American Journal of Public Health, Vol 91, Issue 4 591-597, Copyright © 2001 by American Public Health Association

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Cancer-related risk indicators and preventive screening behaviors among lesbians and bisexual women

SD Cochran, VM Mays, D Bowen, S Gage, D Bybee, SJ Roberts, RS Goldstein, A Robison, EJ Rankow and J White
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Center for Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA. cochran@ucla.edu

OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether lesbians are at increased risk for certain cancers as a result of an accumulation of behavioral risk factors and difficulties in accessing health care. METHODS: Prevalence estimates of behavioral risk factors (nulliparity, obesity, smoking, and alcohol use), cancer screening behaviors, and self-reported breast cancer histories derived from 7 independently conducted surveys of lesbians/bisexual women (n = 11,876) were compared with national estimates for women. RESULTS: In comparison with adjusted estimates for the US female population, lesbians/bisexual women exhibited greater prevalence rates of obesity, alcohol use, and tobacco use and lower rates of parity and birth control pill use. These women were also less likely to have health insurance coverage or to have had a recent pelvic examination or mammogram. Self-reported histories of breast cancer, however, did not differ from adjusted US female population estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Lesbians and bisexual women differ from heterosexual women in patterns of health risk. These women would be expected to be at especially greater risk for chronic diseases linked to smoking and obesity.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J G L Lee, G K Griffin, and C L Melvin Tobacco use among sexual minorities in the USA, 1987 to May 2007: a systematic review Tob. Control, August 1, 2009; 18(4): 275 - 282. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Polek, T. L. Hardie, and E. M. Crowley Lesbians' Disclosure of Sexual Orientation and Satisfaction With Care J Transcult Nurs, July 1, 2008; 19(3): 243 - 249. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. A. Clark, C. J. Neighbors, M. R. Wasserman, G. F. Armstrong, M. L. Drnach, S. L. Howie, and T. L. Hawthorne Strategies and Cost of Recruitment of Middle-aged and Older Unmarried Women in a Cancer Screening Study Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., December 1, 2007; 16(12): 2605 - 2614. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. D. Cochran and V. M. Mays Physical Health Complaints Among Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexual and Homosexually Experienced Heterosexual Individuals: Results From the California Quality of Life Survey Am J Public Health, November 1, 2007; 97(11): 2048 - 2055. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. P. Gruskin, G. L. Greenwood, M. Matevia, L. M. Pollack, and L. L. Bye Disparities in Smoking Between the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Population and the General Population in California Am J Public Health, August 1, 2007; 97(8): 1496 - 1502. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. L. Corliss, M. D. Shankle, and M. B. Moyer Research, Curricula, and Resources Related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health in US Schools of Public Health Am J Public Health, June 1, 2007; 97(6): 1023 - 1027. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Boehmer, D. J. Bowen, and G. R. Bauer Overweight and Obesity in Sexual-Minority Women: Evidence From Population-Based Data Am J Public Health, June 1, 2007; 97(6): 1134 - 1140. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. S Steele, J. M Tinmouth, and A. Lu Regular health care use by lesbians: a path analysis of predictive factors Fam. Pract., December 1, 2006; 23(6): 631 - 636. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E. Heck, R. L. Sell, and S. S. Gorin Health Care Access Among Individuals Involved in Same-Sex Relationships Am J Public Health, June 1, 2006; 96(6): 1111 - 1118. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Phillips-Angeles, P. Wolfe, R. Myers, P. Dawson, J. Marrazzo, S. Soltner, and M. Dzieweczynski Lesbian Health Matters: A Pap Test Education Campaign Nearly Thwarted by Discrimination Health Promot Pract, July 1, 2004; 5(3): 314 - 325. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. B. Austin, N. Ziyadeh, L. B. Fisher, J. A. Kahn, G. A. Colditz, and A. L. Frazier Sexual Orientation and Tobacco Use in a Cohort Study of US Adolescent Girls and Boys Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, April 1, 2004; 158(4): 317 - 322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Fish and S. Wilkinson Explaining lesbians' practice of breast self-examination: Results from a UK survey of lesbian health Health Education Journal, January 1, 2003; 62(4): 304 - 315. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Lesbian and Bisexual Health: An Overview for Healthcare Providers Journal Watch Women's Health, July 10, 2002; 2002(710): 9 - 9. [Full Text]

				V. M. Mays, A. K. Yancey, S. D. Cochran, M. Weber, and J. E. Fielding Heterogeneity of Health Disparities Among African American, Hispanic, and Asian American Women: Unrecognized Influences of Sexual Orientation Am J Public Health, April 1, 2002; 92(4): 632 - 639. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Health Risks and Behaviors Among Lesbians Journal Watch Women's Health, May 1, 2001; 2001(501): 2 - 2. [Full Text]