However, because of societal stigma or potential rejection,these adolescents may face various challenges during their adolescent years and are at greater risk for substance abuse, depression, suicide, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) than their peers who are heterosexual. The first contact with a professional in the medical field for the teenager who is GLB is often the pediatrician, family practitioner, or internist. Many healthcare professionals provide medical care to teenagers who are GLB far more often then they realize. The practitioner's knowledge and sensitivity regarding sexuality issues strongly influences the patient's comfort level in seeking optimal health care in the future.

In the 1950s, Kinsey conducted the first modern sexuality studies. He concluded that by the time an individual is aged 20 years, nearly 28% of young men and 17% of young women had at least one homosexual experience. Approximately 10% of those