Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender queer or gender non-conforming people might face specific health concerns related to their gender incongruence, sexual orientation, practices and social stigma.

LGBTQ people are at higher risk of anxiety and depression. Gay men are more likely to experience body image issues and eating disorders than are their straight counterparts. While domestic violence can affect anyone in an intimate relationship, gay men and lesbian women might be more likely to stay quiet about this kind of violence due to fear of discrimination.

Transgender people face many health concerns due to minority stress, which involves social stigma, discrimination and the internalization of social stigma. As a result, transgender people are at risk of emotional and psychological abuse, physical and sexual violence, sexually transmitted infections, substance misuse, and mental health problems.

If you're a transgender person, counseling, hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery can help treat distress due to a difference between experienced or expressed gender and sex assigned at birth (gender dysphoria). Educate yourself about the options, the preparation required, the risks and complications, and the follow-up medical care and procedures. If you have a child who is gender-nonconforming or transgender, talk to your child and show support. By allowing your child to demonstrate preferences and share them, you'll encourage a positive sense of self and keep the lines of communication open.

If you or your child is LGBTQ, look for a doctor who is empathetic and respectful of your specific needs. By doing so, the doctor can help identify ways to reduce the risk of health concerns, as well as identify medical conditions and refer you to specialists when necessary.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Sept. 25, 2021

See also

  1. 7 signs and symptoms not to ignore
  2. A Very Happy Brain
  3. Acne mistakes
  4. Alzheimer's sleep problems
  5. Anger management: 10 tips to tame your temper
  6. Back pain at work
  7. Bad food habits at work? Get back on track in 5 steps
  8. Belching, intestinal gas, gas pains and bloating
  9. Bone health tips
  10. Calcium
  11. Can psoriasis make it hard to sleep?
  12. Cancer-prevention strategies
  13. Children and gender identity
  14. Colon cancer screening
  15. COVID-19: How can I protect myself?
  16. Herd immunity and coronavirus
  17. COVID-19 and your mental health
  18. Long-term effects of COVID-19
  19. COVID-19 travel advice
  20. Dental floss vs. water flosser
  21. Desk stretches
  22. Different COVID-19 vaccines
  23. Does sunscreen expire?
  24. Domestic violence against men
  25. Domestic violence against women
  26. Dry mouth relief
  27. Eye dilation: Necessary with every eye exam?
  28. Feminizing hormone therapy
  29. Feminizing surgery
  30. Fight coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission at home
  31. Maintaining healthy fingernails
  32. Flu Shot Prevents Heart Attack
  33. Forgiveness
  34. Friendships
  35. Gynecological care for trans men
  36. Hand-washing tips
  37. Transgender health concerns
  38. Health issues for gay men
  39. Health issues for lesbians
  40. Heart attack prevention: Should I avoid secondhand smoke?
  41. Hidradenitis suppurativa and sleep: How to get more zzz's
  42. Home Health Hazards
  43. Sleep guidelines
  44. How social support spurs you
  45. How to take your pulse
  46. How to heal cracked heels
  47. How to heal cracked skin at thumb tip
  48. How to sleep well during time changes
  49. How to take your temperature
  50. How well do face masks protect against COVID-19?
  51. I have atopic dermatitis. How can I sleep better?
  52. Infidelity
  53. Injury Season for Snow Blowers
  54. Investing in yourself
  55. Job burnout
  56. Keep the focus on your long-term vision
  57. Lack of sleep: Can it make you sick?
  58. LASIK surgery: Is it right for you?
  59. Leg pain after prolonged standing or sitting
  60. Lost in Space
  61. Managing psoriatic arthritis at work
  62. Mammogram guidelines: What are they?
  63. Masculinizing hormone therapy
  64. Masculinizing surgery
  65. Mayo Clinic Minute: Fingernails are clues to your health
  66. Mayo Clinic Minute: You're washing your hands all wrong
  67. Mayo Clinic Minute: How dirty are common surfaces?
  68. Mayo Clinic Minute: Sleep Spoiler - Tips for a Good Night's Rest
  69. Mayo Clinic Minute: The many benefits of petroleum jelly
  70. Measles vaccine: Can I get the measles if I've already been vaccinated?
  71. Melatonin side effects
  72. Mental health
  73. Mayo Clinic Minute: Moisturizer tips from a dermatologist
  74. Nail ridges
  75. Napping do's and don'ts
  76. Office ergonomics
  77. Oral health: A window to your overall health
  78. Infographic: Organ Donation Donate Life
  79. Infographic: Paired Donation Chain
  80. Infographic: Pancreas Kidney Transplant
  81. Passive-aggressive behavior
  82. Personal health records
  83. Personalize your wellness journey
  84. Piercings: How to prevent complications
  85. Prescription sleeping pills: What's right for you?
  86. Safe outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic
  87. Boosting self-esteem
  88. Sensitive teeth
  89. Shaving hair
  90. Shaving too close can cause skin problems
  91. Mayo Clinic Minute: Shining the light on SPF in sunscreen
  92. Sitting risks: How harmful is too much sitting?
  93. Skin care tips
  94. Antihistamines for insomnia
  95. OTC sleep aids
  96. Sleep and psoriatic arthritis
  97. Sleep tips
  98. How to trim thickened toenails
  99. Good posture tips
  100. Sun damage
  101. Fingernails: Possible problems
  102. Office stretches
  103. Age-related vision problems
  104. A look inside your eyes
  105. Back exercises
  106. Summer skin rashes
  107. Proper lifting techniques
  108. Tattoos
  109. Test anxiety: Can it be treated?
  110. Protect thin skin
  111. Mayo Clinic Minute: Tips for dealing with dandruff
  112. Understanding gender identity
  113. Travel Safety
  114. Mayo Clinic Minute: Uncovering UPF in clothing
  115. Using if-then statements
  116. Vaccine guidance from Mayo Clinic
  117. Vaccines for adults
  118. Keratoconus
  119. Neck stretches
  120. Seated stretches
  121. Standing stretches
  122. Upper body stretches
  123. Wrist and forearm stretches
  124. What are superbugs and how can I protect myself from infection?
  125. What is thirdhand smoke, and why is it a concern?
  126. When to brush your teeth
  127. Winter Skin Care
  128. Wrinkle creams