Health

Guide to LGBTQ+ Sexual Health



By Dr. Justin

LGBTQ Community

Most of us don’t learn everything we need to know about sexual health through sex education courses, but this is especially true for LGBTQ+ people. In fact, a recent report found that, of LGBTQ+ students who had had sex at school, only 8.2% said it was LGBTQ+.

In other words, less than 1 in 10 gender and sexual minorities who say they have received gender information have even talked to them. Unfortunately, this means that most LGBTQ+ people need to educate themselves; However, finding accurate and reliable educational sources can be challenging. So let’s discuss some of the key things you need to know about being LGBTQ+ and managing your sexual health.

Looking for a supplier that is LGBTQ + Affirmative

When LGBTQ+ people experience bias and discrimination in the health care system, this can cause patients to avoid or delay seeking care when they need and/or need care. their sexual health care is inadequate. For these reasons, it’s important to find knowledgeable healthcare providers who won’t shame or judge you for who you are.

rainbow stethoscope

Whether you’re looking for a doctor or therapist, here are some tips for finding a certified provider:

  • Ask LGBTQ+ friends for their recommendations. Some of them have been through this process before and can help you determine who to watch and who to avoid.
  • If you’re uncomfortable asking for recommendations or you don’t find any helpful leads, search online databases that can help you identify reliable vendors. For example, if you are looking for medical providers, the GLMA has a useful search engine to find LGBTQ-friendly professionals in your local area. Similarly, WPATH’s search engine may be of value if you are looking for specialists in transgender health.
  • Need a sex therapist? Use the search engine on the AASECT website to find sex therapy certified providers by an organization that values ​​and respects gender and sexual diversity.
  • Local clinics (such as Planned Parenthood), as well as local LGBTQ centers, may also have helpful resources available.

Unfortunately, you may not always be able to see the provider of your choice due to coverage restrictions. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you don’t feel comfortable, look around and try other providers to determine the best fit possible.

Take charge of your sexual health

In an ideal world, doctors would often ask patients about their sexual health needs. Unfortunately, however, many doctors don’t do this, often because they’re worried about offending their patients. So if your provider doesn’t bring it up, start the conversation so it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Be prepared for your questions and what you want to discuss. Practice them first if that helps. And if you see the nurse before your doctor, you can let them know so the doctor is sure to bring up the problem.

Also remember that if you don’t visit your provider, they cannot necessarily provide you with optimal care. Therefore, it is important to be open and direct.

Talk About Safer Sex and Make STI Screening Part of Your Routine Care

Many LGBTQ+ groups are disproportionately burdened by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so it is important to make sex safer and STIs a part of the world. part of the conversation.

There are many things your doctor can help you with when it comes to reducing your risk of an STI. Including:

  • Get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus spread by skin-to-skin contact that can cause genital warts and some cancers, including cervical, anal, and neck cancers throat. Research has found this vaccine to be safe and effective, so if you haven’t already, discuss with your provider if it’s right for you.
  • Vaccination against hepatitis A (which can be transmitted orally-anal) and B (which can be transmitted through vaginal and anal intercourse, as well as oral sex), both of which can hurt liver injury. Again, talk to your doctor about whether this vaccine is right for you.
  • Get a prescription for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV. PrEP is a daily medication that some studies have shown to be 99% effective at preventing HIV transmission. HIV is a virus that is mainly spread through vaginal and anal sex, so depending on your sexual practices, it can be a very useful tool to reduce your risk. sick. However, keep in mind that PrEP only provides protection against HIV, so it is not a substitute for condoms when it comes to protection against other infections.
  • In addition to PrEP, some doctors may prescribe oral antibiotics after unprotected sex to reduce the risk of chlamydia and gonorrhea. Studies have shown that antibiotics taken during 24-72 hours of unprotected sex can significantly reduce the rate of infection for some bacterial STIs. It is not currently a widespread treatment but is increasingly being used for people at high risk of the disease.
  • Depending on your sexual health history and needs, your doctor may have other recommendations. For example, you may need to discuss your need for contraception with your doctor, if you have one, as the most effective methods of contraception are currently available by prescription only (eg, pill, patch, ring). .

As you can see, safe sex isn’t just about condoms — there are many other precautions you can take to maintain your sexual health and get the best protection. possible by combining multiple methods.

Once you’ve got your mind on the safer sex side of things, figure out a routine to check for STIs. However, different frequencies may work better for different people. For example, if you only have sex with one partner, once a year may be fine. Also, if you have multiple partners and you’re not a consistent condom user, it could be every three months.

Couple enjoying coffee

Discuss the sexual problem areas

Some studies have found that rates of sexual difficulties are higher in some LGBTQ+ groups. For example, emerging evidence suggests that gay men are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than heterosexual men.

Regardless of the difficulty, many people feel uncomfortable presenting this problem in the doctor’s office because they feel embarrassed or embarrassed; however, if you don’t let your provider know, they can’t help. However, by being open to talking about things like STIs, it can make it easier to discuss other aspects of sexual health, including sexual difficulties, whenever they arise. presently.

Your healthcare provider is best equipped to help you determine the cause of any sexual problems as they can have many potential roots. For example, difficulty can be related to broader health issues (such as chronic illness and hormonal imbalances), stress and anxiety, as well as relationship conflict. Determining the cause is paramount to determining the most appropriate treatment.

Don’t neglect your mental health, because mental health can affect sexual health

The LGBTQ+ community is bearing a disproportionate burden of mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. Research shows that this stems, at least in part, from frequent experiences with prejudice and discrimination.

mental health problems

This impact on mental health can affect sexual health in many ways, such as increasing the incidence of certain sexual difficulties. For example, depression and anxiety can often make it hard to be and stay high. In addition, for some individuals, Depression can lead to more risky sex behavior as a coping mechanism.

At the same time, however, sexual health problems (such as STIs and sexual difficulties) can contribute to or create mental health problems. So, taking care of your sexual health includes taking care of both your body and mind.

Takeaways

Very few LGBTQ+ people are taught what they need to know to optimize their sexual health. For healthy sexual health, it is essential to find proven and equipped providers to manage your needs, take charge of your sexual health during office visits and communicate openly, and adopt safe sex practices that are appropriate for your sex life.

Presenter:

Barbonetti, A., D’Andrea, S., Cavallo, F., Martorella, A., Francavilla, S., & Francavilla, F. (2019). Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation in homosexual and heterosexual men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies.Journal of sexual medicine,16(5), 624-632.

Bostwick, WB, Boyd, CJ, Hughes, TL, West, BT, & McCabe, SE (2014). Discrimination and mental health among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in the United States.American Journal of Psychiatry,84(1), 35.

Grant, RM, Anderson, PL, McMahan, V., Liu, A., Amico, KR, Mehrotra, M.,… & iPrEx Research Team. (2014). Application of pre-exposure prophylaxis, sexual practices, and HIV prevalence among transgender men and women who have sex with men: a cohort study.Lancet’s Infectious Diseases,14(9), 820-829.

Lehmiller, JJ (2017). Human sexual psychology (Second edition). Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

Markowitz, LE, Hariri, S., Lin, C., Dunne, EF, Steinau, M., McQuillan, G., & Unger, ER (2013). Reduction in human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence in young women following the introduction of the HPV vaccine in the United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003–2010.Journal of Infectious Diseases,208(3), 385-393.

Molina, JM, Charreau, I., Chidiac, C., Pialoux, G., Crab, E., Delaugerre, C.,… & Lorente, N. (2018). Post-exposure prophylaxis with doxycycline to prevent sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men: an open-label randomized baseline study of the ANRS IPERGAY trial.Lancet infectious diseases,18(3), 308-317.



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