A New Urology Program for the LGBTQ+ Community

June 26, 2025

LGBT pride month or LGBTQ+ or LGBTQIA+ and health concept. Doctor with rainbow and colorful heart shape with for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Pansexual community

Dr. Jonathan Gal, a fellowship-trained urologist and Assistant Professor of Urology at Weill Cornell Medicine, is leading a new urology program expressly designed to serve the needs of LGBTQ+ patients. While the program primarily serves patients assigned male at birth, we also welcome individuals assigned female at birth for general urological care. 

Why a specific urology program for LGBTQ+ patients?

“Many LGBTQ+ individuals face barriers to receiving respectful, competent care,” Dr. Gal says. “Our urology program is creating a welcoming space where patients can speak openly, trusting that their identity and experiences will be fully understood. By tailoring care to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, we aim to improve outcomes while removing all traces of stigma.

“Having a medical team that is visibly inclusive and affirming, both in attitude and clinical approach, can make all the difference,” he continues. “It will encourage patients to seek help sooner rather than later and to be honest about their concerns, all of which will lead to better care.”

Treating common urologic conditions

Common urologic conditions include those that affect sexual function, the urinary tract and the prostate.

Hematuria – blood in the urine
Urinary frequency and urgency from urological or non-urological causes
Erectile dysfunction – the inability to attain or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance
Testicular pain due to injury, infection, a kidney stone, a cyst or a hernia in the groin area, among other causes
BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate)
Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate)

Treating LGBTQ+-specific concerns and conditions

Dr. Gal notes that among men who have sex with men, concerns around sexual function can vary. He shares that “some patients may prioritize sensation, while others may focus on penetrative function or aesthetic issues. Understanding these diverse priorities is essential to providing respectful and effective care.”

Dr. Gal also draws attention to the concerns of transgender women, especially those considering gender-affirming surgery who may need fertility preservation.

“Patients who have had a negative experience with medical treatment in the past could be particularly vulnerable and avoid seeking care altogether,” Dr. Gal explains.