Emerging
Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.

Measuring Sex, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Release Date:

Summary Report/Recommendations

Policy Change/ Development
Social and Community Context
Tools Included
Outside U.S.
Clipboard

Data Collection and Reporting

This report recommends that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) adopt new practices for collecting data on sex, gender, and sexual orientation — including collecting gender data by default, and not conflating gender with sex as a biological variable. The report recommends standardized language to be used in survey questions that ask about a respondent’s sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Better measurements will improve data quality, as well as the NIH’s ability to identify LGBTQI+ populations and understand the challenges they face.

Resource Details

Outcomes of Interest

Improve Data Infrastructure

Priority Population(s)

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Persons

Setting(s) of Implementation

Geographic Area of Implementation

Implementation Period

2022