Health care attitudes and experiences during gynecologic care among lesbians and bisexuals.

TLDR

A survey of 424 bisexual and 1,921 lesbian women examined their gynecologic care sources, utilization, disclosure practices, and perceived quality. The study found that roughly 40 % of participants felt a physician’s knowledge of their sexual orientation could harm care, a similar proportion thought it had no effect, about one‑third had not disclosed their orientation despite wanting to, physicians infrequently asked, 96 % preferred a lesbian provider—especially for sexual function issues—and satisfaction was often rated as adequate, variable, or poor, indicating that greater non‑prejudicial communication and confidentiality could improve care quality and outcomes.

Abstract

Bisexuals (N = 424) and lesbians (N = 1,921) were surveyed regarding their sources of gynecologic care, utilization patterns, openness with physicians, and assessment of quality of care. About 40 per cent of each group believed that physician knowledge about their sexual preference would hinder the quality of medical care and about as many believed that it would have no effect. About one-third in each group had not disclosed their sexual behavior although they desired to do so. Physicians rarely requested this information. A lesbian physician was overwhelmingly preferred for gynecologic care (96 per cent), particularly for problems with sexual functioning. Previous satisfaction with gynecologic care was most often described as "adequate," but almost as often as "variable" and "poor." Data suggest that quality, utilization, and medical outcomes of gynecologic care to this group would be improved if physicians would communicate greater awareness of sexual orientation in a nonprejudicial manner and ensure confidentiality.