• All News
• Consumer
• Pro
• New Drugs
• Pipeline
• Clinical Trials
• FDA Alerts

Gender Minority Adults Are Vulnerable During Full Body Skin Exam

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 2, 2024.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Feb. 2, 2024 -- Within the sexual and gender minority (SGM) population, gender minority adults are more likely to report discomfort during full body skin examinations (FBSEs), according to a research letter published online Jan. 31 in JAMA Dermatology.

Michelle Verghese, from the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago, and colleagues used data from a sample of SGM individuals aged 18 years or older to examine perspectives surrounding FBSEs.

Overall, 175 participants completed the survey and 42.8 percent reported ever having had a FBSE. The researchers found that 33.3 percent of those who underwent a FBSE reported discomfort during the examination. Discomfort was more likely to be reported by gender nonconforming, gender queer, and nonbinary (gender queer) and transgender individuals compared with sexual minority cisgender females and males (57.7 versus 25.6 percent). Compared with sexual minority cisgender males, sexual minority cisgender females were also more likely to report discomfort (37.5 versus 11.1 percent). Reasons related to undressing during the examination were more likely to be a reason for discomfort among gender queer, sexual minority cisgender female, and transgender respondents than sexual minority cisgender males; they were also more likely to report discrimination or nonaffirming interactions with medical practitioners and staff. Gender queer and transgender respondents were more likely to cite being misgendered during the appointment and to experience uncomfortable examination maneuvers.

"Our findings suggest that stigma and discrimination can negatively affect skin cancer screening experiences for SGM patients, serving as a substantial barrier," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted February 2024

More news resources

• FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
• Daily MedNews
• News for Health Professionals
• New Drug Approvals
• New Drug Applications
• Drug Shortages
• Clinical Trial Results
• Generic Drug Approvals

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.