Gynecological Health Care for Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Individuals

Gynecological Health Care for Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Individuals

The United States is a diverse country not only in terms of race and ethnicity but also in terms of sexual identity. This is because a significant number of Americans have declared that they have different sexual personalities and identities than the rest of the population. Lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people make up this population (LGBT). Lesbians are female couples, bisexuals are people who are attracted to both men and women, and transgender people have a different sexual identity than the one they were born with. Lesbians and bisexuals make up 35% of the population, while transgender people make up 0.3%. Recognizing their sexual identity has resulted in serious health problems. For example, there is cancer, mental illness, substance abuse, and disparities in health care and benefits. This paper will review these issues and propose various solutions to mitigate them.

Problems\sCancer

When compared to straight people, the LGBT population has a higher risk of developing cancer. Lesbians, for example, have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than heterosexual women. Risk factors include few or no pregnancies, no mammogram test, and no clinical breast examination for the population. Lesbians and bisexual women have a very low chance of having children, according to Freitas et al. (2016). As a result, the various hormones produced during pregnancy and breastfeeding provide no benefit or health advantage to the population. These hormones have been found to protect women from cancers such as cervical and breast cancer. Furthermore, the population has been found to have a lower number of doctor checkups than heterosexual women. Women must have routine screenings such as Pap tests and mammograms. A lack of checkups results in a lack of early detection and prevention of breast, cervical, and other types of cancer. As a result, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people, particularly women, have been found to be more susceptible to cancer than the heterosexual population.

Mental Illnesses

Another critical health issue is that the LGBT community has been found to suffer from mental illness, which has led to suicide in some cases. According to Burks et al. (2017), when children and adults reveal their sexual orientations, they face punitive, negative, and traumatic reactions from their parents and carers. For example, heterosexual and Christian parents will have a negative reaction if their children admit to being lesbians or bisexuals. There is a lot of criticism, both from family and from society. Rodriguez-Seijas et al. (2019) discovered a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among people with same-sex partners. Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and phobia are among the disorders. Lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people frequently seek help from mental health professionals for emotional reasons. An increase in depression and anxiety leads to an increase in drug and substance abuse in the population. Lesbian and bisexual people are at a higher risk of using alcohol and drugs (Williams & Fish, 2020). Suicide and mortality rates among such women are higher when they use drugs more frequently. As a result, the population suffers from an increase in mental disorders, which leads to substance abuse and suicide.

Health insurance disparities

Another critical issue confronting LGBT people is the disparity in government health benefits and services. Members of the population have been identified as having poor gynaecology health due to a lack of healthcare insurance. Due to a variety of factors, the LGBT community lacks health insurance. First, there is an increase in workplace harassment and discrimination. This causes people to quit their jobs or prefer self-employment. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force reports that 97% of LGBT people have been mistreated and harassed because of their sexual orientation. Second, most employers do not offer coverage or benefits to same-sex partners. As a result, many people are left without health insurance (Nguyen et al., 2018). Due to a lack of health insurance and benefits, the LGBT population’s health deteriorates, and their mortality rate rises.

Reaction to Issues/Problems

With such issues constantly plaguing the population, there is a general decline in the population’s health. As a result, society, in collaboration with the government, must devise a variety of solutions to address the issues. On the topic of cancer, gynaecology practitioners can take steps to educate the LGBT population about the importance of testing and checkups with the help of society and the government. As previously stated, the population is predisposed to various forms of cancer due to a lack of caution and regular physical examinations. Thus, health professionals can take the lead in educating the public about the significance of such medical practices. Because some people may be unable to attend such educational sessions in person, the information will be disseminated via social media and broadcasting stations. As a result, a larger population of LGBT people will be educated about the importance of testing and screening, lowering cancer prevalence.

Education, but this time aimed at the community, can help to prevent mental health disorders in the LGBT population. Discrimination, stigma, and negative responses from parents and carers contribute to mental disorders associated with substance abuse and an increase in suicides. As a result, educating the community about sexual orientation and the importance of accepting one’s identity despite differences will help to reduce the problem. Parents, carers, and the general public will be able to recognize the positive effects of acceptance. As a result, this will aid in the reduction of mental disorders and the reduction of suicide rates.

Gynaecological health professionals can advocate for better insurance coverage for the LGBT community. Presenting the various causes and solutions of health issues and coverage benefits will aid in improving the population’s overall health. Advocacy will ensure that the LGBT community is included in the Affordable Care Act. Furthermore, organizations should impose strict anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies against this population. Thus, the increased insurance coverage will result in improved LGBT healthcare.

Finally, LGBT sexual orientation accounts for a sizable proportion of the US population. Cancer, mental health, and a lack of insurance have all been identified as health issues. It is necessary for society to be educated on the benefits of accepting such a population without stigma. The government should also take steps to ensure that everyone has equal access to health care. This will help to reduce the prevalence of health-related issues among the LGBT community.

References

Burks, A., Cramer, R., Henderson, C., Stroud, C., Crosby, J., & Graham, J. (2017, September 17). Frequency, Nature, and Correlates of Hate Crime Victimization Experiences in an Urban Sample of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community Members. Journal Of Interpersonal Violence, 33(3), 402–420. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515605298

Freitas, D., D’Augelli, A., Coimbra, S., & Fontaine, A. (2016, December 14). Discrimination and Mental Health Among Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youths in Portugal: The Moderating Role of Family Relationships and Optimism. Journal Of GLBT Family Studies, 12(1), 68- 90. https://doi.org/10.1080/1550428x.2015.1070704

Nguyen, K., Trivedi, A., & Shireman, T. (2018, August 18). Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Adults Report Continued Problems Affording Care Despite Coverage Gains. Health Affairs, 37(8), 1306–1312. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.0281

Rodriguez-Seijas, C., Eaton, N., & Pachankis, J. (2019, April 24). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders at the intersection of race and sexual orientation: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions-III. Journal Of Consulting And Clinical Psychology, 87(4), 321-331. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000377

Williams, N., & Fish, J. (2020, September 24). The availability of LGBT‐specific mental health and substance abuse treatment in the United States. Health Services Research, 55(6), 932–943. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13559

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The purpose is to better understand gynaecological health care for lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

Define and describe lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

Gynecological Health Care for Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Individuals

Gender and sexuality concepts.

Social and political context.

Social determinants of health affecting lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

Barriers to health care.

Health care disparities.

Submission Instructions:

The assignment is to be clear and concise

The assignment is to be no shorter than 3-4 pages in length, excluding the title and references page.

Your assignment should be formatted per APA.

Incorporate current practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment and a minimum of 4 current (published within the last five years) scholarly journal articles or primary legal sources (statutes, court opinions) within your work. Journal articles and books should be referenced according to the APA style (the library has a copy of the APA Manual).