Objectives:
To describe the prevalence of sexually transmittedinfection
(STIs) in a sample of women who have sex with women (WSW) and to identify
risk factors for the acquisition of STI.
Method:
Cross sectional survey. Questionnaire for demographic,
sexual history, and sexual practice data linked with the resultsof genitourinary
examination. 708 new patients attending two sexual health clinics for lesbians
and bisexual women in London were surveyed.
Results:
A majority of WSW reported sexual histories with
men (82%). Bacterial vaginosis and candida species were commonly diagnosed
(31.4% and 18.4% respectively). Genital warts, genital herpes, and trichomoniasis
were infrequently diagnosed (1.6%,1.1%, and 1.3% respectively). Chlamydia,
pelvic inflammatory disease, and gonorrhoea infections were rare (0.6%,
0.3%, and 0.3% respectively) and diagnosed only in women who had histories
of sex with men.
Conclusions:
Although we have demonstrated a low prevalenceof
STI, WSW may have sexual histories with men as well as women or histories
of injecting drug use, and are therefore vulnerable to sexually transmitted
or blood borne infections. Diagnosis of trichomoniasis, genital herpes,
and genital warts in three women who had no history of sex with men implies
that sexual transmission between women is possible.
© 2004 BMJ Publishing
Group Ltd
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