HEALTH
News and resources relating to LGBTIQ health and medical care
NSW signs pledge to end HIV epidemic by 2030
NSW has signed on to a global pledge to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, following other Aussie states as well as hundreds of cities worldwide vowing to eliminate HIV transmission. Friday, December 1, is World AIDS Day, honouring those affected by HIV. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has today signed the global Paris Declaration …
The HIV myths that need to take a hike
Stigma can overshadow the truth when it comes to HIV. Dr Rhys Young breaks down some common myths. How much do you know about HIV? Do you limit your sexual partners based on their HIV status? Are you confident in your HIV & STI prevention? Unfortunately, stigma can often overshadow the truth, and HIV still …
New hope for gender-affirming surgery funding on Medicare
The Health Department will next month consider an application to subsidise gender-affirming surgeries under Medicare in a major push to cut costs and improve access for transgender Australians. In 2021, over 148,000 people signed a petition calling for public funding of gender-affirming surgery. The petition explained for some people, the procedures are essential for their …
Creating the new gay men’s health service: Hey Fella
QNews chats with Dr Cris Quitral and his partner Luke Fuller who have created Hey Fella, a revolutionary new online gay men’s health service. Dr Cris Quitral, who is originally from Canada but moved to Queensland to study in 2011, was six years into his medical career in chaotic but rewarding emergency departments when he …
Switzerland ends gay blood donation ban
Gay and bisexual men will now be able to donate blood under the same rules as heterosexuals in Switzerland after new donation criteria came into effect on November 1. Under the new Swiss blood donation regulations, a four month waiting period will apply to all people after their last sexual encounter with a new parnter, …
New Australian guidelines back Doxy-PEP to stop syphilis
The Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) has released new guidelines for the use of the antibiotic drug Doxycycline as a “morning after” pill to prevent bacterial sexual infections in men who have sex with men. “Doxy-PEP” involves taking 200mg of Doxycycline up to 72 hours after a sexual act …
R U OK? Mental Health Resources for LGBTQIA+ Australians
R U OK? Day is a national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, ‘are you OK?’ and start a meaningful conversation whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about might be struggling with life. Although most lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans/transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) Australians …
DocQ: Doctor’s guide to edging
Dr Rhys Young is back with a toe-curling guide to the wonderful world of edging. Have you ever been listening to a remix of a song where the DJ keeps building to the chorus, but then they take it back and start building again? It’s fun; you were expecting the beat drop so you could …
Blocked: The battle over youth gender care
Patricia Karvelas breaks open the feud over transgender youth healthcare on FOUR CORNERS. Blocked: The battle over youth gender care. ABC Monday 10 July 2023 at 8:30 pm. The battle over youth gender care Monday night, ABC’s FOUR CORNERS takes on the latest culture war. RN Breakfast presenter Patricia Karvelas examines the battle over youth …
New study looks into how prostate cancer affects bottoms
A professor in the U.S. is calling on all bottoms who have undergone a prostatectomy to take part in a new study. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the gay and bisexual male community. One in seven gay men will receive a diagnosis in their lifetimes. Though many men can live with it …
DocQ: How to talk to your GP about domestic violence
May 28th is LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence Awareness Day, a day to bring attention to the issue of domestic violence in queer relationships. DocQ is back to chat to us about healthy relationships and how to chat to your GP when you’re feeling unsafe. As a GP, it’s important for me to remind my patients that …
US adopts Individual Risk Assessment for blood donors
Australian gay blood donation campaigners this week welcomed a US decision to adopt Individual Risk Assessment to determine blood donor eligibility. The change allows gay men to give blood subject to the same conditions as everyone else. A spokesperson for Let Us Give urged Australia to follow suit. The US Food & Drug Administration’s decision …
Albanese Government unveils $19.7 million HIV funding plan
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Anthony Albanese government announced that it will allocate an additional $19.7 million in the 2023-24 Budget to fulfill its promise of eliminating HIV in Australia. The funding package reportedly aims to “address the health disparities experienced by LGBTIQA+ people”. “Australia can be very proud of our efforts to …
Ask the experts: All about skin cancer with Dr Laura Wheller
Dr Laura Wheller from Ascot Dermatology is here to answer all of your questions and queries about skin cancer. What is skin cancer? Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells, which usually develops due to sun damage accumulated over a person’s lifetime. Unfortunately, most Australians develop skin cancer, with approximately two in three …
Let’s Treat Syphilis: Regional and remote communities
Regional and remote community members are often more at risk of contracting Syphilis. Here’s how the Let’s Treat Syphilis campaign is fighting back. Regional and remote community members can be more at risk of contracting Syphilis. Here’s how the Let’s Treat Syphilis campaign is fighting back. One of the main challenges in providing medical care …
Ask the experts: reciprocal IVF with Dr Ee Min Kho
Dr Ee Min Kho from Queensland Fertility Group is back to chat all about reciprocal IVF and egg sharing. If you’re ready to grow your family, there’s an array of wonderfully diverse ways it can happen. For same-sex couples who both produce eggs and have a uterus, there is an option called reciprocal IVF, or …
Let’s Treat Syphilis: Trans, Gender Diverse and Non-Binary People
STIs don’t discriminate. Syphilis can affect everyone. Anyone who is sexually active can contract syphilis, including members of the Trans, Gender Diverse and Non-Binary (TGDNB) communities. Let’s Treat Syphilis is a collaboration of Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (QC) and Queensland Positive People (QPP). Spread through oral, anal, and genital contact, syphilis sometimes displays no …
Body positivity at a low ahead of WorldPride 2023
As the LGBTQIA+ community gear up for Sydney WorldPride 2023, pressures to conform to societal beauty standards are at an all-time high – leaving body positivity on the decline. New research from the Butterfly Foundation reveals the affect that the “Mardi Gras shred” phenomena is having on community. Harmful effects The study indicates that: More …
Ask the Experts: Fertility facts with Queensland Fertility Group
Are you ready to take the next big step to grow your family? Dr Melissa Luckensmeyer is here to dispell common fertility myths while Dr Ee Min Kho provides all the info on reciproval IVF. Fertility myths with Dr Melissa If you’re thinking about starting your family and require donor sperm to do so, there …
Aussie advocates welcome US move on gay blood ban
The Aussie Let Us Give campaign today welcomed a proposal from US blood authorities to remove that country’s gay blood ban and adopt individual risk assessment. The group called on Australia’s Red Cross Blood Service to move quickly to adopt the same policy. Previously, the Red Cross said it will take two years to review …
Seeing a psychologist could change your life – here’s why
Seeing a psychologist could be one of the most life-changing things you ever do for yourself. But it’s hard to know if it’s right for you if you aren’t sure how it works. So, grab a coffee and slip into your most comfortable lemon-scented canary yellow rubber G-string worn backwards. Now, let’s do a bit …
‘Let’s Treat Syphilis’: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources
The syphilis outbreak has been progressively creeping through our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, resulting in communities being disproportionately affected by this infection. These high rates of infection occur for multiple reasons. One significant factor is the limited access to healthcare that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities experience. Many Aboriginal and Torres …
