Gay Men

Gay men have higher rates of HPV infection which may lead to increased risk of anal cancers, oral cancers, and heart disease. Tobacco use furthermore increases your chances of cancers/heart disease.

Sources:

• National LGBT Cancer Network HPV and Cancer (cancer-network.org)
• Evidence grows for an HPV-heart disease connection | American Heart Association

Lesbians

Lesbians, who smoke at much higher rates than straight women, are at an increased risk for cancer but have been shown to be less likely to get routine screenings leaving them especially vulnerable to breast cancer and HPV-related cervical cancer.

Sources:

• National LGBT Cancer Network Lesbians and Breast Cancer Risk (cancer-network.org)

Bi+ People

Bi+ people are at an increased risk of mental health issues like depression and eating disorders. Bi+ people are two times more likely to begin smoking once coming out, compared to lesbian, gay, and heterosexual people. Bi+ people also have higher rates of HPV, further increasing the risk of tobacco-related cancers and diseases.

Sources:

• Association of Coming Out as Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual+ and Risk of Cigarette Smoking in a Nationally Representative Sample of Youth and Young Adults | Adolescent Medicine | JAMA Pediatrics | JAMA Network
• National LGBT Cancer Network HPV and Cancer (cancer-network.org)

People living with HIV

Smoking has been found to lower the efficiency of medications used to treat HIV. People living with HIV who smoke are more likely to get lung cancer and have decreased lifespans compared to smokers without HIV.

Sources:

• Smoking and HIV | HIV.gov

Youth

LGBTQ+ youth are most likely to use tobacco via e-cigarettes/vapes. Nicotine use in youth is associated with brain damage to areas affecting mood, attention, and learning. Additionally, youth who use tobacco products are far more likely to be regular smokers as adults.

Sources:

• Youth and Tobacco Use | Smoking and Tobacco Use | CDC
• Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults | CDC

Transgender, Non-Binary, Gender Non-Conforming (TNBGNC)

Transgender adults are three times more likely to use tobacco compared to cisgender adults. Further, the health risks from tobacco use are intensified by the following:

• Trans women or other folks taking estrogen for hormone replacement therapy, are at an increased risk of blood clots and breast cancer.
• Trans men or other folks taking testosterone for hormone replacement therapy, see elevated levels of LDL cholesterol leading to an increased risk of heart attack.
• TNBGNC folks are less likely to get routine cancer screenings either because of fear of discrimination or uninformed providers.
• TNBGNC folks interested in gender-affirming procedures often have to quit tobacco for a period of time because of increased risks during surgery.

Sources:

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) People | For Specific Groups | Tips From Former Smokers | CDC
• Information on Estrogen Hormone Therapy | Gender Affirming Health Program (ucsf.edu)
• Cardiovascular health in transgender people – PubMed (nih.gov)
• Cancer screening in the transgender population: a review of current guidelines, best practices, and a proposed care model – Sterling – Translational Andrology and Urology (amegroups.com)
• Thinking About Transition and Smoking?