Lesbian, Bisexual and WSW Health

Finding the right primary care provider (PCP) is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. You want someone who makes you feel heard, sees you for you are, makes you feel safe and understands what real trust means. Our team is here to care for your needs — physically, emotionally and confidentially — from head to toe. 

Primary care services

• Health screenings: Regular screening tests help us uncover potential health issues before they become a bigger problem. We’ll check for common things like high blood pressure, high or low blood sugar problems and high cholesterol. If needed, we might recommend tests for depression, addiction and intimate partner violence.
• Chronic disease care: If you have or are at risk for ongoing conditions like obesity or diabetes, we’ll work with you to set reasonable health goals and help you reach them.
• Immunizations: Keeping up with vaccines for common illnesses can lower your chance of getting them. We’ll talk with you about shots that protect against the flu, tetanus, COVID-19 and hepatitis A, B and C. 
• Women’s health services: Your primary care provider can do routine women’s health screenings like pelvic exams, pap tests and breast exams and help with issues related to menopause. 
• Sexually transmitted infection care: If you’re a WSW, your provider may recommend screenings for sexually transmitted diseases and infections, like HPV, trichomoniasis and herpes. If you’re at risk for HIV/AIDS, your provider may talk with you about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that blocks the virus. We also offer antiviral medications for hepatitis and antibiotics for gonorrhea.
• Support: Your care team will include a patient navigator. This point person can relieve some of the stress of coordinating multiple appointments, answer your questions or help you find more information if you need it. We’ll can also connect you with financial and community resources so you can focus on your health.

Your first visit with your primary care provider is very important. It gives you the chance to make sure they’re a good fit for you — that you feel comfortable and safe. If you don’t click, it’s OK to keep looking.  

At this appointment, your provider will spend some time talking with you about your life, your healthcare concerns and if you have any health goals. This is your time to open up about whatever’s on your mind so your provider can really start to know you. Don’t be afraid to speak up. It’s your provider’s job to make sure you feel at ease. 

Your provider will also chat with you about staying healthy. They’ll talk with you about the importance of good eating habits and exercise, why it’s important to have bloodwork done and what screening tests they’d recommend. They’ll also ask you about your sexual history because that’s an important part of who you are. They’ll need to have a complete picture of your sexual health — including your partners and the methods you use to protect yourself from a sexually transmitted infection (STI) — in order to give you the best care. 

All of these conversations will happen in a comfortable, judgment-free setting — from understanding providers who specialize in LBGTQIA+ healthcare. 

Taking the Next Step

If you’re a lesbian, bisexual or WSW, it’s important to know that your primary care provider understands your needs and is in tune with any unique health issues and concerns you might have. Your provider will become a trusted partner on your healthcare journey. At Cleveland Clinic, you’ll find providers exactly like that — ones you can count on to help you stay healthy and feel your best.