AskDocQ: Beyond the headlines, the truth about HIV ‘cure’ case
You might have heard about the story that broke last week — a second person “cured” of HIV. Nicknamed the “London patient,” he underwent a cancer treatment which prevented the virus from re-infecting his donor cells, thus effectively clearing his immune system of all trace of HIV. Newspaper front pages loudly proclaimed that he is …
AskDocQ: Here’s your survival guide for your Mardi Gras weekend
It’s Mardi Gras season, when the eastern seaboard of Australia is inundated with rainbow-festooned tourists, and there’s a mad rush for tickets to the parties and after-parties and pool parties and recovery parties. If you’ve spent the last few months working on your abs and butt to show off those new shorty shorts you’ve bought, …
AskDocQ: When Things Go Wrong During Chemsex, Getting Urgent Help May Save Your Life
If you or someone you know uses drugs such as crystal meth, mephedrone or GHB, especially in group situations with strangers, then it’s important to understand how to manage common emergencies in this environment. Things can go seriously wrong, and urgent help may be life-saving. People have died due to the seriousness of their condition …
AskDocQ: Here’s The Facts About Poppers, As TGA Considers Ban
Recently there has been talk of changing the laws on poppers, rescheduling them as a serious illicit drug and criminalizing their possession. But banning them would criminalise the normal sexual practice of many thousands of gay men. Thankfully, a public outcry has prompted a reconsideration. So, what’s all the fuss about? Poppers are a group …
AskDocQ: Are Trans Women On HRT At Increased Risk Of Breast Cancer?
I recently received some questions about the risk of breast cancer for transgender women on HRT, so I thought I would try to present the current most up-to-date knowledge in this area. We simply don’t have enough population data to be able to give an accurate risk, but we can look at cohort data. The …
DocQ: Merry Christmas & Say ‘No’ To GHB
Silly season is in full swing again, and it’s all office parties, Christmas parties, NYE parties and big club events. Whilst it’s wonderful to be able to let your hair down and enjoy your hard-earned fun, it’s important not to let your health take a back seat. Sometimes at such events you might end up …
AskDocQ: ‘Gay Conversion’ Therapy Is Like Trying To Change Your Eye Colour Through Prayer
“Gay conversion” therapy is in the news again, with concerns that the practice is again on the rise. In the past, this kind of reparative “therapy” was offered as a cure for homosexuality, but the practice fell out of favour after being condemned by the UN, the Australian Medical Association and the Australian Psychological Association. …
AskDocQ: Talk To Your GP About Domestic And Family Violence
Healthy relationships work best when they are built on love and mutual respect, but sometimes people can find themselves stuck in a relationship that is more about abuse and control… this is domestic violence. It can happen to anyone – including LGBTIQ people, and it doesn’t have to be your partner, it could be a …
AskDocQ: HRT Is Safer Than We Previously Thought, Researchers Say
Hola amigos! I’m back from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I attended the 25th meeting of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), an organization formed back in 1979. WPATH is most famous for their Standards of Care, a set of guidelines for the medical management of trans and gender diverse people. These guidelines have …
AskDocQ: The Highs And Lows Of Bipolar Disorder
Once known as “manic depression”, bipolar disorder is actually quite common. If you are bipolar, you may experience depression alternating with periods of mania or hypomania. During periods of mania, you may feel elevated or high, be quite creative, spend a lot of money, and have trouble sleeping. Sometimes this can lead to bouts of …