LGBTQ+ Health
Patients in the LGBTQ+ community are often faced with unique struggles when it comes to healthcare. Research shows that you’re less likely to have access to essential preventive and treatment options because of the social stigma, or even discrimination, that you may face.
Finding a caring provider who understands your unique health concerns is only a phone call away with Piñero Preventive Medical Care. Their convenient downtown Orlando practice specializes in LGBTQ+ health, including screening and diagnostic needs. You’ll feel confident that your caring provider genuinely understands you and has your best health in mind. It’s easy to request your first visit online.
STI/STD Prevention and Wellness Screening
If you are sexually active, getting regularly tested for STIs/STDs is an important part of your overall health. Many STIs/STDs don’t cause any symptoms so getting tested is the only way to know. All STIs/STDs are treatable and many are curable. Screening, diagnosis, and treatment for most sexually transmitted infections STIs/STDs is available, including HIV testing and counseling. Our nurse practitioners and doctors provide confidential exams and counseling related to your sexual and reproductive health.
PrEP treatment
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a highly effective HIV prevention strategy for members of the LGBTQ+ community. When used as prescribed, PrEP can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99%.
PrEP is not only indicated for individuals at increased risk of HIV exposure, but also for those seeking inclusive, preventive healthcare options tailored to their individual needs.
Our medical team provides confidential, judgment-free consultations to help patients choose the PrEP option that best fits their health goals and lifestyle.
HIV Screening & Early Initiation of ART
People with HIV who are aware of their status can get HIV treatment (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) and remain healthy for many years. Studies show that the sooner people start treatment after diagnosis, the more they benefit from ART. Treatment with ART reduces the amount of HIV in the blood (called viral load), reduces HIV-related illness, and helps prevent transmission to others. People with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load (or stay virally suppressed) have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to HIV-negative sex partners.
Vaccinations
You may not realize that you need vaccines throughout your life. Adults need to keep their vaccinations up to date because immunity from childhood vaccines can wear off over time. You are also at risk for different diseases as an adult. Vaccination is one of the most convenient and safest preventive care measures available.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, helps you meet your identifying needs as a transgender individual. For instance, with feminizing hormone therapy, your treatments help suppress male characteristics while developing female characteristics. You’ll start experiencing growth in your breasts, more fat building up around your waist, a reduction in body hair, less muscle mass, and a difference in how much (or how often) you sweat.
With masculinizing hormone therapy, the opposite occurs. Your treatments start suppressing female characteristics while building up male characteristics. As your body begins to change, you’ll start to grow facial hair, have a lower voice, gain more muscle mass, notice more body hair, and experience a redistribution of your body fat.
LGBTQ+ Health Q&A
Patients in the LGBTQ+ community are often faced with unique struggles when it comes to healthcare. Research shows that you’re less likely to have access to essential preventive and treatment options because of the social stigma, or even discrimination, that you may face.
The providers at Piñero Preventive Medical Care understand the challenges you go through. LGBTQ+ health involves evaluating and treating you as a person, rather than treating a disease or condition. Your dedicated practitioner will get to know you. He or she will evaluate your mental health, home safety, signs of victimization, and overall well-being.
LGBTQ+ health can include:
- Sexual wellness screenings
- STD prevention or treatment
- STD testing
- Counseling services
- Vaccinations
- Chronic disease treatment
- HIV screening
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
It’s so important for you to develop a relationship with a trusted provider. After all, you do want to lead a long, healthy life by minimizing your risk of any chronic issues. Routine LGBTQ+ health maintenance is important to:
- Eliminate health disparities in the LGBTQ+ community
- Decrease incidents of disease transmission
- Delay or stop disease progression
- Reduce overall future health costs
- Help you prevent future health issues
- Improve your mental and physical well-being
While it might seem awkward at first, you should talk with your doctor just like you’re talking with your best friend — you have to be open and honest. Because the practitioners at Piñero Preventive Medical Care have been active in the LGBTQ+ community for years, they have seen and heard just about anything you can imagine.
The doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses are here to care for you and are genuinely concerned about your health. By sharing as much as you can about your lifestyle, they’ll get a better understanding of which types of diagnostic screenings you may need and how to help you prevent future problems. Plus, you’ll have someone to contact if you ever need to be seen in the office on an urgent basis.
Yes. PrEP is a safe and effective HIV prevention option for women and transgender men. Our providers evaluate each patient individually to determine the most appropriate prevention strategy based on medical history, lifestyle, and personal risk factors.
Patient Testimonials
