OutLive

by Eric A.T. Dieckman

TO BETTER HEALTH

Medicos urge candor for all and complete exams for women

Originally, for this article my editor gave me the angle “What medical professionals wish their GLBT patients would tell them.” In interviewing some local medical people, however, I found some good news on that front and some cause for awareness.

The good news: There’s nothing a GLBT patient need tell a physician to better suit medical treatment. No dentists we talked to claimed gay teeth require treatment unique from that of straight teeth, no pun intended (though in July a New Hampshire dentist lost his state license for refusing to treat a lesbian patient). No ophthalmologist claimed gay eyes are any different from straight eyes (except maybe they have a little more sparkle). One chiropractor commented that he likes to know where his GLBT patients learned about him, so he knows where to advertise, but that’s hardly a medical issue, is it Dr. Down-to-Business?

A few psychotherapists remarked that some patients wrestle with sexual identity crises, which of course is not limited to the GLBT community. If you’re among that group, consider counseling.

But the major noteworthy input came from obstetrician/gynecologists. Apparently, some lesbians believe they do not require regular Pap smears if they have never had intercourse with a man. Regardless of sexual activity, Pap smears—tests for female genital cancer—are necessary. The OB/GYNs we talked to have noticed a large number of lesbians who do not have regular mammograms (of course, lack of insurance can more frequently be a health-care impediment for women than for men). As the son of a breast cancer survivor, this writer urges you to perform regular self-checks and take the time for an annual checkup. The price of negligence is way too costly, on you, your partner, your family, and friends.

Here’s what some of the medical people we talked to had to say.

• Barbara Levinson, Ph.D., RN, LMFT

Center for Healthy Sexuality

“I don’t think gays, lesbians and bisexuals have the market on any particular problem. When someone comes to see me, it might be for sexually compulsive behavior, intimacy problems in a relationship, lack of sexual desire or arousal. These are problems that people—no matter what their sexual orientation—have. I might have to take a look at the situation if they have some internalized homophobia, as you would for anyone who was having problems with their own self-esteem and not liking themselves. Some people have identity issues or are not comfortable with their sexual preferences and want to explore that.”

• Carolyn L. Gardiner, M.D.

Women’s health

“I’ve had heterosexual people who I wish would be more forthcoming with information rather than me having to try to pry things out of them. And I can say that’s equally found with folks who are homosexual as well. I don’t really see any difference. The only difference I can see with regard to gay and lesbian issues, especially lesbian issues, has to do with misconceptions regarding what ladies need with regard to preventative health care. A lot of ladies think that if they’ve never been sexually active with a gentleman, they don’t need a Pap smear, which is completely untrue. I just find in my own practice that heterosexual women are a lot more apt to come in and have a routine mammogram on a yearly or every-other-year basis than, say, a lesbian would. I’m not sure why that is.”

• Sterling H. Weaver II, M.D.

Gynecologist (who will soon offer free, regular healthy-women exams at the Houston GLBT Community Center)

“One of the things that I often find is with my lesbian patients—they are often reticent to tell me that they actually have male sexual partners. I ask all patients whether they have males, females, or both as their sexual partners in a nonjudgmental way so I have a better idea as to how to treat them. It is indeed very helpful for me as part of their screening and risk assessment to know that they have other sexual partners and partners that are male. I can then counsel them a little bit differently regarding their risk for sexually transmitted diseases and that sort of thing.

“For whatever reason, many [lesbians] limit their access to health care until they absolutely need it. A lot of female patients who don’t have male sexual partners feel as if their risk for sexually transmitted diseases is less than a woman’s who has male sexual partners. New literature is stating that is not true. Many sexually transmitted diseases can be passed from woman to woman, especially HPV (Human Papillomavirus). I’ve been urging my patients that not only do they need to be tested but they need to have their partner tested as well, especially if their partner has a history of sexual relationships with men.”

Eric Dieckman reported on the new Cabo Montrose in the August issue.

FOR MORE HELP

The nonprofit Lesbian Health Initiative promotes women’s health in the GLBT community. LHI will have an information booth at the October 25 Houston Women’s Festival at Jones Plaza downtown. The next LHI Health Fair at Montrose Clinic is set for June 14, 2004. The website www.lhihouston.org provides details and links to other useful health sites, including www.thebreastcancersite.com, www.womenalive.org, and www.mamm.com.

Though not specifically targeted to lesbians, the October 18 health fair sponsored by the Houston Gynecological & Obstetrical Society will serve all women through a range of no-cost tests and screenings. Offered on a first-come, first-served basis, these include exams for bone density/osteoporosis, cancer awareness, hormone replacement therapy, and pulmonary function. The health fair will be held at the Joseph P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science (1515 Hermann Dr.). More info: www.hgos.org, 713/661-1839.

If you have any comments about this article, please email them to letters@outsmartmagazine.com.