A new guide is being launched today to help healthcare professionals address sexual health issues of gay and lesbian patients.
The guide, produced by the Gay And Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), is released because the group has said many LGBT patients are reluctant to reveal their sexual orientation to doctors.
The news comes after the release of HIV statistics earlier this month which showed that rates of diagnosis remain high amongst gay and bisexual men.
Director of GLEN, Tiernan Brady, said public perception of the condition is preventing getting people to health checks.