Health needs of women who have sex with women

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7421.939

BMJ 2003;327:939-940 (25 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7421.939

Editorial

Health needs of women who have sex with women

Healthcare workers need to be aware of their specific needs

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The term "women who have sex with women" describes sexual behaviourwhile lesbian is a term that describes sexual identity. However,sexual identity does not necessarily predict sexual behaviour—mostlesbians have a history of sexual intercourse with men.¹ Womenwho have sex with women form a small but important group andhave specific health needs. A lack of awareness among healthcareprofessionals about these needs may lead to ill informed adviceand missed opportunities for the prevention of illness.

An unfortunate perception exists among healthcare providersand women who have sex with women that they do not need regularcervical smears. High risk types of genital human papillomavirusare associated with developing high grade cervical intraepithelialneoplasia, and sexual intercourse with men is a powerful riskfactor for cervical cancer. However, it is important to counterthe erroneous assumption that women who have sex with womenare not at risk . . . [Full text of this article]

Clare Hughes, final year medical student

Guy's, King's, and St Thomas's School of Medicine (clarehughes@journalist.com)

Amy Evans, specialist registrar, genitourinary medicine

Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3EX (amy.evans@leedsth.nhs.uk)

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