Sexual Orientation Question

Nurses Relations

Published

I have been thinking about this lately...and I am being serious when I ask this; but, with all the advancements in knowing about risk factors for various diseases (especially STIs), what does sexual orientation have to do with anything?

What I mean is this--like HIV/AIDs, it was first thought to be a gay man's disease; now we know that it can be transmitted whether you are gay or straight. Another example would be all women getting pap smears whether they are a homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual--what's wrong with just teaching all females to get pap smears as long as they have a cervix?...leaving it at a statement rather than asking their sexual preferences.

I just can't think of one disease or educational need that only applies to people who are homosexual or bisexual. All the ones I can think of are pretty universal diseases/health promotion exams/teachings. I just think it can lead to discrimination rather than anything good.

Thoughts?

I just want to say thanks... Because of this thread, I had yet ANOTHER conversation with my kids about safe sex...and found out that one thought the Pill protected against STIs. I will continue to have these conversations w/my kids.

The young generation today has no clue. Since HIV meds came about, the panic about sex and disease and death has faded out. Nobody I know uses condoms. Women I know that cheat on spouses have abortions- yet again, what about STDs? It's amazing. Gay men I know are clueless also- they think that 'tested negative' last year somehow translates into negative, still, today? Some have told me also that since they are already HIV+, why should they bother with condoms? Well, there is more than one strain of HIV, for starters- and isn't HIV bad enough without asking for syphillis, gonorrhea, or any flavor of hepatis?

If you missed my mentioning the movie "The Pill", I bet you'd like to watch it with your kids. It doesn't reference STDs at all, but it illustrates, in a cute and clever way, just how complicated sex can be. Free on hulu.com

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
The young generation today has no clue. Since HIV meds came about, the panic about sex and disease and death has faded out. Nobody I know uses condoms. Women I know that cheat on spouses have abortions- yet again, what about STDs? It's amazing. Gay men I know are clueless also- they think that 'tested negative' last year somehow translates into negative, still, today? Some have told me also that since they are already HIV+, why should they bother with condoms? Well, there is more than one strain of HIV, for starters- and isn't HIV bad enough without asking for syphillis, gonorrhea, or any flavor of hepatis?

If you missed my mentioning the movie "The Pill", I bet you'd like to watch it with your kids. It doesn't reference STDs at all, but it illustrates, in a cute and clever way, just how complicated sex can be. Free on hulu.com

Um, WHAT?! Yes, because it's all about them not contracting anything else, not about protecting OTHERS from that! Geez....

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It's a given they are not concerned about the partners, for sure. My point is that they don't realize, yes- they can get even sicker...

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Specializes in LTC & home care.

BostonFNP - You are correct, I am a new nurse, and I defer to your experience. However, I'm confused by the response from you and WML. Nowhere did I say that I would be divulging private information to a spouse. If a husband asks "what can I do to make my wife more comfortable during menopause" or "what lifestyle changes should we consider now that my wife has osteoporosis", why are we not allowed to answer that? He already knows about her condition. I also don't follow your logic that we would miss an HIV diagnosis because we're discussing Premarin. Aren't we capable of doing both? Do you really think I (or any nurse) wouldn't be able to prioritize that? I think you're trying to put words in my mouth (or on my keyboard, as it were). I was speaking to the OP's question - sexual health doesn't need labels. Trying to define a patient in terms of gay or straight, or even male or female, may cause us to miss the overall picture of their behaviors and risks, because their behaviors may not match their reported label.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

I can think of a few. LGBTQ adolescents and young people are more at risk for depression, homelessness, bullying and suicide due to

the problems associated with being closeted, family kicking them out, lack of positive adult mentors, homophobia in school, etc. Gay youth of color are more at risk for HIV and other STDs because of the cultural stigmas associated with sexual orientation in their communities.

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Specializes in ER.

I do think that question tells the provider where their patient falls as far as risk for various diseases. It eases conversations about general health too, if you know the patient's living circumstances. Are they living with a partner, or alone...a supportive, healthy partner? Or abusive jerk? If they get sick do they have help? Asking the question lets the patient know that the provider is open to discussing issues related to sexuality, including GLBT issues. The conversation may not go further than that question.

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Specializes in NICU, OB/GYN.

My first thought was, "why wouldn't you ask?" It seems so stupid not to!

Different risk factors exist between homosexual and heterosexuals based on their sexual activities; I feel like it's doing both groups a disservice not to ask patients these questions in a tactful manner and a safe, welcoming environment.

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Specializes in ER.
Off kilter analogy, of sorts: I smoked 'heavily' for 25 years, 2-3 packs a day. Marlboro, Reds, Box, only (I still miss them 10 years later!). Every time I got bronchitis and went to the Doc, he'd naturally ask: "Do you smoke?" I always said: "No way, never- are you kidding me? I'm a nurse- my patients infected me!" So, not only was he naive and lacking basic assessment skills, but also- I lied to his face, so he wouldn't think I was a 'bad person'. . .who smoked.

If you smoked 2-3 ppd he smelled it on you. You got bronchitis over and over again- he knew, he was just waiting for you to be ready to talk about it.

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ASK! As a bisexual woman, I am offended when a health care practitioner presumes I'm straight. This indicates to me their 'straight' mindedness, whereas the simple act of asking indicates awareness. Second, the tone or presentation of the question indicates to your patient whether you are open/welcoming/accepting or only tolerating the possibility of non-hetero sexuality.

Personally, I consider sexuality to be an essential component of the whole-health picture. Risk assessment aside, the ability to express oneself sexually is part of what makes us human and for many it contributes to their overall sense of being. If a medication, treatment, illness, disease, etc is interfering with their ability to be sexual, knowing their sexuality will help guide you as a practitioner in assisting them to find alternative forms of expression.

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If you smoked 2-3 ppd he smelled it on you. You got bronchitis over and over again- he knew, he was just waiting for you to be ready to talk about it.

BUSTED!

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The young generation today has no clue. Since HIV meds came about, the panic about sex and disease and death has faded out. Nobody I know uses condoms. Women I know that cheat on spouses have abortions- yet again, what about STDs? It's amazing. Gay men I know are clueless also- they think that 'tested negative' last year somehow translates into negative, still, today? Some have told me also that since they are already HIV+, why should they bother with condoms? Well, there is more than one strain of HIV, for starters- and isn't HIV bad enough without asking for syphillis, gonorrhea, or any flavor of hepatis?

If you missed my mentioning the movie "The Pill", I bet you'd like to watch it with your kids. It doesn't reference STDs at all, but it illustrates, in a cute and clever way, just how complicated sex can be. Free on hulu.com

Nobody you know uses condoms? out of curiosity what are the demographics? hmmm. the attention on sex ed when present seems to be on preventing pregnancy. i am in my 20sand my inner city public high school did a decent job on sex ed and heavily emphasized using condoms. some culture groups seem to have a stigma about using condoms. I saw an oprah eppisode on these professinal middle aged women who became infected with hiv . a few said they never thought, " [something like that could happen to someone like me]" as a teen i thought how stupid and elitist. still today so many are so clueless . i cant stand when drs chart "no risk factors" for most people that is simply not true.

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Nobody that I saw mentioned this but....Male homosexuals are more at risk because of the type of sex they have. The anal and rectal tissue itself is more delicate and has nore of a tendency to tear and bleed even at the microscopic level therefore increasing the risk if transmission immensely.

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