Posted on 01/04/2007 8:39:03 AM PST by presidio9
Most lesbian, gay and bisexual teenagers who are "out" do not tell their doctor their sexual orientation, according to a survey by the RAND Corporation and the University of California, Los Angeles.
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Among 131 lesbian, gay and bisexual teens aged 14 to 18 years attending the "Models of Pride Youth Conference," 70 percent indicated that they were "out" to everyone or nearly everyone in their lives, yet only 35 percent reported that their doctor knew their sexual orientation.
"We knew that the sample that we chose was going to be a very 'out' sample," Dr. Garth D. Meckler of Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland said in statement. "We figured they would have a higher disclosure rate than most youth."
Ninety percent of the teens surveyed had seen their doctor in the past 24 months and nearly two-thirds had seen their doctor within the past 12 months.
Sixty-six percent indicated that it was important that their doctor know their sexual orientation in order to provide the best health care possible, according to the report in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Reasons the teens gave for not disclosing their sexual orientation to their doctor included stigma; having a parent present in the exam room; fear that the doctor would tell a parent; embarrassment; and fear that their doctor would not approve.
Of those teens whose doctor knew their sexual orientation, only 21 percent said their doctor had brought up the topic.
"One of the strongest predictors of whether or not the teens disclosed their sexual orientation was whether the physician had discussed sex with them at all," Meckler said.
"Very few physicians were regularly discussing sexuality, even though sex is one of the major developmental challenges and health risks at that age."
When asked what a doctor could do to make talking about being gay, lesbian or bisexual more comfortable, 64 percent said, "Just ask me."
Who cares? It's not like being a homosexual increases ones health risks or anything. Right?
Here's a factor they didn't list: shame.
Someone wrote an article because doctors don't tend to ask teenagers about their sex lives?
I have no words.
Probably not as much for lesbian teens but the average life expectancy for gay males in this country is 42 years.
Which is the last thing the gay patient wants to hear. They don't disclose their sexuality because they know it is unhealthy and they don't want to be confronted with that.
Any doctor asking a teenager about their sex life would be up on charges in a heartbeat.
Shame? What a silly,quaint concept!
If they're "openly gay" why would they have to?
Democrats suffer the same syndrome too....staight or gay.
That's just what I was thinking. It seems a contradiction in terms. And drs. have to ask teenagers if they're sexually active.
They're all usually pretty proud to tell ANYONE of their sexuality. Ya can't shut 'em up.
I would assume that any Dr. could tell if a guy is a Receiver or a Tight-End...
This thread could get ugly really fast...
How about a T-Shirt that says, "If I were gay, I'd be dead by now." and on the back that statistic.
Actually, I think that figure may be low, because gay infants who die are unable to identify themselves as such.
*****************
1. Stigma
2. Fear
3. Embarrassment
4. Fear
No suggestion that morality should be an issue here, I noticed.
Are you lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Couldn't tell from your post. </ s>
Homosexuality definetly increases health risk!
Male Homosexuals, who represent a small percentage of the US population, spread HIV faster than male/female heterosexuals combined. And these are male/female heterosexuals who participate in high risk sex.
Male-to-male sexual contact 454,106 total infections
High-risk heterosexual contact 164,850 total infections http://www.avert.org/usastatg.htm
The fact of the matter is, assuming equal promiscuity, it is far easier to spread HIV through Anal sex. Your chances of getting HIV through heterosexual sex are rather low, even if you aren't using protection. Males having unprotected heterosexual sex have an even lower risk than their female partners.
In addition, there are a host of other diseases, STD's and cancers that can be spread through homosexual sex. If you don't think this lifestyle addiction is a health risk you are fooling yourself.
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