Cervical cancer screening for lesbians
There is new concern that lesbians have been given misleading information regarding cervical cancer screening. Because most cases of cervical cancer result from infection with HPV, which is sexually-transmitted, many lesbians have been under the impression that they are not at risk. The fact is, they are at low risk, but not at ‘no risk’. Remember, most but not all cervical cancer are caused by HPV. Also, studies have revealed that many lesbians have had sexual contact with men. It is not enough, however, to say that lesbians who have had no sexual contact with men are not at risk. Their partners may have had contact with men, or even further up the ladder, their partners’ previous partners. Though the risk of transmission of the HPV virus is much lower between women and women compared to heterosexual contact, it can still occur.
