DIVA TAKES A SNEAK PEEK AT NEW SEXUAL HEALTH STATS FROM THE LGBT FOUNDATION WORDS SOPHIE GRIFFITHS

For lesbians, bisexual women and trans women, discussing sexual health and wellbeing can be difficult. Health professionals frequently make heteronormative and cis-normative assumptions which often lead to big misunderstandings and inappropriate curiosity. As queer women, this can make seeing a doctor about our sexual health a hugely uncomfortable experience.

The classic situation of being asked what contraception we use while sexually active, and the horror on the doctor’s face when we say “none”, is one we know all too well. On the other end of the spectrum, we’re still too often sold the illusion that sex with other women poses no or low sexual health risks for us. Sorry to break it to you, but there are many.

It’s frightening how many LBT women often decide not to seek help or information when they are struggling with their sexual health because they are excluded from the narrative in so many ways. Although individual risks are shaped by many factors beyond sexual orientation and sexual practices, it’s important to understand common health issues for sexual minority women and the steps that can be taken to maintain a healthy relationship with sex and your body.