How honest are you with your doctor?

[BB4fking]

I had the same gay man doctor for 30 years before he retired. I first met him at a gay support group when I was coming out. I was always fully candid with him which was essential for various STIs and getting on PrEP. Occasionally I spoke to him about my partner’s behaviour. When he retired he arranged for a young gay doctor, who had occasionally acted as locum for him, to take over the practice. So he’s been my doctor for several years now including getting on DoxyPEP.
I feel fortunate both having a gay doctor and someone I know and trust. I don’t think I’d have had a problem with other local doctors or a woman doctor but it’s particularly good to have someone who knows exactly where I’m coming from. Also because the practice many other gay patients and both doctors have been active in HIV support work he’s right up to date on new protocols relevant to gay treatments etc.

It has been interesting to hear of others’ experiences, internationally, reminds me that I feel fortunate living in an urban environment in a gay friendly country and where I can choose my own doctor. I recall living for 2 years in the UK and telling my assigned doctor I was homosexual in order to be eligible to get a hepatitis vaccination. Later I was referred to a specialist at a local hospital regarding a simple skin condition (turned out to be psoriasis). The first thing the specialist said to me, no small talk, was “oh, your doctor tells me you’re homosexual “. It didn’t really endear me to either English doctor.