Introduction: According to studies, LGBTQIA+ individuals tend to attend fewer medical appointments than cisgender heterosexual individuals and are more likely to delay and/or avoid healthcare services and medical care. This study seeks to understand the barriers that contribute to this population’s disengagement from healthcare services.

Objective: To observe that access to healthcare among the LGBTQIA+ population is unequal, permeated by stigma and prejudice, and centered on heteronormative practices.

Methods: Cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted from 2024 to 2026 involving the LGBTQIA+ population with a cervix. Data were collected through gynecological consultations at a Family Clinic.

Results: Of the total 216 patients seen, 98 (45.38%) reported not receiving regular medical follow-up. Among these, 39 (39.80%) did not state the reason for not receiving regular follow-up. Of the remaining 59 (60.20%) who reported a reason, 18 (30.50%) cited previous episodes related to prejudice, dysphoria, and lack of welcoming care, while 12 (20.33%) reported discomfort or fear regarding gynecological consultations. In addition, 19 (32.20%) cited difficulty accessing care, lack of information, and barriers to healthcare services, while 10 (16.95%) reported other reasons not included in these categories.

Bruna Obeica Vasconcellos is a Brazilian physician, educator, and researcher affiliated with the Souza Marques Faculty of Medicine, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She holds postgraduate qualifications in Gynecology and Obstetrics and is a specialist in colposcopy. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Health Sciences, with academic and clinical interests that include cervical cancer prevention, colposcopy, gynecologic oncology, medical genetics, and inclusive women's healthcare. She has contributed to research on cervical cancer screening among LGBTQIA+ populations and is actively involved in advancing equitable access to gynecological care through clinical practice, education, and scientific research.