Finding the right Doctor?

[AKFitGuy]

How does one find a gay/bi sex-friendly Doctor?   I would like to find a Doctor that treats an illness without judging the behavior.  One you can discuss gay sex preventive measures as PREP and DOXY-PREP.   One that if you do catch a bug, can treat it quickly and without the lecture.   I'm in Phoenix, AZ.

 

[barebackbro]

It really is worth finding a suitable doctor. You could try:

• a local sex clinic (a quick Google search suggests there are some options)
• a doctor whose profile mentions sexual health or prep
• a doctor in a gay-friendly area 

[BootmanLA]

One thing you might consider is finding an HIV/infectious disease doctor - just because that's their primary area of focus doesn't mean they can't see HIV-negative patients, and in fact they may appreciate the chance to treat patients who are trying to prevent the spread of infectious diseases (as opposed to only getting to treat people who already have something).

And even if you can't use one of those doctors as a PCP (insurers are more open to that, I think, if you're HIV-positive because keeping THAT under control has ripple effects throughout your body and affects all sorts of other things), an HIV specialist may well know someone to refer you to.

[bicep]

I faced this issue a few months ago. I wanted a doctor who was not only gay friendly but supported PrEP and the health of gay men.  I also wanted a doctor affiliated with a major teaching hospital and health system in my area rather than a solo practitioner.  I performed a simple Google search for gay doctors with the name of the teaching hospital and health system. Up came a list of out and openly LGBT staff.  Of this list, only three were in clinical practice in internal medicine or general practice doctors. I compared this list to a list of PrEP friendly doctors from a local HIV service agency.  I found a couple that matched and chose one doctor that I will be seeing the first time on Thursday.  He only accepts patients who have LGBT health needs.  As I said I was a PrEP user, I was accepted.  He graduated medical school with honors and patients consider him extremely thorough and dedicated.  Finding a doctor who not only embraces PrEP but Doxycycline as a preventative HIV treatment requires a little research, even though I am in a big metro area. 

[verslut]

I go to a physician and a specialty sexual health clinic. My main concern is being comfortable enough to show my physician my penis and ass if I'm experiencing a problem. And I get STD testing included in bloodwork with my physical. The sexual health clinic better understands comprehensive prevention and testing. So I do routine testing and PrEP counseling there.

[BootmanLA]

59 minutes ago, verslut said:

I go to a physician and a specialty sexual health clinic. My main concern is being comfortable enough to show my physician my penis and ass if I'm experiencing a problem. And I get STD testing included in bloodwork with my physical. The sexual health clinic better understands comprehensive prevention and testing. So I do routine testing and PrEP counseling there.

Bifurcating your medical needs is certainly a workable solution for a lot of people. But one caveat, and one suggestion:

Make certain that your PCP is aware of what you're getting/seeing at the sexual health clinic, including bringing copies of any test results, etc. whenever you see the PCP. One significant source of medical errors is when the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing, and interactions between medications (and medications affecting tests) figure prominently in those problems.

You might also talk with your PCP about your issue, and he or she may be able to reassure you about examinations when you have issues, etc. - or the PCP may suggest you continue to use the sexual health clinic but ask that they copy him on all test results, etc. One way for doctors like your PCP to get better at handling such things is for patients to bring those concerns to them. Can't promise yours will make you feel comfortable enough to handle everything, but either way, communication is always a good thing.