How being gay might affect you
Why is being gay or bisexual relevant to your health and health care?
Some people would argue that gay and bisexual men have the same health needs as everyone else. While it is true that gay and bisexual men do share many of the same health needs as heterosexual men there are some particular things about being gay or bisexual that makes some of your health needs different.
Some research suggests that there are particular health issues that affect gay and bisexual men more than they affect heterosexual men including higher rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis and gonorrhoea. Some gay or bisexual men use alcohol and other drugs at higher levels than the heterosexual community. Most of us use them for recreational purposes but some people use them to cope with the stress and anxiety caused by homophobia and lifelong discrimination. Excessive alcohol and other drug use can have negative effects on our health and is linked to a range of serious health issues such as heart disease.
Being gay or bisexual does not make you mentally or physically ill. However, a lifetime of feeling 'different' or being treated differently can not only affect your mental wellbeing it can also have an impact on your physical health with increased risk of stress related conditions such as ulcers. The discrimination gay and bisexual men face can be so difficult for some men that it can also lead to them physically harming themselves.
While stigma and discrimination against gay and bisexual men has significantly reduced over the years, it is still an ongoing issue for many people. Discrimination and harassment can come from neighbours, work colleagues, and/or family and can also occur from random people we do not know. Ongoing harassment whether it is verbal or physical can cause minor to severe anxiety and stress and in some cases physical injuries. If you feel that you have been discriminated against, why not take action?
Experiences or fear of homophobia and discrimination in the health system can make it more difficult for you to proactively take care of your health. If you receive or worry about getting a bad reaction from a health care professional, you may be less likely to go to a doctor even if you are unwell and you may also miss out on regular check ups for things like blood pressure, sexually transmitted infections and different cancers.
It may not be easy, but coming out to a doctor or health professional may be one of most important things you can do to keep yourself healthy. If your doctor knows about your sexuality, you can openly discuss your life, relationships and health concerns and they can also keep an eye out for any health problems relevant to you and your lifestyle. This may not be possible for everyone however, and you are the best person to judge if coming out to your doctor is comfortable and safe for you. However, recent research indicates that almost all the gay men who told their doctor that they were gay were happy that they did so.
Living with HIV
If you are living with HIV, your life can seem more complex than before and you may face all kinds of day-to-day problems.
We are all entitled to fair and equal treatment in healthcare, regardless of our HIV status.
If a GP refuses to treat you because you have HIV, that's against the law. Your confidentiality is also protected by NHS rules, and if things do go wrong, there are organisations who can help you sort the problem out.
If you're living with HIV you might experience some problems with your healthcare because of your status.
For more information on what to expect from your healthcare when you're living with HIV visit www.tht.org.uk/healthyrespect.
