Post by JC on Nov 24, 2009 10:25:17 GMT -5
Health Issues of Women Who Partner With Women
All women should receive regular healthcare and preventive screenings, regardless of sexual orientation. Women who partner with women are not immune to health issues; and in some
cases, may be at even greater risk. The following information is provided to help both lesbian women and healthcare providers become more aware of these health concerns. Remember,you have the right to be treated with dignity and respect from your healthcare provider. You have the right to be listened to and understood.
Heart health
Heart disease is the #1 killer of all women, but important factors that raise women’s risk for heart disease—such as obesity, smoking, and stress—affect lesbians at disproportionate rates. Research has shown that:
• Lesbians have a higher body mass index (BMI) than heterosexual women, and tend to be less concerned about weight issues. Lesbians are also less likely to eat the recommended number of servings of fruit and vegetables.
• Lesbians are more likely to smoke cigarettes than heterosexual women.
• Lesbians may face chronic stress due to homophobic discrimination.
All lesbians need to get an annual clinical exam to check blood pressure, measure cholesterol, and screen for diabetes. Lesbians should also receive competent and supportive advice about healthy living, eating, exercise, and tobacco use. Preventing heart
disease should be paramount to every clinical visit.
Breast cancer
Lesbians have the richest concentration of risk factors for breast cancer than any subset of women in the world. Combine this with the fact that many lesbians over 40 do not get routine mammograms, do breast self‐exams, or have a clinical breast exam, and this cancer may elude early diagnosis, when it is most curable. Lesbian women need to recognize their risk for breast cancer and discuss preventive behaviors and screenings with their health care provider.
Gynecologic cancers
Lesbians have higher risks than heterosexual women for uterine, cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Reasons for these risk factors in lesbians include:
• Being less likely to bear children. Hormones released during pregnancy and breastfeeding are believed to protect women against some of these cancers.
• Higher rates of alcohol use, smoking, obesity, and poor nutrition.
• Being less likely to obtain routine screenings.
Having a yearly exam by a gynecologist, and discussing preventive screenings with their health care provider, can significantly facilitate early diagnosis and a better chance of cure.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Lesbian women are at risk for many of the same STDs as heterosexual women. Lesbian women can transmit STDs to each other through skin‐to‐skin contact, mucosa contact, vaginal fluids, and menstrual blood. Sharing sex toys is another method of transmitting STDs. (sorry to be frank) These are common STDs that can be passed between women:
• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) – this STD is more common in lesbian/bisexual women than heterosexual women and frequently occurs in both members of lesbian couples
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) – this STD can lead to cancer if not detected early
• Trichomoniasis (Trich)
• Herpes
Other potential STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis B. Lesbian women should know they are not immune to STDs, and be sure to receive all recommended screenings for women who are sexually active, regardless of sexual orientation.
Depression/anxiety
Many factors cause depression and anxiety among all women, but studies show lesbian and bisexual women report higher rates of depression and anxiety than heterosexual women do. This may result from the fact that lesbian women may also face: social stigma; a need to hide their orientation from family, colleagues, and employers; a lack of emotional support; abuse or violence; a lack of health insurance; or unfair treatment in the legal system. It is important to be aware of these risk factors and to be open to discussing them with your health care provider.
Alcohol and substance use
Substance abuse is a serious public health problem for all women. Due to the added stressors in their lives, lesbians may turn to alcohol and illicit drug use. Research has shown that rates of alcohol and substance abuse in lesbians are higher than in heterosexual
women. Lesbians need support from each other and from health care providers to find healthy releases, quality recreation, stress reduction, and coping techniques.
Domestic Violence
Also called intimate partner violence; this is when one person purposely causes either physical or emotional harm to another. Domestic violence is estimated to occur in lesbian relationships about half as often as it does in heterosexual relationships; although these rates may be unreliable because lesbian victims are more likely to stay silent about the violence. Some reasons for this include fewer services available to help them; fear of discrimination; threats from the batterer to “out” the victim; or fear of losing custody of children. Lesbians are encouraged to speak out about domestic violence and find a trusted resource to ensure they receive the care that they need.
Osteoporosis
The rates and risks of osteoporosis among lesbians have not been well characterized yet. Calcium and weight‐bearing exercise as well as the avoidance of tobacco and alcohol are the mainstays of prevention for all women. It is also important to get bone density tests every few years to see if medication is needed to prevent fracture.
Sources:
The Gay Lesbian Medical Association (2009). Ten Things Lesbians Should Discuss With Their Health Care Providers. Accessed March 29, 2009 at www.glma.org/index.cfmfuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=691
National Women’s Health Information Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2009). Accessed March 29, 2009 at www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZKM8U687C.
All women should receive regular healthcare and preventive screenings, regardless of sexual orientation. Women who partner with women are not immune to health issues; and in some
cases, may be at even greater risk. The following information is provided to help both lesbian women and healthcare providers become more aware of these health concerns. Remember,you have the right to be treated with dignity and respect from your healthcare provider. You have the right to be listened to and understood.
Heart health
Heart disease is the #1 killer of all women, but important factors that raise women’s risk for heart disease—such as obesity, smoking, and stress—affect lesbians at disproportionate rates. Research has shown that:
• Lesbians have a higher body mass index (BMI) than heterosexual women, and tend to be less concerned about weight issues. Lesbians are also less likely to eat the recommended number of servings of fruit and vegetables.
• Lesbians are more likely to smoke cigarettes than heterosexual women.
• Lesbians may face chronic stress due to homophobic discrimination.
All lesbians need to get an annual clinical exam to check blood pressure, measure cholesterol, and screen for diabetes. Lesbians should also receive competent and supportive advice about healthy living, eating, exercise, and tobacco use. Preventing heart
disease should be paramount to every clinical visit.
Breast cancer
Lesbians have the richest concentration of risk factors for breast cancer than any subset of women in the world. Combine this with the fact that many lesbians over 40 do not get routine mammograms, do breast self‐exams, or have a clinical breast exam, and this cancer may elude early diagnosis, when it is most curable. Lesbian women need to recognize their risk for breast cancer and discuss preventive behaviors and screenings with their health care provider.
Gynecologic cancers
Lesbians have higher risks than heterosexual women for uterine, cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Reasons for these risk factors in lesbians include:
• Being less likely to bear children. Hormones released during pregnancy and breastfeeding are believed to protect women against some of these cancers.
• Higher rates of alcohol use, smoking, obesity, and poor nutrition.
• Being less likely to obtain routine screenings.
Having a yearly exam by a gynecologist, and discussing preventive screenings with their health care provider, can significantly facilitate early diagnosis and a better chance of cure.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Lesbian women are at risk for many of the same STDs as heterosexual women. Lesbian women can transmit STDs to each other through skin‐to‐skin contact, mucosa contact, vaginal fluids, and menstrual blood. Sharing sex toys is another method of transmitting STDs. (sorry to be frank) These are common STDs that can be passed between women:
• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) – this STD is more common in lesbian/bisexual women than heterosexual women and frequently occurs in both members of lesbian couples
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) – this STD can lead to cancer if not detected early
• Trichomoniasis (Trich)
• Herpes
Other potential STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis B. Lesbian women should know they are not immune to STDs, and be sure to receive all recommended screenings for women who are sexually active, regardless of sexual orientation.
Depression/anxiety
Many factors cause depression and anxiety among all women, but studies show lesbian and bisexual women report higher rates of depression and anxiety than heterosexual women do. This may result from the fact that lesbian women may also face: social stigma; a need to hide their orientation from family, colleagues, and employers; a lack of emotional support; abuse or violence; a lack of health insurance; or unfair treatment in the legal system. It is important to be aware of these risk factors and to be open to discussing them with your health care provider.
Alcohol and substance use
Substance abuse is a serious public health problem for all women. Due to the added stressors in their lives, lesbians may turn to alcohol and illicit drug use. Research has shown that rates of alcohol and substance abuse in lesbians are higher than in heterosexual
women. Lesbians need support from each other and from health care providers to find healthy releases, quality recreation, stress reduction, and coping techniques.
Domestic Violence
Also called intimate partner violence; this is when one person purposely causes either physical or emotional harm to another. Domestic violence is estimated to occur in lesbian relationships about half as often as it does in heterosexual relationships; although these rates may be unreliable because lesbian victims are more likely to stay silent about the violence. Some reasons for this include fewer services available to help them; fear of discrimination; threats from the batterer to “out” the victim; or fear of losing custody of children. Lesbians are encouraged to speak out about domestic violence and find a trusted resource to ensure they receive the care that they need.
Osteoporosis
The rates and risks of osteoporosis among lesbians have not been well characterized yet. Calcium and weight‐bearing exercise as well as the avoidance of tobacco and alcohol are the mainstays of prevention for all women. It is also important to get bone density tests every few years to see if medication is needed to prevent fracture.
Sources:
The Gay Lesbian Medical Association (2009). Ten Things Lesbians Should Discuss With Their Health Care Providers. Accessed March 29, 2009 at www.glma.org/index.cfmfuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=691
National Women’s Health Information Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2009). Accessed March 29, 2009 at www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZKM8U687C.