Women's health (15)
- Kegel exercises: A how-to guide for women
- Vagina: What's normal, what's not
- Health issues for lesbians: Prevention first
- see all in Women's health
Breast health (11)
- Breast lump: Early evaluation is essential
- Breast implants: Saline vs. silicone
- Breast cancer prevention: How to reduce your risk
- see all in Breast health
Women's life stages (14)
- Menstrual cycle: What's normal, what's not
- Menopause weight gain: Stop the middle age spread
- Water retention: Relieve this premenstrual symptom
- see all in Women's life stages
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
continued:
Health issues for lesbians: Prevention first
Seek help for substance abuse
Lesbians and bisexual women might face unique risk factors for substance abuse, such as:
- Stress related to passing as a heterosexual or coming out
- Trauma due to bullying, violence, abuse or self-abuse
- Impact of sexism and discrimination
- Relying on bars or clubs for socializing and peer support
If you have a substance abuse concern, remember that help is available. Local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health, mental health or community centers often provide substance abuse treatment. Organizations such as the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association also may provide referrals.
Recognize domestic violence
Domestic violence can affect anyone in an intimate relationship. Warning signs specific to lesbian or bisexual women might include a partner who:
- Threatens to tell friends, loved ones, colleagues or community members your sexual orientation or gender identity
- Tells you that authorities won't help a homosexual, bisexual or transgendered person
- Tells you that leaving the relationship means you're admitting that homosexual relationships are deviant
- Tells you that domestic violence can't occur in homosexual relationships or that women can't be violent
Staying in an abusive relationship might leave you depressed, anxious and hopeless. If you don't want to disclose your sexual orientation, you might be less likely to seek help after an assault. Still, the only way to break the cycle of domestic violence is to take action — the sooner the better. If you're a target of domestic violence, tell someone about the abuse, whether it's a friend, loved one, health care provider or other close contact. Consider calling a domestic violence hotline and creating a plan to leave your abuser.
Make routine health care a priority
Some lesbians and bisexual women struggle to find a doctor knowledgeable about lesbian health issues and with whom they feel comfortable discussing their needs and concerns. To take charge of your health, look for a doctor who puts you at ease and encourages discussion of sexual issues. Identify yourself as lesbian or bisexual, and ask about routine screenings recommended for women in your age group — such as blood pressure and cholesterol measurements and screenings for breast cancer and cervical cancer. If you're not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship, schedule regular screenings for sexually transmitted infections. Share any other health concerns you might have with your doctor as well. Early diagnosis and treatment help promote long-term health.
You might also take heart in a plan unveiled in June 2011 by the Department of Health and Human Services to improve the collection of data that tracks the health and experiences of people who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The collection of such information is expected to help address the unique health needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Previous page(2 of 2)
- Carroll NM. Gynecologic and obstetric care for lesbians. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed June 27, 2011.
- The health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people: Building a foundation for better understanding. Institute of Medicine. http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2011/The-Health-of-Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-and-Transgender-People/LGBT%20Health%202011%20Report%20Brief.pdf. Accessed June 27, 2011.
- Top 10 things lesbians should discuss with their healthcare provider. Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. http://www.glma.org/_data/n_0001/resources/live/Top%20Ten%20Lesbians.pdf. Accessed June 27, 2011.
- Sexually transmitted diseases: Treatment guidelines, 2010: Special populations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/specialpops.htm#wsw. Accessed June 27, 2011.
- Sexually transmitted diseases: Treatment guidelines, 2010: Clinical prevention guidance. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/clinical.htm#pm. Accessed June 27, 2011.
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health. HealthyPeople.gov. http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=25. Accessed June 27, 2011.
- Lesbian and bisexual health. The National Women's Health Information Center. http://womenshealth.gov/faq/lesbian-health.cfm. Accessed June 27, 2011.
- Treatment works: Get help for anxiety and depression. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Depression. Accessed June 27, 2011.
- Pitt EL, et al. Violence and trauma: Recognitions, recovery and prevention. In: Makadon HJ, et al. The Fenway Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Healthcare. Philadelphia, Pa.: American College of Physicians; 2008:253.
- Let's talk facts about domestic violence. American Psychiatric Association. http://healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF-DomesticViolence.pdf. Accessed June 27, 2011.
- Song YS, et al. Substance use and abuse. In: Makadon HJ, et al. The Fenway Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Healthcare. Philadelphia, Pa.: American College of Physicians; 2008:209.
- Affordable Care Act to improve data collection, reduce health disparities. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/06/20110629a.html. Accessed June 29, 2011.
- FDA approves first medication to reduce HIV risk. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm311821.htm. Accessed July 16, 2012.
Find Mayo Clinic on