Description
A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Lesbian Sexual Health: Reaching a Vulnerable Population
A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the American Academy of Clinical Sexology (AACS)
135 pages
Abstract: There has been an increase in cases of lesbian women becoming ill, due to a lack of
understanding and information about sexually transmitted diseases and other sexual
habits. Throughout empirically study-based literature, researchers and writers compare
and contrast heterosexual and homosexual women in categories of knowledge base, care seeking
behaviors, and attitudes. Lesbian women were more often inclined to perceive
that health care providers would view them negatively should they reveal their sexual
orientation. Studies suggest the need for further research in the field of sex health and
disease among lesbians. The objective of this paper is to understand the different aspects
of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding sexual health in the lesbian population.
This paper serves to fill a gap in the available knowledge to promote healthier and safer
sexual behavior and break down stereotypes without undue harm in gay women. A
limitation of this comprehensive guide is that the findings and research often are not
derived from a large, population-based sample; thus, caution should be exercised in
generalizing the findings on frequency of health behaviors, symptoms, and diagnoses in
lesbian women. In addition, there is a lack of information and research being done on
this population.
