Sexually transmitted infections and risk behaviours in women who have sex with women

Abstract

Objectives:To assess the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses, risk behaviours, and demographics in women who have sex with women (WSW). Methods: Retrospective cross sectional study using a multivariate model. Demographic, behavioural, and morbidity data were analysed from standardised medical records of patients attending a public STI and HIV service in Sydney between March 1991 and December 1998. All women with any history of sex with a woman were compared with women who denied ever having sex with another woman (controls). Results: 1408 WSW and 1423 controls were included in the study. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) was significantly more common among WSW (OR 1.7, p<0.001). Abnormalities on cervical cytology were equally prevalent in both groups, except for the higher cytological BV detection rate in WSW (OR 5.3, p=0.003). Genital herpes and genital warts were common in both groups, although warts were significantly less common in WSW (OR 0.7, p=0.001). Prevalence of gonorrhoea and chlamydia were low and there were no diVerences between the groups. The prevalence of hepatitis C was significantly greater in WSW (OR 7.7, p<0.001), consistent with the more frequent history of injecting drug use in this group (OR 8.0, p<0.001). WSW were more likely to report previous sexual contact with a homo/bisexual man (OR 3.4, p<0.001), or with an injecting drug user (OR 4.2, p<0.001). Only 7% of the WSW reported never having had sexual contact with a male. Conclusion: We demonstrated a higher prevalence of BV, hepatitis C, and HIV risk behaviours in WSW compared with controls. A similar prevalence of cervical cytology abnormalities was found in both groups. Measures are required to improve our understanding of STI/HIV transmission dynamics in WSW, to facilitate better health service provision and targeted education initiatives. (Sex Transm Inf 2000;76:345-349)

Unseen Risks: HIV-Related Risk Behaviors Among Ethnically Diverse Sexual Minority Adolescent Females

“…However, it is increasingly appreciated that these women may be at risk through their ongoing sexual behaviors with men (Fethers, Marks, Mindel, & Estcourt, 2000;Goodenow et al, 2008). Infections that occur through those encounters are counted as "heterosexual" transmissions in surveillance data, making it difficult to know the disease burden among women who identify as lesbian or bisexual.…”

Women Who Have Sex with Women in Kenya and Their Sexual and Reproductive Health

“…Additional findings have demonstrated that bacterial vaginosis was significantly more common in WSW than in women who denied ever having had sex with women. 15 Studies have also shown that human papillomavirus (HPV) transmission can occur between female sex partners. [16][17][18] Forced sex with men has also been identified as a risk factor for self-reported HIV infection among WSW in southern Africa.…”

Reproductive Health in Lesbian: Review

“…Seks oyuncaklarının ortak kullanımı gibi oral-vajinal ve dijital-vajinal davranışlar mevcut enfekte olan servikovajinal salgıların geçişini kolaylaştıra-bilir ve trikomonas, HIV ve diğer CYBE riskini artırabilir. 17,19,20 Genital herpes veya genital siğil öyküsü, biseksüellerde (%15,0-17,2) lezbiyenlere (%2,3-6,7) göre daha sık bildirilmiştir. 16 2001-2006 yılları arasında, 18-59 yaş grubu kadınlarla yapılan bir çalış-mada, son bir yıl içinde aynı cinsiyetten partnere sahip olan kadınlarda HSV-2 seroprevalansı %30,3, yaşamları boyunca aynı cinsiyetten partnere sahip olan kadınlarda %36,2 ve yaşamları boyunca aynı cinsiyetten partnerle cinsel davranışlar içine girmeyen kadınlarda %23,8 olarak saptanmıştır.…”

“…22,23 Çalışmalar, lezbiyenlerde BV prevalansının da yüksek (%8-52) olduğunu göstermektedir. 19,20,24 Büyük örneklemli bir çalışmada, lezbiyenlerde BV (%45,2) prevalansı heteroseksüel gruba (%28,8) göre daha yüksek bulunmuştur. 25 Kadın cinsel partner ve BV arasındaki ilişkiyi inceleyen sistematik çalışma ve meta-analiz sonuçları, kadın seks partnerine sahip olan kadınlarda BV gelişme riskinin iki kat fazla olduğunu göstermektedir.…”