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Sexual Health Risks Of Women Essay

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The sexual health risks of women who have sex with women (WSW) are poorly understood (Fethers et al, 2000). Such women have traditionally been perceived as being a low risk group, and as a result have failed to be included in initiatives designed to improve awareness and uptake of screening for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections. Many WSW hold misconceptions about their risk and services available to them, misconceptions which can be compounded by healthcare provider ignorance. That health professionals are ill-informed regarding the range of sexual health issues affecting WSW is unsurprising, considering the dearth of information in undergraduate education, mainstream medical literature, and textbooks. One reason for this lack of evidence may be in part due to the historical context of HIV in the men who have sex with men (MSM) community, and the resultant targeting of research into this group within the LGBT+ community. However WSW are at risk of sexual ill‐health and STI infections, conditions exacerbated by barriers to accessing and engaging with sexual health care. This literature review has therefore been conducted to examine: I. Access to sexual health care II. Safe sexual practices III. STI & cervical cytology outcomes among lesbian and bisexual women, and women who have sex with women (WSW). Women who have sex with women Definitions There are subtle, but important differences between sexual identity, and sexual behaviour. Lesbian is a term

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