Among lesbian health researchers, discussion has centered on defining women who partner with women (WPW). WPW may include women who have attractions for other women, those who have sex with other women and those who identify as "lesbian" or "bisexual". The concordance of self-identification and with whom a woman reported having sex was analyzed among 1116 women who identified as lesbian or bisexual from the 1158 women who completed the ESTHER (Epidemiological STudy of HEalth Risk among lesbians), a community-based survey of the health status and health behaviors of women in the greater Pittsburgh PA area. Among those identifying as bisexual (n=106), 92% reported ever sex with a male and 47.4% had sex with a male during the past year, while among those identifying as lesbian (n=1010), 72% reported ever sex with a male and 3.6% had sex with a male during the past year. Pregnancy and birth rates were significantly different when women were classified by self-identification (lesbian v. bisexual) or by ever reporting sex with a male (yes v. no), but not when reporting with whom they had sex during the past year (women only v. men and/or women). Rates of sexually transmitted diseases were not significantly different when women were classified by self-identification or with whom they had sex during the past year, but were significantly different when comparing women by reporting of ever sex with a male. Classification of WPW by behavior versus self-identification may lead to different conclusions about lesbian health.
Learning Objectives: Recognize that classifying "lesbians" by self-identity or behavior may lead different conclusions for health outcomes
Keywords: Lesbian Health, Sexual Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.