Search Filters/Hedges
Search filters (aka search hedges) are pre-drafted lists of terms to help create a focused search strategy. They’re here to help you save time and energy. Simply copy and paste these terms into your search strategy.
Below is an example of a search filter for LGBTQIA+ communities in different databases:
- PubMed: (“bisexuality”[mesh] OR “health services for transgender persons”[mesh] OR “homosexuality”[mesh] OR “homosexuality, male”[mesh] OR “homosexuality, female”[mesh] OR “intersex persons”[mesh] OR “sexual and gender minorities”[mesh] OR “transgender persons”[mesh] OR “transsexualism”[mesh])
- Keywords: (agender* OR allosexual* OR androgyn* OR androsexual* OR asexual* OR bigender* OR bisexual* OR cis OR cisgender* OR cismale OR cisfemale OR demisexual* OR f2m OR FTM OR f to m OR female to male OR gay OR gender minorit* OR gender nonconforming OR gender minority OR gynosexual* OR hermaphrod* OR homosexual* OR intergender* OR inter gender* OR intersex* OR LBG OR LBGT OR LBGTQ OR LBGTQIA OR LGB OR LGBT OR LBGTQ OR LBGTQIA OR lesbian* OR m2f OR MTF OR M to F OR male to female OR monoamorous OR monosexual* OR nonbinary OR non binary OR pangender* OR pansexual* OR polyamorous OR polysexual* OR queer* OR sexual minorit* OR trans OR transgender* OR transsexual* OR trans gender OR transmasculin* OR transfeminin* OR trans sexual* OR trans masculin* OR trans feminin*)
This LGBTQ Search Filter was created by Carrie Price, MLIS.
Alternatively, you can try any combination of the following in PubMed:
- LGBTQ+: ("bisexuality"[Mesh] OR "homosexuality"[Mesh] OR gay*[tiab] OR lesbian*[tiab] OR bisexual*[tiab] OR homosexual*[tiab] OR same sex[tiab] OR same gender[tiab] OR sexual minorit*[tiab] OR transgender*[tiab] OR transsexual*[tiab] OR MSM[tiab] OR men who have sex with men[tiab] OR "transgender persons"[Mesh] OR "sex reassignment surgery"[Mesh] OR "sex reassignment procedures"[Mesh:noexp] OR "health services for transgender persons"[Mesh] OR "homosexuality, female"[Mesh] OR lesbian*[tiab])
- Bisexual: (bisexual*[tiab] OR “bisexuality”[mesh])
- Women who have sex with Women (WSW): “homosexuality, female"[Mesh] OR lesbian*[tiab]
- Men who have sex with Men (MSM): MSM[tiab] OR gay[tiab] OR homosexual*[tiab] OR "homosexuality"[Mesh:noexp] OR "homosexuality, male"[Mesh] OR men who have sex with men[tiab]
- Trans* : (transsexualism[Mesh] OR "gender identity"[Mesh:noexp] OR "transgender persons"[Mesh] OR "sex reassignment surgery"[Mesh] OR "sex reassignment procedures"[Mesh:noexp] OR "health services for transgender persons"[Mesh] OR transgender*[tiab] OR transsexual*[tiab] OR "gender identity"[tiab] OR "male-to-female"[tiab] OR "female-to-male"[tiab] OR "sex reassignment"[tiab] OR "gender dysphoria"[tiab] OR "trans men"[tiab] OR cross gender*[tiab] OR "gender reassignment"[tiab] OR "trans people"[tiab] OR "gender change"[tiab] OR "gender transition"[tiab] OR "trans female"[tiab] OR "trans women"[tiab])
This LGBTQ Search Filter was created by: Parker RMN, Wanner A, Foster M, Lackey M. Design and validation of a search filter for LGBTQ+ populations. Abstracts of the 25th Cochrane Colloquium, Edinburgh, UK. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018;(9 Suppl 1). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD201801. SEE ALSO https://colloquium2018.cochrane.org/abstracts/design-and-validation-search-filter-lgbtq-populations
Please note, occasionally outdated and potentially offensive terminology may be used in search hedges. These terms are included to ensure that the widest array of research can be found; older research may use terms that we no longer use today.