Health Care Tips for Lesbian, Bisexual and
Women Who Have Sex with Other Women
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This information is for lesbian, bisexual or any woman who has sex with women whether they identify as lesbian, bisexual or straight.
Find a health care provider that makes you feel comfortable and safe
- Check out with a friend or your LGBT student group and see where they would refer you for a provider.
- Check out your campus health center for an LGBT friendly provider
- Look for LGBT friendly posters, advertisements and information in the waiting room
- See if the patient forms assume the gender of your partner
Get screened for Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer
- Breast exams and Pap smears should occur on a regular basis
- Lesbians have the highest amount of risk factors for breast cancer and cervical cancer
- One reason is lesbian and bisexual women are less likely to have routine Gynecological exams which include breast exams and Pap smears. They are less likely to use birth control therefore believing they do not need the routine exam.
- Having the Gynecological exam routinely facilitates early diagnosis and a better chance of curing the cancer
- Risk for breast cancer also increases if you have never been pregnant or get pregnant after age 30
Practice safer sex
- The most effective way for anyone to prevent getting an STI is abstinence
- If you do choose to be sexually active use safer sex practices
- Communicate with your partner
- Discuss getting tested for STI’s, and former risks taken
- Use safer sex supplies:
- Oral sex on a woman or Rimming (anal stimulation with mouth or tongue): use a dental dam or cut a latex (or polyurethane if either person is allergic to latex) condom to make a dam
- Avoid contact with menstrual blood by using dental dams or latex gloves
- Sharing of sex toys: use a water based lubricant and a latex condom. Be sure to use soapy water or diluted bleach (one part bleach to nine parts water) to wash the sex toys after use
- Finger or hand penetration: use water based lubricant, finger cots or a latex glove
Get tested for STI’s
- Women who have sex with only other women have a lower risk for STI’s but there are still some risks that do exist
- STI’s such as trichomonas, HPV and pubic lice can be passed on between partners
- If one of the partners has had sex with a male that can increase the chances of an STI
- Many times a person with an STI does not have any symptoms and
could spread the STI on to another person without knowing they had it
STI section
HPV section
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association www.glma.org
The Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Health Access Project www.glbthealth.org
