Homophobia: how physicians treat homosexual patients.

Doctors tend to be uncomfortable with homosexual patients, who make up a large part of an average practice. Homosexuality lies along the continuum of sexual expression and should not be considered a perversion. To a greater or lesser extent, it is present in all people, and is acted upon in a variety of ways. Physicians should be aware of the homosexual patient's lifestyle in order to give the best medical care. The epidemiology of disease differs in the homosexual and heterosexual population.