Common FAQs
- Q: I saw my doctor recently and finally came out to him. He said that now that he knows I’m a lesbian, I still need an annual exam but I don’t need pap smears anymore. Is this correct?
A: It’s great you felt comfortable to come out to your doctor; that can be a tough thing to do. Your doctor is totally correct that an annual exam is still very important to have, but unfortunately, he isn’t correct about his recommendation to stop having pap smears. Lesbians should have pap smears at the same frequency as heterosexual women which is:
- Beginning at age 21, women should have a pap smear every 2 years to check for cervical cancer.
- If you are over age 30 or your pap smears have been negative for 3 times in a row, your doctor may tell you that you only need a pap smear every 3 years.
- Q: I’ve been with my girlfriend for around 6 weeks and just recently noticed a smelly discharge “down there.” Could I have an infection of some sort?
A: Yes, women who have sex with women can transmit infections sexually. Although not much has been studied about its transmission between women, these symptoms could be due to something called Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) which appears to be caused by an imbalance of the normal bacteria that live in the vagina. A smelly discharge is a common symptom of BV.
We strongly recommend you see a clinician to be evaluated for your symptoms. For more information, check out lesbianstd.com, a site maintained by the University of Washington. If you need a clinician, go to our find a provider.
- Q: My partner just told me that she has a history of herpes. Can I get it from her? I don’t have any symptoms of anything yet, but I’m worried...
A. Herpes infections are caused by the herpes simplex viruses (HSV-2 and HSV-1) and can be transmitted sexually both when there are active lesions and when there are no visible lesions at all. Because it does seem likely that transmission can occur between women even when no lesions are present, any genital-genital contact should involve latex barriers (such as a dental dam) 100% of the time when one member of the couple is known to be infected. For more information, check out lesbianstd.com, a site maintained by the University of Washington.
- Q: I’ve recently heard about HPV but don’t know what it is. Can dykes get it?
A: HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus. It’s the virus that causes genital warts and has been associated with cervical cancer. It can be transmitted through sexual activity between women, but often causes no obvious symptoms. It’s a pretty common virus, so it’s very important to get an annual pelvic exam and regular pap smears (typically every two years). For more information, check out lesbianstd.com, a site maintained by the University of Washington.
- Q: My wife and I want to have a baby together. How can we inseminate? Do you put on any events so we can learn about this?
A: We don’t put on events that provide this kind of information. However, we can recommend several resources for you, including:
- Our Family Coalition
This organization offers a wealth of info on their site, particularly on their Resources page. - Pacific Reproductive Services
- Our World Too
We also suggest you check out the parenting section at National Center for Lesbian Rights to be sure you’re aware of the various legal issues involved. We wish you all the best.
- Our Family Coalition
Online Health Information
Need answers right away? Visit these online sites.
- Breast Cancer Network of Strength
Designed to assist you in utilizing the web to find useful, up-to-date information, and answers to your questions about breast cancer. - Rainbow Health Ontario
Program designed to improve access to healthcare for LGBT people living in Ontario. The website provides an extensive resource database and a wealth of health information for LGBT individuals. - The Clearity Foundation
Seeks to help women diagnosed with ovarian cancer find the right clinical trial or other treatment by providing molecular profiling tests, often at no cost to the patient. - lesbianstd.com
Provides information and resources regarding sexual health and sexually transmitted diseases in women who have sex with women and seeks to further collective knowledge about lesbian STDs through research. - Womenshealth.gov
Frequently asked questions about lesbian health. - WebMD
Search “Lesbian” and you’ll find a variety of information on lesbian health issues, plus online community resources, message boards, etc.
Disclaimer: Medical information provided by the Lesbian Health & Research Center is not the equivalent of a visit with a health care professional and must be considered educational advice only. Information received through the website or through email should not be relied upon as a medical consultation. This website is not designed to replace a health care provider’s independent judgment about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure for a given patient. LHRC will do its best to provide you with information that will help you make your own health care decisions.
