Gay and Lesbian Health Health Article

Prevention

There are numerous ways that health care providers can improve the access to and experience of health care services for LGBT individuals. These include:

• rewording questionnaires and examinations to be inclusive of LGBT patients
• providing referrals to social service agencies and counseling services that are LGBT-friendly
• taking educational courses that are sensitive to the needs of LGBT patients
• treating the families of LGBT patients as one would the families of heterosexual patients
• maintaining the strictest code of confidentiality
• developing and maintaining health care centers or clinics that address LGBT-specific needs
• asking non-threatening questions to determine if a person is at risk of an STD
• educating patients of risk factors associated with STDs, possible vaccines, and treatments available
• providing services to individuals in the process of disclosing their sexual identity and, if applicable, their families

ORGANIZATIONS

Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. 459 Fulton Street, Suite 107, San Francisco, CA 94102. (415) 225-4547. <http://www.glma.org>.

Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. 1726 M Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036. (202) 467-8180. <http://www.pflag.org>.

OTHER

Albert, Sarah. "Lesbians and Gays More Likely to Smoke, Survey Says." GayHealth Website. 16 May 2001. <http://www.gayhealth.com/templates/99022445042572021484300001/news/index.html?record=554>.

Dean, Laura, Ilan H. Meyer, Kevin Robinson, Randall L. Sell, Robert Sember, Vincent M. B. Silenzio, Deborah J. Bowen, Judith Bradford, Esther Rothblum, Jocelyn White, Patricia Dunn, Ann Lawrence, Daniel Wolfe, and Jessica Xavier. "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health: Findings and Concerns." Journal of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. October 2000. <http://www.glma.org/pub/jglma/vol4/3/index.html>.

Garbo, Jon. "FDA Approves Combo Vaccine for Hepatitis A and B." GayHealth Website. 14 May 2001. <http://www.gayhealth.com/templates/99022462467343139648300002/news?record=553>.

"Healthy People 2010 Companion Document for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Health." Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. April 2001. <http://www.glma.org/policy/hp2010/index.html>.

Stéphanie Islane Dionne

KEY TERMS

Gender identity disorder—a mental disorder in which cross-gender identification (including wanting to live and be treated as the other sex) causes distress or impairment of normal function.

Pharyngitis—inflammation of the cavity at the back of the mouth.

Proctitis—inflammation of the rectum.

Nulliparity—never having carried a pregnancy.

Transvestic fetishism—a mental disorder in which fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving cross-dressing cause distress or impairment of normal function.

Urethritis—inflammation of the urethra.