Adolescent sexual orientation Flashcards
What is sexual orientation?
Person’s physical and emotional arousal to people of the same and/or opposite sex
What is a heterosexual?
Someone who is attracted primarily to the opposite sex
What is a homosexual (gay or lesbian)?
Someone who is attracted primarily to the same sex
What is a bisexual?
Someone who is attracted to both sexes
What percentage of all boys identified themselves as bisexual, mostly homosexual or 100% homosexual as per the 2003 BC adolescent health survey?
1.5%
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?
3.5%
What percentage of all girls identified themselves as bisexual, mostly homosexual or 100% homosexual as per the 2003 BC adolescent health survey?
3%
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?
6.4%
What influences confusion around same-sex attraction?
- stigma attached to homosexuality
- inaccurate knowledge
- lack of role models
- minimal opportunity to socialize with other youth w/ similar feelings
What is a transgendered individual?
People whose gender identity does not match their anatomy. They can be heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual.
What is a transvestite?
A person who gets pleasure from dressing in the clothing of the opposite sex. They can be heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual.
What are homosexual youth at increased risk?
- verbal and physical assault (1/2 gay men and 1/5 lesbians)
- threatened with a weapon at school (2-4 times more likely)
- dropping out of school
- living on the streets
- early tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
- increased risk of using “club drugs” e.g. ecstasy, crystal meth, and ketamine
- suicide (2-7 times more likely)
- STI
What are risk factors for suicide in gay, lesbian or bisexual youth?
- Acquire gay identity at a young age
- Family conflict
- Teen runs away or thrown out of the home
- Conflicted feelings on the orientation
- Inability to disclose orientation to anyone
What should pediatricians tell parents?
- It is likely not a phase
- They should tell their teen they still love them
- Conversion or reparative therapy is unethical
- Refer parents to PFLAG
Why are gay and lesbian youth at increased risk for STI?
- more likely to have had sexual intercourse
- more likely to have more partners
- more likely to have had non-consensual intercourse
What are individuals who have unprotected anal intercourse at risk for?
- HIV
- Parasites
- HPV
- Hep A
- Hep B
- Hep C
What does a full STI workup involve?
- urethral or urine, pharyngeal, and anal swabs for gonorrhea
- urethral culture or urine for chlamydia
- venereal disease research laboratory testing
- anal cytology
- stool culture testing
- O&P testing
- HIV testing
What are the CPS recommendations?
- 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
- history taking should be done in a non-gendered way without assumption of heterosexuality
- if a HCP has personal barriers to providing non-judgmental care and information they should refer to another HCP
- HCP should stay informed about resources in their communities for gay and lesbian adolescents
- HCP should be aware oft he risks to health and development in these youth
- Education and counseling should be available to all youth to prevent the spread of HIV, HPV, and STIs
- Urgently refer teens w/ SI to mental health especially those w/ experience treating homosexual adolsecents
- do not use conversion or reparative therapies
