El personal de salud debiera tener en cuenta los siguientes puntos al atender a adolescentes que no son heterosexuales: 

Derivar a otro profesional si hay dificultades personales para atenderlos.

Asegurar al paciente que su confidencialidad está protegida. Discutir con ellos si es apropiado que sus padres se enteren y si quieren que esa información se registre en la ficha.

Ayudarlos/as a pensar acerca de sus sentimientos cuidadosamente, para clarificar si hay o no confusión con respecto a su orientación sexual.

Identificar conductas de riesgo (conductas sexuales, consumo de alcohol y drogas) y ofrecer consejería o tratamiento si está indicado.

Ofrecer apoyo ante los conflictos que se pueden presentar con sus familias en el proceso de "salir del closet".

------------------------------------------------------------------------

BIBLIOGRAFÍA

* American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health and Committee on Adolescence. Sexuality education for children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2001;108:498 -502

* American Academy of Pediatrics. Confidentiality in adolescent health care. AAP News. April 1989:9. Reaffirmed January 1993

* American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 3rd ed. Revised. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1987

* Division 44/Committee on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns Joint Task Force on Guidelines for Psychotherapy with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients. Guidelines for psychotherapy with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients. Am Psychol. 2000 Dec;55(12):1440-51.

* Frankowski BL, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Adolescence. Sexual orientation and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2004 Jun;113(6):1827-32.

* Garofalo R, Wolf RC, Wissow LS, Woods ER, Goodman E. Sexual orientation and risk of suicide attempts among a representative sample of youth. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999;153:487-493

* Garofalo R, Wolf RC, Kessel S, Palfrey SJ, DuRant RH. The association between health risk behaviors and sexual orientation among a school-based sample of adolescents. Pediatrics. 1998;101:895-902

* Remafedi G, French S, Story M, Resnick MD, Blum R. The relationship between suicide risk and sexual orientation: results of a population-based study. Am J Public Health. 1998;88:57-60

* Russell ST, Franz BT, Driscoll AK. Same-sex romantic attraction and experiences of violence in adolescence. Am J Public Health. 2001;91: 903-906

* Savin-Williams RC, Dubé EM. Parental Reactions to Their Child´s Disclosure of a Gay/Lesbian Identity. Family Relations 1998; 47: 7-13.

* Stoller RJ, Herdt GH. Theories of Origins of Male Homosexuality. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1985; 42:399-404