Sexual orientation and gynecologic medical care: A cross‐sectional study with Brazilian women

Abstract

Health disparities among adult individuals are determined by age, ethnic background, and socioeconomic status. 1 Sexual orientation may also influence these inequalities. 2 The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexual, and asexual communities (LGBT) are frequently marginalized populations that may have special needs ignored by most doctors because these populations are frequently understudied. In this context, social stigma and discrimination may further aggravate the problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Healthy People 2020, health disparities related to sexual orientation are among the main gaps in current health research. 1The gynecologic health of lesbians and bisexuals (LB) may be affected owing to differences in sexual behavior and access to health care. These women are more likely to develop obesity, smoking, and