RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Sexual behaviour and risk reduction strategies among a multinational sample of women who have sex with women
JF Sexually Transmitted Infections
JO Sex Transm Infect
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 407
OP 412
DO 10.1136/sextrans-2011-050404
VO 88
IS 6
A1 Vanessa Schick
A1 Joshua G Rosenberger
A1 Debby Herbenick
A1 Michael Reece
YR 2012
UL http://sti.bmj.com/content/88/6/407.abstract
AB Objectives The development of safer sex recommendations for women who have sex with women (WSW) remains challenging given a limited understanding of sexual behaviour between women. The present study was conducted in order to investigate the sexual repertoires of WSW and the safer sex methods they use to reduce the likelihood of sexually transmitted infection acquisition. Methods An online survey targeted towards women with desire, attraction or previous sexual behaviour with women was distributed globally. Women (N=3116) who engaged in at least one sexual act with a woman in the previous year and were currently living in the USA, UK, Canada or Australia were included in the present study. Questions were based upon previously validated items in nationally representative studies. Results Participants indicated a wide diversity of sexual behaviours with the majority of women reporting a history of genital rubbing (99.8%), vaginal fingering (99.2%), genital scissoring (90.8%), cunnilingus (98.8%) and vibrator use (74.1%). Barrier use was reported by a minority (<25%) of the participants. Conclusions The variety of sexual acts reported by the sample points to the need for the development of more contextually appropriate sexual health guidelines for WSW.