A new study could change the way transgender people consider gender affirmation surgery, according to the Advocate.

The Advocate reports a study unveiled at the 36th Annual National Society of Genetic Counselors found that doctors should discuss family history of breast cancer with transgender patients before gender affirmation surgery, testing them for the gene that indicates an increased risk of breast cancer. If that gene (the BRCA1 or BRCA2) is present, patients considering top surgery may opt for a mastectomy, rather than typical top surgery that leaves some breast tissue in place, to achieve the same results while also decreasing their chance at getting breast cancer later in life, the NSGC suggested, according to the Advocate. Ultimately, the testing for or finding the BRCA gene isn’t a reason not to surgically transition, the Advocate reports, but rather a way to help transgender people stay healthier.

One reason why medical professionals might not question transgender people about their family’s history with breast cancer the way they might with a cisgender patient is for fear of being offensive, Rosalba Sacca, a genetic counselor from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, said in a statement to the Advocate.

“Some healthcare providers are afraid to ask relevant medical questions of their transgender patients because they fear it may be offensive. But awareness and testing are important because they may impact their decisions,” Sacca said.

Overall, healthcare for transgender people is lacking. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, transgender people continue to face discrimination in healthcare settings, despite federal laws making it illegal. The American Medical Student Association points out transgender people are at increased risk for HIV, face stigma in healthcare settings, and are less likely to get preventative cancer screenings. In 2015, one in five transgender people postponed getting healthcare for fear of discrimination.

But making more transgender people aware of their BRCA risks, Sacca told the Advocate, can help them access better care.

“Rather than being a barrier to transitioning, genetic counseling can benefit transgender individuals at risk for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations by helping them understand their cancer risks and the choices available to them to manage those risks,” she said.

Related: Transgender Teen Denied Chest Surgery by Insurance Provider