The widely used acronym GBMSM - Gay, bisexual and other men-who-have-sex-with-men, reflects the differences in cis-male sexuality (people assigned male at birth). However, this is not to forget transgender men who may also identify as gay or bisexual, or those assigned male at birth but who may identify as non-gender specific.
The key thing to remember here is not to make assumptions about the gender or sexuality of the patient or with whom they may be having sex. Clinical questions that are gender and sexuality neutral are key to forming better partnerships and focus on sexual behaviours rather than sexual identity.
Contact tracing may be challenging with a proportion of GBMSM who have high numbers of recent anonymous partners (both for the person and also the contact tracer), where contact details are not always known and therefore contact is not possible[1,2]. However, other people may have met anonymous partners online where profiles, email addresses and mobile telephone numbers are available, and contact is possible either by the person or by contact tracing services.[3]
Some people may find the email or SMS notification services that are available online helpful. See Ways of Notifying Contacts. See Ways of Notifying Contacts
References
[1] Pantalone DW; Tomassilli JC; Starks TJ; et al: Unprotected Anal Intercourse With Casual Male Partners in Urban Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men American Journal of Public Health; Washington Vol. 105, Iss. 1, (Jan 2015): 103-110. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302093 [2] Flowers P; Lasoye S; McQueen J et al; Developing a co-produced, systems-informed, sexually transmitted infection contact tracing intervention for gay and bisexual men who have sex with men and their ‘one-off’ sexual partners doi: doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.07.21260064 [3] Ruscher C; Werber D; Thoulass J; Dating apps and websites as tools to reach anonymous sexual contacts during an outbreak of hepatitis A among men who have sex with men, Berlin, 2017 May 2019; Eurosurveillance 24(21) DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.21.1800460Resources
McNair R, ‘A guide to sensitive care for lesbian, gay and bisexual people attending general practice’, Download PDF from: https://rainbowhealthaustralia.org.au/research-resources
RACGP: SG16 Sex, sexuality, gender diversity and health contextual Unit https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/Education/Curriculum/sg16-sex-sexuality-gender-diversity-and-health.pdf
General Practice Supervisors Australian (GPSA); Clinical Guide to the Health Needs of People with Intersex Variations can be downloaded from: https://gpsupervisorsaustralia.org.au/lgbtqia-inclusive-healthcare/
Victorian Department of Health, LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Language Guide https://www.vic.gov.au/inclusive-language-guide
Health and Gender Affirmation in NSW; Information for Clinicians https://www.transhub.org.au/clinicians
Page last updated October 2022