Check your care of lesbians/bisexual women
How do you enter a dialogue with a new female patient about sexual health? Take a tip from Katherine O’Hanlan, MD, attending gynecologic oncologist at Stanford Medical Center and partner in Gynecologic Oncology Associates of Portola Valley, CA.
O’Hanlan says simply ask the neutral question, "Are you currently being sexual? If so, with whom? Men, women, or both?"
She suggests that once the question has been asked, move on to "Do you need advice about safer sex?" This approach allows patients to maintain their privacy if they are not ready to enter a full-blown discussion about their sexuality, says O’Hanlan.
Since lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women are such a small minority of the population and have been exposed to negative societal messages, clinicians should go the extra mile to make their office environment a comforting space for these patients, advocates O’Hanlan. Patients who feel safe and cared for will return for standard routine screening, she notes.
Talk with patients in a warm and familiar way, offers O’Hanlan. Get the patient talking and let her know that you’re comfortable discussing her personal life, she says.
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content