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Click here for Lesbian Spirituality page
Wellness is an ongoing process
to reach for our full potential as human beings, personally and in relation to our families, our community, and the world
around us. Wellness focuses on the total person, addressing areas of diversity, values and interests. The wellness philosophy
embodies 8 dimensions of wellness aimed to address the full person with the goal of promoting and attaining a well-balanced,
integrated, healthy individual. (To
see more on this site about details of 8 dimensions of wellness, click here) There is no cost to you for
our services. We of course, would appreciate donations of any size (if you are able) to help our program grow and be accessible
to more of our community. Currently you may contact us at the MCC 406-771-1070 or call Irene at 406-788-6325. We hope to establish
regular hours, currently we will see by appointment.
Lesbians
face unique challenges within the health care system that can cause poorer mental and physical health. Many doctors, nurses,
and other health care providers have not had sufficient training to understand the specific health experiences of lesbians,
or that women who are lesbians, like heterosexual women, can be healthy normal females. There can be barriers to optimal health
for lesbians, such as: Lesbians
face unique challenges within the health care system that can cause poorer mental and physical health. Many doctors, nurses,
and other health care providers have not had sufficient training to understand the specific health experiences of lesbians,
or that women who are lesbians, like heterosexual women, can be healthy normal females. There can be barriers to optimal health
for lesbians, such as: •Fear of negative
reactions from their doctors if they disclose their sexual orientation.
•Doctors’ lack of understanding of lesbians’ disease risks, and issues that may be important
to lesbians.
•Lack of health insurance
because of no domestic partner benefits.
•Low perceived risk
of getting sexually transmitted diseases and some types of cancer. For the above reasons, lesbians often avoid routine health exams and even delay seeking medical care
when health problems occur. What are important health
issues for lesbians to discuss with their doctors or nurses? Domestic Violence
Also
called intimate partner violence, this is when one person purposely causes either physical or mental harm to another. Domestic
violence can occur in lesbian relationships as it does in heterosexual relationships, though there is some evidence that it
occurs less often. But for many reasons, lesbian victims are more likely to stay silent about the violence. Some reasons include
fewer services available to help them; fear of discrimination; threats from the batterer to "out" the victim; or
fear of losing custody of children. Depression and Anxiety. Many factors cause depression and anxiety among all women. Studies
show that lesbian and bisexual women report higher rates of depression and anxiety than heterosexual women do. This may result
from the fact that lesbian women may also face: •Social
stigma
•Rejection by family members
•Abuse and violence
•Being treated unfairly in the legal system
•Hiding some or all aspects of one’s life
•Lacking health insurance Lesbians often feel they have to conceal their lesbian status to family, friends, and employers. Lesbians
can also be recipients of hate crimes and violence. Despite strides in our larger society, discrimination against lesbians
does exist, and discrimination for any reason may lead to depression and anxiety. Alcohol and drug abuse
Substance abuse is as serious a public health problem for the lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered
people (LGBT) as it is for the general U.S. population. Overall, recent data suggest that substance use among lesbians —
particularly alcohol use — has declined over the past two decades. Reasons for this decline may include greater awareness
and concern about health; more moderate drinking
Depression and Anxiety
Many factors
cause depression and anxiety among all women. Studies show that lesbian and bisexual women report higher rates of depression
and anxiety than heterosexual women do. This may result from the fact that lesbian women may also face: •Social stigma
•Rejection by family members
•Abuse
and violence
•Being treated unfairly in the
legal system
•Hiding some or all aspects of
one’s life
•Lacking health insurance
Try different strategies to deal
with your stress
Stress from discrimination
is a tough challenge in the life of every lesbian. Relax using deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and massage therapy. You
can also take a few minutes to sit and listen to soothing music, or read a book. Talk to your friends or get help from a professional
if you need it.
Get help for domestic violence.
Call the police or leave if you or your children are in danger! Call a crisis hotline or the National Domestic Violence Hotline
at 800-799-SAFE or TDD 800-787-3224, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English, Spanish, and other languages.
The Helpline can give you the phone numbers of local hotlines and other resources. The lesbian health FAQ has been reviewed by the University of Washington, University of California,
Los Angeles, and Gynecological Health Associates.January 2005. Heart disease
Heart
disease is the #1 killer of all women. Factors that raise women’s risk for heart disease — such as obesity, smoking,
and stress — are high among lesbians. The more risk factors (or things that increase risk) a woman has, the greater
the chance that she will develop heart disease. There are some factors that you can't control such as getting older, family
health history, and race. But you can do something about some of the biggest risk factors for heart and cardiovascular disease
— smoking, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol. Exercise
Studies have shown that physical inactivity adds to a person's risk for
getting heart and cardiovascular disease, as well as some cancers. People who are not active are twice as likely to develop
heart and cardiovascular disease compared to those who are more active. The more overweight you are, the higher your risk
for heart disease. More research with lesbians in this area is needed. Obesity
Being obese can make you more likely to get heart disease, and cancers of the
uterus, ovary, breast, and colon. Many studies have found that lesbians have a higher body mass than heterosexual women. Studies
suggest that lesbians may store fat more in the abdomen and have a greater waist circumference, which places them at higher
risk for heart disease and other obesity-related issues such as premature death. Additionally, some suggest that lesbians
are less concerned about weight issues than heterosexual women.
At this time, more research is needed in these areas:
physical activity in lesbians; possible dietary differences between lesbians and heterosexual women; if a higher BMI(body
mass index) is a reflection of lean tissue and not excess fat; and if there’s a different cultural norm among lesbians
about thinness. In addition, other important factors for researchers to consider are race/ethnic background, age, health status,
education, cohabitation with a female relationship partner, and having a disability. Studies have reported that among lesbian
and bisexual women, African American or Latino ethnicity, older age, poorer health status, lower educational attainment, lower
exercise frequency, and cohabiting with a female relationship partner increases a lesbian woman’s likelihood of having
a higher BMI. Nutrition
Research supports that lesbian and bisexual women are less likely to eat fruits
and vegetables every day. More research on food consumption and dietary differences in relation to health and lesbians and
bisexuals is needed. There are many Lesbian communities where good nutrition is highly respected. Smoking
Smoking can lead to heart disease and multiple cancers, including cancers
of the lung, throat, stomach, colon, and cervix. Lesbians are more likely to smoke, compared to heterosexual women. Researchers
think that high rates of smoking in this population are a consequence several things, like social factors, such as low self-esteem,
stress resulting from discrimination, concealing one’s sexual orientation, and tobacco advertising targeted towards
gays and lesbians. Studies have also found that smoking rates are higher among gay and lesbian adolescents compared to the
general population. Smoking as a teen increases the risk of becoming an adult smoker. We know that about 90 percent of adult
smokers started smoking as teens. Cancers
Lesbian women may be at a higher risk for uterine, breast, cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers because of
the health profiles listed above. However, more research is needed. In addition, these reasons may contribute to this risk:
•Lesbians have traditionally been less likely to bear children. Hormones released during pregnancy and breastfeeding
are believed to protect women against breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers.
•Lesbians have higher rates of alcohol
use, poor nutrition, and obesity. These factors may increase the risk of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers, and other
cancers.
•Lesbians are less likely to visit a doctor or nurse for routine screenings, such as a Pap, which can prevent
or detect cervical cancer. The viruses that cause most cervical cancer can be sexually transmitted between women.
•Lesbians
have similar rates of mammography testing (for breast cancer) as heterosexual women.
What can lesbian women do
to protect their health? What lesbian women can do to protect
their health
Find a doctor
Find one who is sensitive to your needs to help you get regular
check ups. The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association provides
online health care referrals. You can access their database
of members at www.glma.org/programs/prp/index.shtml or contact them at (415) 255-4547. Get a Pap test
The
Pap test finds changes in your cervix early, so you can be treated before
the problem becomes serious. Begin getting Pap tests no later than age 21 or within
three years of first having sexual intercourse. After two to three yearly Pap tests have been normal, talk to your doctor or nurse about getting a Pap test at least once every three years. Talk
to your doctor or nurse about an HPV test if your Pap test is abnormal. In combination
with a Pap test, an HPV test helps prevent cervical cancer. It can detect the types
of HPV that cause cervical cancer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an HPV DNA test for women for the following uses:
•as a follow-up to a Pap test with results that are abnormal
•in combination with a Pap test in women aged 30 and older Practice safer sex
Get tested for STD's like chlamydia or herpes before beginning a relationship. If you're unsure about a partner's status, practice methods to
reduce the likelihood of sharing vaginal fluid or blood, including condoms
on sex toys Have a balanced, healthy diet
Eat a variety of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
These foods give you energy, plus vitamins, minerals, and
fiber. Besides, they taste good! Try foods like brown rice
or whole-wheat bread. Bananas, strawberries, and melons are some
great tasting fruits. Try vegetables raw, on a sandwich, or in a salad. Be sure to pick a variety of colors and kinds of fruits and vegetables. You can vary the form try fresh, frozen, canned, or dried. Read more about having a healthy diet at http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/. Drink moderately
If
you drink alcohol, don't have more than one drink per day. Too much
alcohol raises blood pressure and can raise your risk for stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis, many cancers, and other problems. Get moving
An active lifestyle can help every woman. Thirty minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week can greatly improve your
health and decrease your risk of heart disease and some
cancers! Try different strategies to deal with your stress
Stress from discrimination is a tough challenge
in the life of every lesbian. Relax using deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and massage therapy. You can also take a few minutes to sit and listen to soothing music, or read a book. Talk to your friends or get help from a professional if
you need it. Talk to your doctor
or nurse about screening tests you may need. Regular preventive screenings are critical to staying healthy. All the tests that heterosexual women need, lesbian women need too. See these online charts for screening guidelines for different age groups: www.womenshealth.gov/screeningcharts. Get help for domestic violence!
Call
the police or leave if you or your children are in danger!
Call a crisis hotline or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE or TDD 800-787-3224, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English, Spanish, and other languages. The Helpline can give you the phone numbers
of local hotlines and other resources. Build strong bones
Exercise. Get
a bone density test. Learn more about that at http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/osteopor.htm. Make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D each day.
Reduce your chances of falling by making your home safer. For example,
use a rubber bath mat in the shower or tub. Keep your floors free from clutter. Lastly, talk to your doctor or nurse about taking medicines to prevent or treat bone loss.
Know the Signs of a Heart Attack
Women are less likely than men to believe they are having a heart attack and more likely to delay in seeking treatment. For women, chest pain may not be the first sign your heart is in trouble. Before a heart attack,
women have said that they have unusual tiredness, trouble
sleeping, problems breathing, indigestion, and anxiety.
These symptoms can happen a month or so before the heart attack.
During a heart attack, women often have these symptoms:
♣Pain
or discomfort in the center of the chest.
♣Pain
or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
♣Other
symptoms, such as shortness of breath, breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness can also be present. Know the Signs of a Stroke
The signs of a stroke happen
suddenly and are different from the signs
of a heart attack. Signs you should look for are weakness or numbness on one side of your body, dizziness, loss of balance, confusion, trouble talking or understanding speech, headache, nausea, or trouble walking or seeing. Remember: Even if you have
a "mini-stroke," you may have some of these signs.
For More Information For
more information on lesbian health issues, contact the National Women's Health Information
Center at 1-800-994-9662 or the following organizations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Internet Address: www.cdc.gov Office on Violence Against Women, OJP, DOJ
Phone: (800) 799-7233
Internet Address: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA)
Phone: (415) 255-4547
Internet Address: http://www.glma.org Lesbian Health Research Center, Institute for Health
and Aging, UCSF
Phone: (415) 502-5209
Internet Address: http://www.lesbianhealthinfo.org Lesbian STD Web Site, University of Washington
Internet Address: http://depts.washington.edu/wswstd/ National Center for Lesbian Rights
Phone: (415) 392-6257
Internet Address: http://www.nclrights.org The Mautner Project
Phone: (202) 332-5536
Internet
Address: http://www.mautnerproject.org
The lesbian health FAQ has been reviewed
by the University of Washington, University of
California,
Los Angeles and Gynecological Health Associates. January 2005
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