Family. Everyone has one. Some of us wish we didn’t. Others can’t imagine life without them.

Top ten what?, you may ask. This Top Ten is the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) list of health issues trans women should know. This list includes hormone-related issues, depression, and the dangers of silicone pumping. All of these and the rest of the health issues on this list may not relate to you—but one or two probably do. So, read the list and discuss it with your provider. Wait…what? You don’t have a provider? Find a good one here: GLMA.org.

As the LGBT community grows and evolves, segments of the community that were not previously well known or documented begin to gain awareness and acceptance. We see this more and more as the transgender community became, and continues to become, better known and understood as a part of our community and in the greater population now compared to even a decade ago.

We see it happening to other people. And, we know it will happen to us, too. But we think it won’t happen to us for a long, long time. But, dare we say it, we are growing older.

Most of us don’t talk about this part of our body often. Of course, there aren’t many opportunities to talk about it. Even with our medical providers. But just like any other part of our bodies, the anal canal is important to your health. And anal papilloma is one health risk you should know about. So don’t be shy—read all about anal papilloma and then talk with your provider about your risks.

The cervix. It’s dark, cavernous, not often talked about, and frequently overshadowed by other health concerns—breast cancer, ovarian cancer, HIV, etc. But this tucked away gem is just as important to a woman’s health and wellness as her other bits and pieces.

This year was the first time the International AIDS Society was able to hold its conference in the U.S. since 1990, following President Barack Obama’s October 2009 announcement that the United States would end entry restrictions on people living with HIV. Scientists continue to share the latest knowledge on keeping each individual living with HIV as healthy as possible, as well as public health efforts to decrease the number of new infections.

The health care needs of transwomen, transmen, gender-queer, and others who do not conform to society’s gender norms are often overlooked by conventional health care organizations.

Everyone's coming out story is different.

More than 80 percent of us started our tobacco habit when we were school-aged and freshly educated about the ills of smoking and tobacco use. Now, 5, 15, 30 years later, we are officially addicted to our tobacco of choice. Maryland is fourth highest in the nation in terms of tobacco use. A total of 45.3 million (19.3 percent) adults nationally smoke cigarettes.