LGBT Health Disparities: What is missing?

 

With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) being implemented and recent advances in marriage equality, health and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) individuals have been at the forefront of American politics. However, these two topics are not often intersected, and the health disparities within the LGBT community are not often discussed within the general population. Health disparities for LGBT individuals are significant and worth taking a look at, considering there are 8.8 million LGBT individuals living in the United States.

Although American society is making great strides to become more accepting, many LGBT youth are living in detrimental environments, whether that be at home, school, or both. In a study conducted by the Center for American Progress, 35% of LGBT youth had recorded suicidal thought versus the 10% of heterosexual youth. In adults, 50% of transgender individuals reported suicidal thoughts, compared to 2% of heterosexual adults and 5% of LGB adults. LGBT adults are more likely to experience psychological distress and need medication for mental health issues than their heterosexual counterparts.

These mental health problems are merely the tip of the iceberg, as the risks for obesity, certain cancers, and other health problems are more likely to be seen in LGBT individuals than the overall population. These problems are often a result of many LGBT individuals feeling uncomfortable within the health care systems. Many fear a negative reaction from their provider based on previous experiences. Lesbian women are less likely to receive mammograms and pap smears, as they do not need to go to an Ob/Gyn for birth control and pregnancy concerns. In addition, men who have transitioned from a female (FTM) still retain their female genitalia. While they identify as a man and may legally be a man, they still need to get pap smears to ensure reproductive health. FTM individuals may avoid this check-up due to feelings of genital dysphoria or fear that their provider will be insensitive to their unique needs.

Questions to Consider

What can we do, as individuals, to make society more inclusive? As future health care providers, what can we do to ensure excellent care for members of the LGBT community?

Resources:

 https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/report/2009/12/21/7048/how-to-close-the-lgbt-health-disparities-gap/