Capital Blue Cross is a prd supporter of your health checkup during Pride Month.

The Mayo Clinic is informig the LGBTQ community why its important to come out to tr health care providers.

It affects what type of screenings you might need r certain sexually transmittd infections depending on the type of sex you are having, what exposures you might he to other things like HIV.

Some of my patients might n qualify to be put on HIV prophylaxis to try to prevt HIV if depending on the tyf sex and who they're havingx with.

Lehigh Valley advocate Adrn Chancre wrote the book Bods and Barriers.

Queer activists on Health.

It's a collection of health care experiences from LGBTQ people and challenges theye access and care and medical services.

The doctor isn't there to e the doctors there to provie the care that's needed, Schanker says.

Although revealing informan about gender and sexualityo your doctor may be uncomfortable.

It's crucial to a persons well-being.

The saying is to treat me.

You have to know who I am d it's impossible for a clinn to be able to provide the e that any patient needs if y don't know enough about our lives.

If they don't know about or behavioral risks, if they t about our families or our e situations, doctors need te able to ask the right questions, request the rigt screenings, order the right tests to meet that person'.

If you're not comfortable sharing that information wh your doctor, Schenker sayst may be time to find a new .

We need to be out to our doctors.

We need to have honest conversations with the peoe providing health care to us that way that they can proe the best care that we needr our bodies and our lives.

He also suggests bringing a friend to appointments for support for PBS39.

I'm Brittany Sweeney your health checkup is brought o you by the generous supporf capital Blue Cross.

More information at Capital Blue