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Cited by 251Reproductive tract infections researchHIV/AIDS Research and InterventionsHIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk

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

Open access
Fethers, K.·2000·Sexually Transmitted Infections
DOI 10.1136/sti.76.5.345PMC PMC1744205
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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 differences 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.

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  • Few data are available regarding the risk for STIs conferred by sex between women; however, transmission risk probably varies by the specific STI and sexual practice.

    “Few data are available regarding the risk for STIs conferred by sex between women; however, transmission risk probably varies by the specific STI and sexual practice (e.g., oral-genital sex; vaginal or anal sex using hands, fingers, or penetrative sex items; and oral-anal sex) (291,292).”

    From Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021 (2021) · cites this paper as [291]

    The Introduction says that data on STI transmission between women are limited and that studies often lack information on specific sexual practices. The Discussion describes different findings for different infections and cites an association between receptive oral sex and bacterial vaginosis, but this study lacked practice-specific data and does not address the listed hand, penetrative-item, or oral-anal practices. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. Committee on Lesbian Health Research Priorities, Institute of Medicine. In: Solarz AL, ed. Lesbian health: current assessment and directions for the future. Washington DC: National Academy Press, 1999.
  2. Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Mardh P, et al. Sexually transmit- ted diseases. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw Hill, Health Professions Division, 1999.
  3. Bevier PJ, Chiasson MA, HeVernan RT, et al. Women at a sexually transmitted disease clinic who reported same-sex contact: their HIV seroprevalence and risk behaviours. Am J Public Health. 1995;85:1366-71.
  4. Magura S, O'Day J, Rosenblum A. Women usually take care of their girlfriends: bisexuality and HIV risk among intravenous drug users. J Drug Issues 1992;22:179.
  5. Cohen H, Marmor M, Wolfe H, et al. Risk assessment of HIV transmission among lesbians. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 1993;6:1173-4.
  6. Friedman S. Women drug injectors who have sex with women: heightened risk and unknown reasons suggest the need for further research. Int AIDS Soc Newsletter 1998;11: 12-13.
  7. Ross M, Wodak A, Gold J, et al. DiVerences across sexual orientation on HIV risk behaviours in injecting drug users. AIDS Care 1992;4:139-48.
  8. Piot P, Aggleton P. AIDS, inequality and prevention. Int AIDS Society Newsletter 1998;10:8-10.

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Authors
Fethers, K.
Affiliations
Sydney Hospital (AU)
Corresponding author
Fethers, K.
Venue
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2000-10-01
Volume
76
Issue
5
Pages
345-349
ISSN
  • 0007-134X (ISSN-L)
  • 1368-4973
DOI
10.1136/sti.76.5.345
PMC
PMC1744205
OpenAlex
W1968542995
Cited by
251
References
19
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 19
FWCI
6.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Sexually Transmitted Infections (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
Keywords
women who have sex with women, blood-borne viruses, hepatitis C, bacterial vaginosis, abnormal cervical cytology, genital herpes, genital warts, HIV risk behavior, intravenous drug use, bisexual men, STI prevalence
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Australia, Bacterial Infections, Bisexuality, Uterine Cervical Dysplasia, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Risk-Taking, Sexual Partners, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Virus Diseases, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Comorbidity, Prevalence, Multivariate Analysis, Case-Control Studies, Homosexuality, Female

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