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 2001: Sexual Health Remains Mostly a Taboo Subject Ignorance Reigns about STDs, HIV, HPV & Hepatitis |
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A GayHealth.Com Survey
New York, New York--Four out of ten health care providers don't ask their gay and lesbian patients about their sexual practices, according to the second annual GayHealth.com online survey. Avoiding the subject of sex puts these patients at risk for HIV, HPV (human papillomavirus) and other sexually transmitted infections.
Over 35% of men and 44% of women surveyed said their doctors never ask them about sexual practices, and 22% of men and 30% of women said their doctors "rarely" ask. The survey, conducted between April 12 and May 18, 2001, included 184 women and 724 men. "It's crucial for doctors to talk to and educate their patients about sexual health, especially their gay and lesbian patients who may feel stigmatized and uncomfortable with the subject," explains GayHealth.com's medical director, Stephen Goldstone, M.D., F.A.C.S.
The survey also found that many lesbians are not getting the gynecological care they need. Almost 18% of women surveyed said they've never visited a gynecologist, and 23% said they haven't visited a gynecologist in over two years. "Regular gynecological exams -- including pap, pelvic and breast exams -- are extremely important for lesbians because they can detect abnormalities," warns Kathleen DeBold, executive director of the Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer. "Yearly pap smears are our best defense against cervical cancer." Most cervical cancers are caused by HPV, which can be spread by woman-to-woman contact. |
