Are you a man who loves other men (and maybe girls too)? Are you looking for a non-judgmental doctor to whom you can talk honestly about your sex life?
While you should be able to talk to your regular doctor about STDs and HIV, the reality is, even with doctor-patient confidentiality, not everyone feels comfortable discussing the spontaneous “who put what where” with same doctor your mom takes you to. since you were knee deep!
It sounds like you’re looking for a gay-friendly doctor — also known as a General Practitioner (GP) in Australia. Whether you live in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth or elsewhere, here’s our guide to finding one!
Why a gay-friendly doctor or general practitioner?
As a gay or bisexual guy, you have some unique health needs – especially when it comes to sexual health.
A gay-friendly doctor is familiar with the health needs of gay and bisexual men. Some doctors specialize in the health care needs of transgender men as well. They can help you create the right sexual health plan for your circumstances. This includes STD testing, HIV testing, HIV treatment, PEP and PrEP.
They will understand what you mean when you talk about top, bottom, sound and punch. Better yet, they’ll know what respectful questions to ask and what sexual health tests to perform to make sure you’re getting the most appropriate care for you.
The most important thing is to find a doctor you feel comfortable with and trust enough to be completely honest about your health and sexual behaviors. Had anonymous sex without a condom and not sure if you’ve been exposed to HIV or an STD? Worried about that funny tingling sensation when you pee? Do you have questions about anal sex and taking care of your butt? Not sure if it’s safe to swallow cum or give a lip job?
These are all important questions. A gay-friendly doctor will be able to read them with you, in as much detail as you want. And trust us – whatever it is, they’ve heard it all before. Dr. Vincent certainly has!
Kids Like Vincent Are Working to Stop the Spread of HIV — Choosing a Health Care Provider | Emen8
Are they different from a regular doctor?
In a way, they do the same things – any doctor who identifies as gay-friendly or LGBT-friendly will be able to offer the same medical services as a regular doctor – from coughs and colds to that odd rash that just doesn’t seem to leave!
A gay-friendly doctor will also be able to help with the social, emotional and cultural aspects of your health as a member of the LGBT+ community. They offer an inclusive, accepting space where you can discuss your sexual and mental health confidentially and without judgement.
What Kind of Gay Friendly Doctor Should I Look For?
Before you start your search, think about exactly what you want from a doctor or physician:
- Are you looking for a regular doctor to see on an ongoing basis or do you want to see him just for your sexual health?
- Want a drop-in service that allows you to remain anonymous?
- Do you have a specific reason for needing a doctor (such as one of your partners telling you they tested positive for an STD)?
- Is the gender of your doctor important to you?
- Want a quick HIV test? (See below for what to do if you think you have been exposed to HIV.)
Having clear answers to these questions will help you find the best doctor for your needs.
What if I think I have been exposed to HIV?
If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, contact your nearest sexual health service straight away to talk to someone about whether you should start a course of PEP.
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a 28-day course of medication that can help stop HIV from creating an infection in your body. To have a chance of being effective, PEP is best started within 72 hours of exposure, and the sooner the better.
The Take PEP The website provides all the information you need to take action and stay HIV negative — or click the link for your state or territory: TAKE ACTION | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA
Exposure to HIV? Get PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) | Emen8
What should I expect at my appointment?
If you haven’t had a gay-friendly doctor before, it’s not always clear what to expect or how to talk to a doctor about your sexual health.
In addition to the routine tests they may do, if you haven’t had a test in more than three months while you’re sexually active, it’s best to get a comprehensive sexual health test — even if you don’t have symptoms. This includes testing for HIV (if you don’t know your status) and common STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. If you do not know your vaccination status for hepatitis A and hepatitis B, get tested and ask if you will be vaccinated for them as well.
It’s also the perfect opportunity to discuss how you manage your risk of HIV and STDs. A gay-friendly doctor will have all the information you need about prevention strategies such as: condoms, PrEP, relying on partner’s undetectable viral load or PEP if needed. If you are living with HIV, your doctor can help you understand how to manage it with HIV treatment to stay healthy and eliminate the chance of passing on HIV.
Where can I find the nearest gay-friendly doctor?
Emen8’s Find a Service tool has everything you need to find your nearest gay or LGBT friendly family doctor. Use our interactive map and directory to find services anywhere in Australia.
The Drama Downunder’s Find a clinic offers a similar service, with filter options specifically for doctors and gay-friendly doctors.
The DocDir directory is an Australia-wide directory of LGBTQ+ clinicians and services.
Depending on where you live, you can also look at directories in your state for a detailed list of gay-friendly doctors.
Gay Friendly Doctors and GPs in Sydney and NSW
ACON has a list of Gay friendly doctors in Sydney and across NSW. This also includes information about bulk billing options and doctors who speak languages other than English.
Gay Friendly Doctors and GPs in Melbourne and Victoria
The Melbourne Sexual Health Center (MSHC) directories. sexual health services and partner clinics in Victoriaincluding those serving gay and bisexual men.
Gay friendly doctors and GPs in Perth and Washington
WA Aids Council (WAAC) and Perth’s Clinic M keep a list of LGBT friendly doctors in WA.
