Adolescent sexual orientation

Question 1

What is sexual orientation?

Answer 1

Person’s physical and emotional arousal to people of the same and/or opposite sex

Question 2

What is a heterosexual?

Answer 2

Someone who is attracted primarily to the opposite sex

Question 3

What is a homosexual (gay or lesbian)?

Answer 3

Someone who is attracted primarily to the same sex

Question 4

What is a bisexual?

Answer 4

Someone who is attracted to both sexes

Question 5

What percentage of all boys identified themselves as bisexual, mostly homosexual or 100% homosexual as per the 2003 BC adolescent health survey?

Answer 5

1.5%

Question 6

What percentage of sexually active boys said they have sex with someone of the same gender in past year as per the 2003 BC adolescent health survey?

Answer 6

3.5%

Question 7

What percentage of all girls identified themselves as bisexual, mostly homosexual or 100% homosexual as per the 2003 BC adolescent health survey?

Answer 7

3%

Question 8

What percentage of sexually active girls reported having sex with someone of the same gender in the past year as per the 2003 BC adolescent health survey?

Answer 8

6.4%

Question 9

What influences confusion around same-sex attraction?

Answer 9

1. stigma attached to homosexuality
2. inaccurate knowledge
3. lack of role models
4. minimal opportunity to socialize with other youth w/ similar feelings

Question 10

What is a transgendered individual?

Answer 10

People whose gender identity does not match their anatomy. They can be heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual.

Question 11

What is a transvestite?

Answer 11

A person who gets pleasure from dressing in the clothing of the opposite sex. They can be heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual.

Question 12

What are homosexual youth at increased risk?

Answer 12

1. verbal and physical assault (1/2 gay men and 1/5 lesbians)
2. threatened with a weapon at school (2-4 times more likely)
3. dropping out of school
4. living on the streets
5. early tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
6. increased risk of using “club drugs” e.g. ecstasy, crystal meth, and ketamine
7. suicide (2-7 times more likely)
8. STI

Question 13

What are risk factors for suicide in gay, lesbian or bisexual youth?

Answer 13

1. Acquire gay identity at a young age
2. Family conflict
3. Teen runs away or thrown out of the home
4. Conflicted feelings on the orientation
5. Inability to disclose orientation to anyone

Question 14

What should pediatricians tell parents?

Answer 14

1. It is likely not a phase
2. They should tell their teen they still love them
3. Conversion or reparative therapy is unethical
4. Refer parents to PFLAG

Question 15

Why are gay and lesbian youth at increased risk for STI?

Answer 15

1. more likely to have had sexual intercourse
2. more likely to have more partners
3. more likely to have had non-consensual intercourse

Question 16

What are individuals who have unprotected anal intercourse at risk for?

Answer 16

1. HIV
2. Parasites
3. HPV
4. Hep A
5. Hep B
6. Hep C

Question 17

What does a full STI workup involve?

Answer 17

1. urethral or urine, pharyngeal, and anal swabs for gonorrhea
2. urethral culture or urine for chlamydia
3. venereal disease research laboratory testing
4. anal cytology
5. stool culture testing
6. O&P testing
7. HIV testing

Question 18

What are the CPS recommendations?

Answer 18

1. comprehensive health care aimed at promoting normal adolescent development, social and emotional well-being, and physical health be available to adolescents of all sexual orientations
2. history taking should be done in a non-gendered way without assumption of heterosexuality
3. if a HCP has personal barriers to providing non-judgmental care and information they should refer to another HCP
4. HCP should stay informed about resources in their communities for gay and lesbian adolescents
5. HCP should be aware oft he risks to health and development in these youth
6. Education and counseling should be available to all youth to prevent the spread of HIV, HPV, and STIs
7. Urgently refer teens w/ SI to mental health especially those w/ experience treating homosexual adolsecents
8. do not use conversion or reparative therapies