Case-control study, 2010
Do lesbian and bisexual women have different reproductive health than heterosexual women?
The study found that lesbian and bisexual women had less gynecological screening and more sexually transmitted infections, but response rate differences may have affected the findings.
What they did
Case-control study surveying 706 women in Sweden: 264 from a clinic for women-who-sex-with-women and 442 from regular gynecological clinics. Response rates were 77% and 40% respectively.
What they found
Of women-who-sex-with-women studied, 82.3% had had male sexual partners, one-fifth had been pregnant, and one in ten had given birth. Over one-fifth had sexually transmitted infections and 12.6% had cervical atypia. Women-who-sex-with-women had less gynecological examination and cervical screening than the comparison group.
What it means for you
Lesbian and bisexual women should receive the same gynecological care as heterosexual women. However, the lower response rate in the comparison group may have introduced bias into the results.
82.3%
had male sexual partners
12.6%
had cervical atypia
77% vs 40%
response rates
About the study
- Original title
- Reproductive health in lesbian and bisexual women in Sweden
- Authors
- Moegelin L, Nilsson B, Helström L
- Journal
- Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica
- Year
- 2010
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 706
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/00016340903490263
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