Latest news with #BespokeSurgical
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
LGBTQ+ Patients Face Widespread Discomfort and Discrimination in Healthcare, New Study Finds
NEW YORK, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Navigating the U.S. healthcare system is challenging for many, but for LGBTQ+ individuals, it can be even more daunting. A new nationwide study by the team at Bespoke Surgical is revealing that LGBTQ+ patients face disproportionately high rates of discrimination, discomfort, and mistrust in medical settings. The study, which surveyed over 1,500 Americans, found that 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ patients feel uncomfortable sharing their sexual orientation or gender identity with their doctor—a rate eight times higher than that of straight patients. The discomfort is even more pronounced for non-binary individuals, 40% of whom report unease in disclosing their identities. Key Findings Include: 71% of LGBTQ+ patients say they've felt judged by a healthcare provider, compared to 42% of straight patients. Nearly half (49%) of LGBTQ+ respondents say their health concerns have been dismissed by a doctor. 81% of LGBTQ+ patients worry that new federal policies could reduce access to LGBTQ+-specific healthcare services. 78% say they'd feel more comfortable with a doctor who shares their sexual orientation, highlighting the need for increased representation in healthcare. The study also explored how comfort—or lack thereof—shapes honesty in healthcare. Over one-third of LGBTQ+ respondents (36%) admitted to lying to their doctor, compared to just 16% of straight respondents. The reasons? Fear of judgment, stigma, and assumptions from providers remain top barriers to honest conversations about health, especially around topics like sexual history, drug use, and mental health. "Transparency can be lifesaving in the medical world. Because of this, it is crucial that patients trust their doctors and feel understood," says Dr. Evan Goldstein, founder of Bespoke Surgical. "It is clear for LGBTQ+ people this is not always the case – many feel judged and uncomfortable with their available medical practices, leading to dishonesty." Despite the challenges, LGBTQ+ individuals remain proactive in seeking affirming care. Over half (54%) are willing to go out of network to find inclusive providers, and one in three say it's difficult to find affirming care in their area, particularly in states like South Carolina, Texas, Missouri, and Tennessee. The study also sheds light on topics patients are most and least comfortable discussing. While most respondents are open about diet, exercise, and alcohol use, far fewer feel comfortable discussing sexual kinks, anal health, or overall satisfaction with their sex life—especially among LGBTQ+ patients. What Would Help? LGBTQ+ respondents identified several solutions that would make healthcare feel safer and more accessible in 2025: Stronger anti-discrimination protections (68%) More inclusive healthcare networks with affirming providers (60%) LGBTQ+-specific training for medical professionals (54%) Legal protections for gender-affirming care (51%) To find more interesting insights, please visit the complete study. About Bespoke Surgical Headquartered in New York City, Bespoke Surgical is a leading sexual health and wellness practice. Founded in 2010 by Dr. Evan Goldstein, Bespoke Surgical caters to a wide range of clients, with a majority of patients being LGBTQ+. Learn more at: Media Contact Greg Lam (212) 206-1501 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Bespoke Surgical
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The 1 Popular Thing You Should Immediately Stop Doing When Wiping, According To An Anal Surgeon
You've probably heard that few things in life are certain except death and taxes, but we'd like to add something else to the list: cleaning up in the bathroom. So, since we have to do it, what's the best technique? The preferred method of wiping 'is not wiping,' nationally renowned anal surgeon Dr. Evan Goldstein told us — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, co-hosts of HuffPost's 'Am I Doing It Wrong?' podcast — when we recently chatted with him. 'When you're looking at someone's [anus], to the left and the right are these wrinkles ― it's like an accordion. It opens. It closes,' said Goldstein, who is also the CEO and founder of Bespoke Surgical. 'The front and the back ― towards the vagina, towards the penis and testicle area, or the tailbone, the skin there is not wrinkled. It's very thin. When we wipe, where do we wipe? Usually front to back — thin skin! We all wipe so much, so what happens over time? People tear the skin. It gets irritated. It gets angry at us.' Instead of wiping, Goldstein suggested cleaning the area without toilet paper. 'I'm a huge bidet [fan],' he told us, because it can thoroughly wash the anus without harming it. He also recommended a quick shower or rinse if you don't own a bidet. 'You always want to make sure you're drying yourself,' he added, because moisture in that area can cause irritation. This is one of the reasons why he says even though wet wipes are wildly popular, we should never use them. 'They are so terrible — not only for the environment, but for your hole,' he said. 'There's so many companies out there throwing wipes and I think they should all be banned. I see 90 people a week [in my surgical office], and I would say one-third of all the people coming through are coming in from wet wipe-induced issues.' That's because using them can change the microbiome of that area of the body. 'Think about it — we have good bacteria, we have bad bacteria, but they are in homeostasis. They are in equilibrium. Wet wipes fuck that in a really bad way,' Goldstein said. 'I see ridiculous dermatitis [in my patients] ... bacterial infections. ... Now that you've messed up that microbiome, it's causing so many problems.' If you are going to wipe using toilet paper, he recommended more of a 'blot' than a wipe and doing it in a 'standing squat,' because there's less blood flowing to that part of the body when you're standing. And that means less potentially problem-causing pressure on the delicate area. 'The longer you're sitting on the bowl, the more blood [down there], the more wiping, the more irritation. The body senses that,' Goldstein said. Instead, we want to get vertical again as soon as possible to relieve that pressure. 'So, you poop, wipe once or twice [while seated], finish standing up. Why? The blood starts to leave [when you stand up]. The mechanism starts to go back to the normal, daily [position],' Goldstein said. 'There are some people that it's harder [to wipe] when they're standing,' he noted. 'They don't feel like they're getting the full hole. ... But we don't need to go all up in there. If you are going all up in there, we need to go back to diet and fiber and pre- and probiotics, and thinking about better strategies. I always say, 'It's not butt health; it's gut health.' If you have gut health, you will automatically have butt health.' Goldstein also chatted with us about why squatting is the best position for pooping, what a perfect poop should look like and much more. After you've had a listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts, subscribe to 'Am I Doing It Wrong?' so you don't miss a single episode, including how to score the best deals on airline tickets, how to find love online or overcome anxiety, tips for online shopping, taking care of your teeth and pooping like a pro, secrets to booking and staying in a hotel, how to deal with an angry person, shocking laundry secrets, ways to experience more awe and wonder in your life, taking your best shower ever, protecting your privacy online, and much more. For more from Goldstein, visit his website or his Instagram page, and check out Future Method's Butt & Gut Daily Fiber. Need some help with something you've been doing wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@ and we might investigate the topic in an upcoming episode. The 1 Thing A Coffee Expert Says You Need To Make The Best Cup Of Joe Why 3-Star Reviews Should Be Your Secret Weapon When Shopping Online Psst... You're Probably Buying Airline Tickets All Wrong
