Sexual orientation, gender identity and access to health care
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Last reviewed: 02/09/2025
Sexual orientation, gender identity and access to health care
Sexual orientation and gender identity should not affect access to the right health care, but some people may face extra challenges in getting the right help and information.
Heteronormativity (the assumption that people are heterosexual) can be an obstacle for holistic health care and may make it challenging for people to disclose their sexual orientation.
Lesbian, bisexual and other women who have sex with women (LBWSW) can experience significant health inequalities and barriers to services and support. LBWSW may also face complex and interconnected experiences of social disadvantage linked to their sex, gender and sexual orientation. These negative experiences are often compounded by age, social class, ethnicity, disability and/or faith.
Further resources
- Int J Environ Res Public Health (2019): A Systematic Review of Sexual Minority Women's Experiences of Health Care in the UK.
- Public Health England (2018): Improving the health and wellbeing of lesbian and bisexual women and other women who have sex with women.
- Joint RCN and UKCAT webinar. Transforming care for transgender patients.
- RCN (2022): Care for trans patients: what nursing staff need to know.
- RCN (2025): Breaking barriers: Addressing cancer care inequities for the trans community in the UK.
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