Lesbian Health 101

This is the first comprehensive textbook on lesbian health, reflecting the exponential increase in research on lesbian health over the past 10 years. I highly recommend this textbook to all clinicians and students who provide health care for women, and to inquisitive patients. --Susan Love, MD, President of the Susan Love Breast Cancer Foundation This book presents new and little-known, current and well-researched material that is essential to combat myths and misinformation about lesbian health. The intended audience is literally starved for this book. Health care providers and lesbian health care advocates may be aware of some of the information in this book, but none of us have the comprehensive understanding and knowledge base that this book provides. It should be available in every curriculum where health care disparities are addressed, and where LGBT health is taught. --Peggy Chinn, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor Emerita, University of Connecticut Each time a lesbian thinks about weight, retirement, children, a hospital stay, filling out a form, or any other health related activity, she has to insist on a paradigm shift to simply be recognized. This book will push that shift along a little faster and give lesbians the leverage we need to live healthily in this century. --Jewelle Gomez, Author and activist This book presents new and little-known, current and well-researched material that is essential to combat myths and misinformation about lesbian health. The intended audience is literally starved for this book. Health care providers and lesbian health care advocates may be aware of some of the information in this book, but none of us have the comprehensive understanding and knowledge base that this book provides. It should be available in every curriculum where health care disparities are addressed, and where LGBT health is taught. --Peggy Chinn, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor Emerita, University of Connecticut Each time a lesbian thinks about weight, retirement, children, a hospital stay, filling out a form, or any other health related activity, she has to insist on a paradigm shift to simply be recognized. This book will push that shift along a little faster and give lesbians the leverage we need to live healthily in this century. --Jewelle Gomez, Author and activist

Women's health, as a field of study, is a developing discipline. Health theories in general have been based on studies of men. However, in recent years, more attention has shifted to women's health, realizing the disparities between men and women in relation to their health. During the last two decades, a similar shift has occurred for a group of womenâ€"lesbian womenâ€"to further identify and specify their health needs. Over the past decade, lesbians have organized to call for attention to the health issues of this community, resulting in several federally funded research initiatives. This book offers a comprehensive view of what is known about lesbian health needs and what questions need further investigation, including: How do we define who is lesbian? Are there unique health issues for lesbians? Are lesbians at higher or lower risk for such health problems as AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, breast cancer, mental disorders, and substance abuse? How does homophobia affect lesbian health and the funding of research on lesbian health? How do lesbian health needs fit into the health care system and the larger society? What risk and protective factors shape the physical and mental health of lesbians? The book discusses how to determine which questions to ask about sexual orientation, the need to obtain information without violating privacy, the importance of considering racial and ethnic diversity in the study of lesbians, strategies for exchanging information among researchers and disseminating findings to the public, and mechanisms for supporting greater numbers of researchers. Lesbian Health takes a frank look at the political pressures, community attitudes, and professional concerns uniquely affecting the study of lesbian health issues. The book explores many other issues including the potential for transferring findings in this field to other population groups, including other rare populations and women in general.

This interdisciplinary project provides an informative, accessible, and comprehensive introduction to women's health. Emphasizing the perspectives of diverse groups of women, it addresses various biological, economic, social, environmental, and political factors that influence women's health and well-being. Women are more likely than men to experience mood disorders, certain types of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, arthritis, lupus, and celiac disease. In addition, women face significantly more barriers to health care than men due to a variety of social, economic, political, and environmental factors, including inequality, poverty, legislation, and pollution. Despite this, the field of women's and girls' health remains both understudied and underfunded. Women's Health: Understanding Issues and Influences explores important topics in the field of women's health in the early 21st century, offering readers a comprehensive and informative yet accessible introduction to women's health in the United States. While some topics are unique to women's health, others illustrate how women's health and women's experiences within the U.S. health care system are different from men's, as well as how certain health issues impact women differently than men. Entries have been crafted by a diverse team of contributors with wide-ranging expertise, and each entry features a collection of further readings and cross references to other relevant entries.

Covers topics such as breast cancer, AIDS, childbirth, and menopause, and community issues such as addiction, from a lesbian perspective

Black LGBT Health in the United States: The Intersection of Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation focuses on the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of health, and considers both risk and resiliency factors for the Black LGBT population.

"The Fenway Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health is the first truly comprehensive clinical reference to enhancing the health care and wellness of LGBT patients. Written by leading experts in the field and created in conjunction with Fenway Community Health of Boston, one of America's most respected community-based research and treatment centers, this one-of-a kind resource examines the unique issues faced by sexual minority patients and provides readers with clear and authoritative guidance." -- Book Jacket.