Here’s Why Your Doctor Needs To Know If You’re LGBT+
By Laken Brooks
In 2017, Jaden Fields went to the gynecologist. Jaden worried that he might have fibroids or another serious medical issue, but the gynecologist dismissed both Jaden’s physical pain and his gender identity. Jaden is a transgender man and health advocate, and he recollects his experience in an Insider article: “The doctor said it’s a shame I would never be able to have children because ‘this kind of thing [gender-affirming hormone treatment] makes people sterile.’ Even though I came in complaining of pain in my uterus and was concerned about fibroids, she didn’t believe me and said maybe it wasn’t as bad as I claimed.”
The threat of medical discrimination often dissuades LGBTQ+ people from coming out to medical professionals. Closeted patients may miss out on valuable health information if they don’t inform their doctor about their gender identity, sex, and sexual orientation.
Should LGBTQ+ patients come out to their doctors? How can your practitioner offer you better medical care when they know about your gender identity and your sexual orientation?
Why Some LGBTQ+ People Dread Medical Appointments
An LGBTQ+ person may hesitate to come out to their gynecologist if they worry that their doctor will treat them unfairly based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. For example, Jaden told Insider that he had been mistreated during gynecologist visits on several occasions: “For years, I hadn’t been to the gynecologist because I didn’t want to go through the kinds of experiences I’ve had with medical providers in the past, like being misgendered, asked invasive questions, and not being given clear answers to [my medical] concerns.”
Jaden’s experiences are part of a larger problem of transphobia and homophobia in the healthcare industry. Axios reports that over ⅓ of LGBTQ+ Americans say that they’ve had a negative experience at a doctor’s office. These experiences can include traumatic situations like sexual harassment, being misgendered, doctors who are uneducated about LGBTQ+ issues, and doctors who outright refuse to treat LGBTQ+ patients. LGBTQ+ people may feel even more uncomfortable when they’re visiting a gynecologist. Many doctors prioritize treating fibroids, endometriosis, and other menstrual conditions when these illnesses are prevent a woman from having biological children.
This narrow focus on fertility and gender may isolate LGBTQ+ people. Jaden says, “My experience with that gynecologist soured me on even thinking about my reproductive health.” Many LGBTQ+ people report avoiding preventative treatments and gynecological screenings because they fear that they, too, will be judged, harassed, or misunderstood by their doctor. But when LGBTQ+ people don’t feel comfortable being open and honest with their doctors, they may not receive the reproductive care that they need.
The Potential Benefits of Coming Out to Your Doctor
If LGBTQ+ people worry about medical discrimination, they may wonder why they would need to risk coming out to their doctor in the first place. Some transgender men like Jaden may avoid visiting a gynecologist because the appointment may trigger gender dysphoria. If you’re a trans man, that distress can spike when someone refuses to call you by your pronouns or when a practitioner refers to your uterus as “women’s parts.”
However, your doctor needs to know about your gender, sex, and sexuality to provide you with the best possible care. Different people need different doses of medicine depending on their metabolism. Sometimes, biological sex can impact the way your body reacts to medication. People who have vaginas tend to have more body fat than people born with penises; medication that is “fat-soluble” may take more or less time than expected to take effect. However, people who have penises may respond better to antifungal medicines because these patients have more gastric acid than patients who have vaginas.
If a transgender person has menstrual problems or pelvic pain, they may wait to seek medical care until their symptoms become unbearable. But that patient may have a serious chronic condition. If a chronic illness like endometriosis is causing that patient’s pain, it is vital that they seek early diagnosis to prevent further tissue damage in the uterus, bowels, and other organs. Illnesses can worsen over time when they are left untreated, and living in pain can reduce a patient’s quality of life. When a transgender patient trusts that they will receive equal care, without discrimination, that patient may be more likely to seek prompt medical care.
Sexually active LGBTQ+ patients who have a supportive doctor may feel more comfortable asking questions about safe sex and STI tests.
Patients who are on hormone therapy will also need to consult their gynecologist. Some transgender men and nonbinary people opt for testosterone treatments. Patients can take testosterone alongside hormonal birth control or other hormone therapies. But if a gynecologist does not know that their patient is taking testosterone, they may accidentally prescribe unsafe or ineffective hormone treatments.
Resources for LGBTQ+ Patients
Gynecology visits can be vulnerable and distressing, especially for LGBTQ+ people. Coming out is a difficult choice. Some patients may not feel like they can trust their doctor with this personal information. If you’re seeking a supportive doctor in your area, consider asking your local LGBTQ+ center for recommendations. Some LGBTQ+ health centers provide gynecological exams, chest cancer screenings, and other gender-inclusive medical visits.
Complete Article ↪HERE↩!