Transcript of
Lesbian healthcare
Quite a few lesbians feel that a smear's not relevant for them
because sex with men was many years ago,
so they may have had sex before but not be having sex currently with men.
But every woman should have a smear
because cervical cancer can develop over very many years,
so even if sex with men was 25 years ago,
even if it was only once,
even if you've only had one or two partners,
it's still important to have a smear test and to have them regularly.
So even if you've had one normal smear test,
it can change in the future and become abnormal.
I've come across women that think that because they don't have sex with men
and they can't get some of the viruses you get from penetrative sex with men,
that they're safe and don't need to have the smear test.
The government aims to offer cervical smears to everybody
and there's a large proportion of women falling through the net.
It's much more likely that someone with cancer has never had a smear.
So there's an important link.
Smears are important in picking up cancers early.
It's a simple message that all women, regardless of sexual history,
so whether they've had sex with men or women,
need regular cervical smears.
I think there's a perception that sex between women is totally safe,
that it's not possible to get infections in sex between women.
I think any women who's having or had sex with men
probably should go for regular check-ups.
The reason for that is that chlamydia and gonorrhoea
can be present without any symptoms at all.
So the message there is the same for lesbians
who have had sex with men.
You do need a sexual health check-up.
So how about for women who are having sex only with other women
and maybe never had sex with men?
It's still possible to transmit infections between women,
so trichomonas and herpes infection and the wart virus
can be transmitted between women.
I think the message would be
that regular sexual health checks with no symptoms
are probably unlikely to show anything for sex between women,
women who are having sex just with women.
But if there are any symptoms that are unusual,
so discharge, itching, soreness,
then important to go for a check-up.
I came out with my GP
when I first went to see her
about anything that required that conversation.
And I'm fortunate I've always had fairly positive experiences.
When I went to have my first smear test,
she was asking me all the classic questions,
"How often do you have sex? What do you use? Are you on the pill?"
I thought, "This is ridiculous" and told her I was a lesbian.
And it was absolutely fine. I haven't had a problem with her.
But I was of a mature enough age
to be able to figure out that it probably wouldn't be problematic.
But that's not everybody's experience.
In many situations sexuality is not remotely relevant,
if you've got an ingrowing toenail or whatever,
but for issues about mental health,
gynaecological, reproductive health,
so issues about getting pregnant or irregular periods
or for all sorts of issues,
then sexuality is important.
It's difficult to know what people's reactions are going to be.
You just have to make the judgment call yourself.
I think you need to be honest
and if your sexual health isn't part of the dialogue
then I don't think it's relevant.
But I think at some point in your time
you're going to be discussing your sexual health
and I think then you do have to be honest.
And GPs in this day and age should be able to handle that
and it shouldn't be the first time they've come across it.
Obviously many lesbians are confident about coming out
and don't feel it's an issue,
but I think for a big minority, actually,
it is a really important issue,
being able to trust the practitioner
and not risk feeling exposed and vulnerable, in a way.
