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Access to Health

When Catherine E Hug, a writer for GCN based in the United States, had to access healthcare suddenly, the experience and the stigma attached to it caused her to think about how others may struggle in accessing the care they need.

In mid-May this year, I woke up to a heavy pain in my abdomen. It was so bad I could barely walk. An hour later, as the pain eased, I made an appointment with my OBGYN. At said appointment a few days later, I had an ultrasound to discover that I had a cyst on my ovary measuring 7cm (about the size of a tennis ball). A few weeks later I went back to my doctor to discover that three more cysts had grown on my other ovary, all about the size of golf balls.

In August, I had an outpatient laparoscopic surgery to remove the cysts, and from that surgery they were able to diagnose me with borderline Stage IV Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a chronic illness that happens to one in every ten women where the endometrial tissue that grows inside the uterus (the tissue that sheds blood and causes periods) grows in places it’s not suppose to, like ovaries, fallopian tubes, even sometimes the lungs and the brain.

It takes on average about eight years from when a woman starts having symptoms to when they are diagnosed. But these compiled statistics only apply to cisgender women, what about trans men? No matter what stage of transition trans men have gone through, they still fall under the umbrella of ‘women’s health’. But how can they get the healthcare they need when there’s a double stigma -around not only women’s healthcare, but trans people’s healthcare as well?

Take the infamous case of Robert Eads, a trans man who transitioned in his forties. Because of this happening later in life he was advised not to have a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or an oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries). After severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, Eads sought emergency medical treatment, and received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. However, more than a dozen doctors refused to treat Eads on the grounds that taking him on as a patient might harm their practice.

By the time Eads was accepted to receive healthcare, the cancer had spread to his uterus, cervix, and other abdominal organs, making his prognosis bleak. Robert Eads died from ovarian cancer in 1999 at the age of 53.

So what can be done to ensure the health and wellbeing of not just cisgender people, but transgender people as well? Dr Maureen Connelly, a paediatrician at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit who works with trans youth at the Ruth Ellis Centre, says regarding trans healthcare: “Members of the transgender community face immense challenges when trying to access healthcare. They may be greeted with confusion, disrespect, or outright discrimination at the front desk, in the exam room, in the ER, etc. They may have challenges with finding a knowledgeable provider or getting services covered by insurance. With so many unknowns and potential barriers, it’s understandable why transgender people may avoid seeking healthcare all together.”

“It’s our responsibility in healthcare to change this stigma.” Dr Connolly continues, “Through education and institutional change, we can transform our clinics and hospitals into places where transgender people feel safe and affirmed. We can advocate for insurance coverage for medically necessary medications and procedures. We can ensure that all of our colleagues are using the right name, pronouns, and language. Everyone deserves access to healthcare, regardless of their gender identity.”

While many medical offices have limited hours and appointments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, if you believe something is wrong, don’t be afraid to reach out and make an appointment. All offices should have the strictest measurements regarding your safety against the Coronavirus.

You are the best judge of your body, so you should also have a physician that listens and understands your needs and concerns.

This article appears in 366

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From The Team
Welcome, dear reader, to our January 2021 issue!
Access to Health
When Catherine E Hug, a writer for GCN based in the United States, had to access healthcare suddenly, the experience and the stigma attached to it caused her to think about how others may struggle in accessing the care they need
2020 in numbers
It’s been quite the year for GCN. Simliar to the organisations around the world, the pandemic brought about huge changes in the way we deliver our services as your national LGBTQ+ press. For many months, we had to put pause to our beloved print edition of the magazine due to COVID-19 restrictions (so you can imagine how delighted we are knowing this issue is out in the world!) but, as with many others, we also found ways to thrive. Here are just a few of our own personal highlights
#2020 QueerVision
It’s been a memorable year for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community. Here are just some of the highlights that took place across the country over the past 365 days
The Park
When a piece of queer art caused a childhood memory to come flooding back, Hannah Tiernan reflected on the hidden meaning public spaces once had for gay people, and how they were viewed by outsiders
A State of Silence
Those who have survived institutional human rights abuses in Ireland refer to the saying ‘deny until we die’ - where the State and Church keep enacting policies and barriers until the problem goes away. In light of the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters) Bill 2020, Oisin Kenny speaks with survivors and advocates about the ongoing tactics of silence and the need for accountability moving forward
Queer Utopia: Neave Alouf & Ollie Bell
Queer Utopia lives!
Queer Future:
Queer Utopia: Babs Daly & Stephen Moloney
Our second Queer Utopia team-up are the super talented duo, Babs Daly & Stephen Moloney
Utopian Possibilities
The trouble with something imagined is that it is likely
The Fight For Visibility
Empowering a multinational network of 21 organisations from across 10 countries, a new research project, Intersex - New Interdisciplinary Approaches, aims to shed light on the lived experiences of intersex people.
I Feel Zine
Expression and creativity outside the mainstream, targeting like-minds and fellow bold thinkers, zines are a blast of anarchic energy. With queer creations on the rise, Chris Rooke got the lowdown from some of the makers (who also kindly provided the images)
People MPower
The MPOWER team provide an essential service to gay and bisexual men and other MSM in Ireland, empowering them with sex-positive and judgement-free services and resources. Brendan Kelly Palenque spoke to some of the volunteers that make the service possible
Gold medal achievements
The past 12 months have been difficult for lovers of all things sport. While many LGBTQ+ inclusive clubs gathered for brief periods of training throughout the year, most of 2020 was spent apart. However, as Karina Muray describes, there were still a few notable events and 2021 will most definitely provide more opportunities for getting active!
Empathy, hope and queer joy will help us all to step boldly into 2021
As this unprecedented year comes to a close, Managing Editor Lisa Connell reflects on some of the lessons we have learned, and the role queer joy will play in the continuing fight for a better world for all of our diverse LGBTQ+ community
Looking for back issues?
Browse the Archive >

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