According to a wealth of research, gay men and lesbians are less likely to protect their wellness with routine screening tests than heterosexuals. Whether you’re gay or straight, illnesses can affect your wellbeing, so why aren’t you having screening or testing done to check your risk? And we’re not just talking about sexual health here, but other health concerns like cancer. Gay men and women often fear discrimination, or simply don’t think they’re at risk, and so they don’t get tested but the screening process may save your life. It’s vital that certain conditions are detected early, and some, such as breast cancer, may actually be more common in gay people.
For Women Only:
- Cervical cancer screening: If you have sex with other women, you should have cervical smears every three to five years. Early detection of cervical abnormalities is vital to prevent cervical cancer, which is currently diagnosed in around 2,800 women each year. There’s an urban myth floating around that lesbians can’t get cervical cancer, but in reality your risk is just thought to be lower than straight women. You can still develop cervical cancer, but according to charity Stonewall, 15% of lesbians and bisexual women have never had a cervical smear test compared with 7% of women in general. The NHS Cervical Screening Programme encourages every 25- to 49-year-old woman to have a screening every three years, and women aged 50-64 are invited every five years. Your GP gives the programme your details and sends you a reminder letter when your test is due, so it’s vital to register with a local surgery.
- Breast cancer screening: Stonewall’s survey of more than 6,000 women found that lesbians are more prone to breast cancer than straight women. This may be linked to other factors that lesbians are more prone to, such as being overweight, drinking more alcohol and being less likely to have children. Compared to one in 20 of women in general, more than one in 12 lesbian and bisexual women aged between 50 and 79 had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and yet lesbians and bisexual women are less likely to attend routine breast screening tests. As the NHS Breast Screening Programme automatically invites 50- to 70-year-old women for screening every three years, and encourages the over 70s to make their own screening appointment every three years, there’s no reason not to get tested.
For Men Only:
- HIV Testing: As a gay man, you’re more at risk of certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhoea, than straight men. This is certainly the case with HIV, as gay men in the UK are the most commonly affected group even though it can affect anyone’s wellbeing. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) notes over a quarter (27%) of people with HIV don’t know they have it, and the number of people with HIV continues to rise. The most common way to spread HIV is through penetrative sex, and so prevention using a condom is key. However, if you do have unprotected sex or think you might be at risk of HIV, your nearest genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic can give you a free, confidential and anonymous sexual health check.
For Men and Women:
- General health checks: You’re eligible for NHS bowel cancer screening from the age of 60 and for a blood pressure check every five years or so from the age of 40, although you should be screened more often if you have high blood pressure.
- Chlamydia screening: As one of the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK, chlamydia can affect men and women, gay or straight, and often doesn’t present any symptoms. You can get a free chlamydia test if you’re under the age of 25, but screening is important at any age as chlamydia can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.