When care meets queer

In a nation where the LGBTQIA+ community often faces a struggle to access quality healthcare, recent initiatives offer hope for change

- 

Dr Neelam Suri, senior consultant, obstetrics and gynecology, robotic surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, says that the biggest challenge in treating transgender and LGBTQIA+ individuals lies in the “lack of awareness and comfort on both sides.”

She explains,“In gynaecology, many outdated assumptions persist, such as equating all patients with cisgender women or assuming heterosexual relationships define reproductive health. These gendered beliefs alienate those who do not fit conventional norms,” she adds.

According to Dr Suri, transgender patients “may also experience body or genital dysmorphia, making routine gynaecological visits emotionally challenging.’ She points out another failing inthe medical documentation systems, which donot recognise all genders:“The lack of inclusive medical records and health forms that recognise different gender identities is another pertinent issue. This often results in awkward or insensitive interactions, even when the intent is positive,’ she says, adding: “In such situations, even basic preventive health checkups feel out of reach.”

Similar myths exist in the discipline of urology.“Urology, being closely associated with reproductive and sexual anatomy, often carries gendered assumptions-such as equating certain organs with one fixed identity,’ says Dr Parab, explaining further, “Myths like ‘gender identity is determined purely by anatomy’ or ‘only cisgender men have urological problems' still exist in certain circles.”