resources: A Novel E-Learning Platform. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2024 Jan-Dec; 11:23821205241262212. View Abstract
  26. Prevalence of Gender-Affirming Surgical Procedures Among Minors and Adults in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 06 03; 7(6):e2418814. View Abstract
  27. Differences in medically assisted reproduction use by sexual identity and partnership: a prospective cohort of cisgender women. Hum Reprod. 2024 06 03; 39(6):1323-1335. View Abstract
  28. Disparities in Mortality by Sexual Orientation in a Large, Prospective Cohort of Female Nurses. JAMA. 2024 05 21; 331(19):1638-1645. View Abstract
  29. Disparities in cancer incidence by sexual orientation. Cancer. 2024 Dec 15; 130(24):4306-4314. View Abstract
  30. Adverse Obstetric and Perinatal Outcomes Among Birthing People in Same-Sex and Different-Sex Relationships in Louisiana. LGBT Health. 2025 Jan; 12(1):61-70. View Abstract
  31. Trajectories of Mental Distress Among US Women by Sexual Orientation and Racialized Group During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Public Health. 2024 05; 114(5):511-522. View Abstract
  32. Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening by Sexual Orientation Among Low-Income Women in North Carolina. Arch Sex Behav. 2024 05; 53(5):1645-1652. View Abstract
  33. Sexual orientation disparities in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024 07; 231(1):e34-e43. View Abstract
  34. Restrictive abortion legislation and adverse mental health during pregnancy and postpartum. Ann Epidemiol. 2024 Apr; 92:47-54. View Abstract
  35. Development of a mentor training curriculum to support LGBTQIA+ health professionals. J Clin Transl Sci. 2024; 8(1):e44. View Abstract
  36. Sexual orientation-related disparities in perinatal mental health among a prospective cohort study. SSM Ment Health. 2024 Jun; 5. View Abstract
  37. Breast and cervical cancer screenings across gender identity: results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancer Causes Control. 2024 May; 35(5):865-872. View Abstract
  38. Health Care Utilization and Care-seeking Behavior Among Vulnerabilized Sexual Minority Women: A Social-ecological Approach. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2024; 35(2):583-604. View Abstract
  39. Mapping the scientific literature on obstetrical and perinatal health among sexual and gender minoritised (SGM) childbearing people and their infants: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open. 2023 11 14; 13(11):e075443. View Abstract
  40. Latino? Latinx? Latine? A Call for Inclusive Categories in Epidemiologic Research. Am J Epidemiol. 2023 11 10; 192(12):1929-1932. View Abstract
  41. Large-Scale Data Harmonization Across Prospective Studies. Am J Epidemiol. 2023 11 10; 192(12):2033-2049. View Abstract
  42. The association between preconception cannabis use and gestational diabetes mellitus: The Preconception Period Analysis of Risks and Exposures Influencing health and Development (PrePARED) consortium. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2024 Jan; 38(1):69-85. View Abstract
  43. Predictors of Fertility-Awareness-Based Method Use Among Women Trying to Conceive and Women Contemplating Pregnancy. Nurs Res. 2023 Sep-Oct 01; 72(5):355-362. View Abstract
  44. Predictors of Fertility Awareness-Based Method Use Among Women Trying to Conceive and Women Contemplating Pregnancy. Nurs Res. 2023 May 05. View Abstract
  45. Pregnancy Intention, Changes in Pregnancy Intention, and Pregnancy Incidence Among Female Nurses in North America. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 05 01; 6(5):e2311301. View Abstract
  46. Harvard Medical School's Sexual and Gender Minority Health Equity Initiative: Curricular and Climate Innovations in Undergraduate Medical Education. Acad Med. 2022 12 01; 97(12):1786-1793. View Abstract
  47. Clinical outcomes and considerations of gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse pediatric and young adult patients with cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023 01; 70(1):e29851. View Abstract
  48. Integrating LGBTQIA?+?Community Member Perspectives into Medical Education. Teach Learn Med. 2023 Aug-Sep; 35(4):442-456. View Abstract
  49. Assessing Fertility Intentions in Patients Presenting for Gender-Affirming Surgery. LGBT Health. 2022 07; 9(5):325-332. View Abstract
  50. Associations between sexual orientation, sex education curriculum, and exposure to affirming/disaffirming LGB content in two US-based cohorts of adolescents. Sex Educ. 2023; 23(5):506-523. View Abstract
  51. Prevalence of Chronic Pelvic Pain by Sexual Orientation in a Large Cohort of Young Women in the United States. J Sex Med. 2022 06 01; 19(6):1012-1023. View Abstract
  52. Prevalence of Chronic Pelvic Pain by Sexual Orientation in a Large Cohort of Young Women in the United States. J Sex Med. 2022 06; 19(6):1012-1023. View Abstract
  53. Sexual Minority Men's Perspectives and Experiences of Adolescent Pregnancy Risk and Pregnancy Prevention Behaviors. J Sex Res. 2022 Sep; 59(7):886-896. View Abstract
  54. Assessing Variations in Sexual Orientation- and Gender Identity-Related U.S. State Laws for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research and Action, 1996-2016. LGBT Health. 2022 04; 9(3):207-216. View Abstract
  55. Human papillomavirus vaccination disparities among U.S. college students: An intersectional Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA). Soc Sci Med. 2022 05; 301:114871. View Abstract
  56. Healthcare providers' perspectives on pregnancy experiences among sexual and gender minority youth. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2022 Jun; 32:100702. View Abstract
  57. Mapping the scientific literature on reproductive health among transgender and gender diverse people: a scoping review. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2021 Dec; 29(1):1886395. View Abstract
  58. Pregnancy prevention and unintended pregnancy across gender identity: a cross-sectional study of college students. Sex Health. 2021 11; 18(5):441-443. View Abstract
  59. Unintended and teen pregnancy experiences of trans masculine people living in the United States. Int J Transgend Health. 2021; 22(1-2):65-76. View Abstract
  60. Sexual Orientation and Age at Menarche in Three U.S. Longitudinal Cohorts. J Adolesc Health. 2022 01; 70(1):163-166. View Abstract
  61. Contraceptive Care Disparities Among Sexual Orientation Identity and Racial/Ethnic Subgroups of U.S. Women: A National Probability Sample Study. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021 10; 30(10):1406-1415. View Abstract
  62. The interaction of sexual orientation and provider-patient communication on sexual and reproductive health in a sample of U.S. women of diverse sexual orientations. Patient Educ Couns. 2022 02; 105(2):466-473. View Abstract
  63. Breakthrough Bleeding in Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents and Young Adults on Long-Term Testosterone. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2021 Oct; 34(5):706-716. View Abstract
  64. Variation in diet quality across sexual orientation in a cohort of U.S. women. Cancer Causes Control. 2021 Jun; 32(6):645-651. View Abstract
  65. Sexual Behavior and Contraceptive Use Among Cisgender and Gender Minority College Students Who Were Assigned Female at Birth. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2021 Aug; 34(4):477-483. View Abstract
  66. Family building desires among transgender and gender expansive adolescents: A longitudinal family-level analysis. Int J Transgend Health. 2021; 22(4):425-439. View Abstract
  67. Sexual Identity and Birth Outcomes: A Focus on the Moderating Role of Race-ethnicity. J Health Soc Behav. 2021 06; 62(2):183-201. View Abstract
  68. Differences in Tobacco Product Use by Sexual Orientation and Violence Factors Among United States Youth. J Pediatr. 2021 06; 233:241-248. View Abstract
  69. Use of media sources in seeking and receiving sexual health information during adolescence among adults of diverse sexual orientations in a US cohort. Sex Educ. 2021; 21(6):723-731. View Abstract
  70. Multiple marginalisation and unintended pregnancy among racial/ethnic and sexual minority college women. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2021 07; 35(4):493-500. View Abstract
  71. Sexual orientation-related differences in contraceptive use: A brief report based on a cohort of adolescent and young women. Contraception. 2021 03; 103(3):195-198. View Abstract
  72. Erectile Dysfunction in a Sample of Sexually Active Young Adult Men from a U.S. Cohort: Demographic, Metabolic and Mental Health Correlates. J Urol. 2021 02; 205(2):539-544. View Abstract
  73. Maternal Comfort with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People and Their Children's Drinking, Smoking, and Disordered Weight Control Behaviors as Adults. LGBT Health. 2020 10; 7(7):375-384. View Abstract
  74. Sexual and reproductive health information: Disparities across sexual orientation groups in two cohorts of U.S. women. Sex Res Social Policy. 2021 Sep; 18(3):612-620. View Abstract
  75. Sexual Orientation Identity Disparities in Mammography Among White, Black, and Latina U.S. Women. LGBT Health. 2020 Jul 13. View Abstract
  76. Indoor Ultraviolet Tanning Among U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults: Results From a Prospective Study of Early Onset and Persistence. J Adolesc Health. 2020 10; 67(4):609-611. View Abstract
  77. Quality of Life in Adolescent and Young Adult Women With Dyspareunia and Endometriosis. J Adolesc Health. 2020 10; 67(4):557-561. View Abstract
  78. Sexual Orientation Differences in Cervical Cancer Prevention among a Cohort of U.S. Women. Womens Health Issues. 2020 Jul - Aug; 30(4):306-312. View Abstract
  79. Sexual Orientation and Suicide Attempt Disparities Among US Adolescents: 2009-2017. Pediatrics. 2020 03; 145(3). View Abstract
  80. Sexual orientation-related disparities in healthcare access in three cohorts of U.S. adults. Prev Med. 2020 03; 132:105999. View Abstract
  81. Sexual orientation and benign breast disease in a cohort of U.S. women. Cancer Causes Control. 2020 Feb; 31(2):173-179. View Abstract
  82. Sexual Orientation Differences in Pregnancy and Abortion Across the Lifecourse. Womens Health Issues. 2020 Mar - Apr; 30(2):65-72. View Abstract
  83. The contraceptive and reproductive history and planning goals of trans-masculine adults: a mixed-methods study. Contraception. 2019 12; 100(6):468-473. View Abstract
  84. Sexual orientation inequalities during provider-patient interactions in provider encouragement of sexual and reproductive health care. Prev Med. 2019 09; 126:105787. View Abstract
  85. Structural stigma and sexual orientation-related reproductive health disparities in a longitudinal cohort study of female adolescents. J Adolesc. 2019 07; 74:183-187. View Abstract
  86. Teen Pregnancy Experiences of Sexual Minority Women. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2019 Oct; 32(5):499-505. View Abstract
  87. Contraceptive use by women across different sexual orientation groups. Contraception. 2019 09; 100(3):202-208. View Abstract
  88. Positive parenting improves multiple aspects of health and well-being in young adulthood. Nat Hum Behav. 2019 07; 3(7):684-691. View Abstract
  89. Maternal Factors and Sexual Orientation-Related Disparities in Cervical Cancer Prevention. Womens Health Issues. 2019 May - Jun; 29(3):238-244. View Abstract
  90. Sexual Orientation and Exposure to Violence Among U.S. Patients Undergoing Abortion. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 09; 132(3):605-611. View Abstract
  91. Sexual orientation-related disparities in employment, health insurance, healthcare access and health-related quality of life: a cohort study of US male and female adolescents and young adults. BMJ Open. 2018 07 26; 8(6):e020418. View Abstract
  92. Sexual-orientation differences in alcohol use trajectories and disorders in emerging adulthood: results from a longitudinal cohort study in the United States. Addiction. 2018 Apr 21. View Abstract
  93. Teen Pregnancy Risk Factors Among Young Women of Diverse Sexual Orientations. Pediatrics. 2018 04; 141(4). View Abstract
  94. Addressing the dearth of critical gender analysis in public health and medical pedagogy: an interdisciplinary seminar to generate student-created teaching examples. Crit Public Health. 2019; 29(1):18-26. View Abstract
  95. Teenage pregnancy prevention: the role of young men. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2017 Aug; 29(4):393-398. View Abstract
  96. Stigma and Health-Related Quality of Life in Sexual Minorities. Am J Prev Med. 2017 Oct; 53(4):559-566. View Abstract
  97. Sexual Orientation Disparities in Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in a Longitudinal Cohort of U.S. Males and Females. LGBT Health. 2017 06; 4(3):202-209. View Abstract
  98. Decrements in health-related quality of life associated with gender nonconformity among U.S. adolescents and young adults. Qual Life Res. 2017 08; 26(8):2129-2138. View Abstract
  99. Changes in Reported Sexual Orientation Following US States Recognition of Same-Sex Couples. Am J Public Health. 2016 Dec; 106(12):2202-2204. View Abstract
  100. Sexual orientation identity disparities in human papillomavirus vaccination initiation and completion among young adult US women and men. Cancer Causes Control. 2016 10; 27(10):1187-96. View Abstract
  101. A prospective study of oral contraceptive use and colorectal adenomas. Cancer Causes Control. 2016 06; 27(6):749-57. View Abstract
  102. Characterization of Seven Outbreaks of Hemorrhagic Hepatopathy Syndrome in Commercial Pullets Following the Administration of a Salmonella Enteritidis Bacterin in California. Avian Dis. 2016 Mar; 60(1):33-42. View Abstract
  103. Disparities by Sexual Orientation in Frequent Engagement in Cancer-Related Risk Behaviors: A 12-Year Follow-Up. Am J Public Health. 2016 Apr; 106(4):698-706. View Abstract
  104. Maternal use of oral contraceptives and risk of birth defects in Denmark: prospective, nationwide cohort study. BMJ. 2016 Jan 06; 352:h6712. View Abstract
  105. Oral contraceptive use and colorectal cancer in the Nurses' Health Study I and II. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2015 Aug; 24(8):1214-21. View Abstract
  106. Oral contraceptive use and mortality after 36 years of follow-up in the Nurses' Health Study: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2014 Oct 31; 349:g6356. View Abstract
  107. A cervical abnormality risk prediction model: can we use clinical information to predict which patients with ASCUS/LSIL Pap tests will develop CIN 2/3 or AIS? J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2013 Jul; 17(3):242-7. View Abstract
  108. Sexual orientation differences in teen pregnancy and hormonal contraceptive use: an examination across 2 generations. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Sep; 209(3):204.e1-8. View Abstract
  109. Influence of hormonal contraceptive use and health beliefs on sexual orientation disparities in Papanicolaou test use. Am J Public Health. 2014 Feb; 104(2):319-25. View Abstract
  110. Reproductive health screening disparities and sexual orientation in a cohort study of U.S. adolescent and young adult females. J Adolesc Health. 2011 Nov; 49(5):505-10. View Abstract
  111. J of Sex Res. Diseased and damaged: a review of Damaged Goods? Women Living with Incurable Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2009; 4(47):405-407. View Abstract
  112. Sex, gender, and love on a global scale: a review of Love and Globalization: Transformations of Intimacy in the Contemporary World. J of Sex Res. 2008; 4(45):399-401. View Abstract
  113. Practical progressive: how to build a twenty-first century political movement, Payne, E (ed). The conservative infrastructure. 2008. View Abstract

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