十項男同志應注意的健康議題:
1. 對醫療人員出櫃 Come Out to your Healthcare Provider
為確保醫療品質,最好讓醫生知道你是男同志,以便他提供適當的問診與檢測,若你的醫生因你的性向讓你感到不舒服,請換一個醫生。
In order to provide you with the best care possible, your clinician should know you are gay. It should prompt him/her to ask specific questions about you and offer appropriate testing. If your provider does not seem comfortable with you as a gay man, find another provider.
2. 愛滋病、安全性行為 HIV/AIDS, Safe Sex
男男性行為會提高愛滋感染的風險,但同志社群所倡導的安全性行為可大為降低感染風險。如果你是愛滋病毒帶原者,請尋求良好的醫護照護。安全性行為已被證實可降低感染與傳播愛滋病毒的風險。若參加愛滋感染風險較高的活動時,也需立刻與醫生討論暴露於風險後所能採取的保護措施。如果你處於一段交往關係,而其中有陽性反應者,你也應向醫生討論預防措施之選項。
Many men who have sex with men are at an increased risk of HIV infection, but the effectiveness of safe sex in reducing the rate of HIV infection is one of the gay community’s great success stories. If you are HIV positive, you need to be in care with a good HIV provider. Safe sex is proven to reduce the risk of receiving or transmitting HIV. You should also discuss and be aware of what to do in the event that you are exposed to HIV (Post-Exposure- Prophylaxis)—contacting your provider IMMEDIATELY following an exposure to explore your options. If you are in a relationship where one of you is positive, you should discuss options for prevention with your provider as well.