Lesbian and Bisexual Health Facts

Womans Health

What does it mean to be a lesbian?

A lesbian woman who is sexually attracted to another woman, or who engage in sex with another woman, even if it occasionally. Lesbians are currently having sex with a woman, even if they. Have sex with men in the past

To return to the beginning
What does it mean to be bisexual?

Sexually attracted or bisexual men sexually active men and women.

What are the main health problems that lesbians and bisexual women should discuss with their healthcare professionals?

All women have to take risks and the specific health measures to improve their health through regular medical care and a healthy lifestyle. Research tells us that lesbians and bisexual women are more at risk for certain problems than other women, though. It is important for lesbians and bisexual women to their doctor about their health problems, talk to them:

Heart disease. Heart disease is the number one killer of women. Risk factors more you have, the more chances you will develop heart disease. There are some risk factors you can not control, like age, medical history of the family and race. But you can not smoke on heart disease, to protect the control of cholesterol levels and blood pressure, exercise and eat well. These things also help prevent diabetes 2, a major cause of type of heart disease.

Lesbians and bisexual women have higher rates of obesity, smoking and stress. All these risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Thus, lesbians and bisexual women should talk to their doctor about how to prevent heart disease.

Cancer. The most common types of cancer for all women with breast, lung, colon, uterus and ovaries. Several factors put lesbians and bisexual women have a higher risk of certain cancers. Remember:

Lesbians are less likely than heterosexual women to have a pregnancy to term. Hormones released during pregnancy and lactation believes that women with breast cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian protection.
Lesbians and bisexual women are less likely than regular screenings Pap tests, can receive the prevention or detection of cervical cancer of the uterus. The viruses that can cause cervical cancer, most are transmitted through sexual contact between men. Bisexual women may be less likely to have as lesbians have health insurance, instead, skip the tests.
Lesbians and bisexual women are less likely than other women to mammography and clinical examination routine breasts. This may be due to a lack of "," health insurance lesbians and bisexuals, fear of discrimination or bad experiences with medical professionals. Get Ignoring these tests reduce women's chances of catching the cancer early enough for treatment to work.
Lesbians are more likely to smoke than heterosexual women, bisexual women, and likely to smoke. This increases the risk of lung cancer for all women who have sex with women.

Depression and anxiety. Many factors cause depression and anxiety in women. However, lesbians and bisexual women report depression and anxiety more than other women. Bisexual women are also more likely than lesbians had a mood or anxiety. Depression and anxiety among lesbians and bisexual women may be due to:

Social stigma
Denial of family members
Abuse and violence
Unfair treatment in the legal system
The stress of hiding all or part of their life
Lack of health insurance
Lesbians and bisexuals often feel they hide their sexual orientation to family, friends and employers. Bisexual women may feel even more lonely because they feel included in either the heterosexual community or gays and lesbians. Lesbians and bisexuals are victims of hate and violent crimes. Discrimination of these groups are present, and can lead to depression and anxiety. Women can do their doctors, experts in the field of mental health groups and self-help aid region cope with depression and anxiety. These conditions are treatable, and overcome with the help of women.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is the problem of the most common reproductive hormone in women of childbearing age. PCOS is a health problem that can affect a woman:

The menstrual cycle (monthly period)
Fertility (ability to get pregnant)
Hormone
Insulin production
Heart
Blood vessel
Appearance
Five to 10 percent of reproductive age women have PCOS. Lesbians can have a higher price than that of heterosexual women PCOS.

What factors have had a lesbian "and health of women at risk bisexual?

There are many things that can cause health problems for lesbians and bisexual women. Some of them may out of your control. Other things you can work to improve. These included:

Lack of fitness. Being obese and not the movement may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and increasing early death. Many studies show that lesbians and bisexual women have a high body mass index (BMI) than other women. Studies show that lesbians can store more of their fat in the abdomen (belly). Belly fat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes Some studies also show that lesbians think less about weight issues than heterosexual women.

Studies show that lesbians and bisexual women are more likely to have a body mass index higher, if they:

There are African American or Latina
Superior
Bad health
Have lower levels of education
Often you do not practice
I live with a female partner
Smoking. Smoking can cause heart disease and lung cancer, throat, stomach, colon and cervical cancer. A group of women are likely bisexual women smoke. Lesbians are also more likely to smoke than heterosexual women. Researchers believe that the highest rates of smoking among lesbians and bisexual women in the context of:

Advertising of Tobacco oriented gays and lesbians
Community rate differences
Low self-esteem
Stress Bias
Fear out of hiding sexual orientation
The abuse of alcohol and drugs. Substance abuse is a serious public health problem for all people in the United States, the latest data show that substance use among lesbians - usually alcohol - has declined over the past two decades. Possible causes are:

A more general knowledge and health care
Drinking more moderate in women in general
Some decrease in the social stigma and oppression of lesbians
Changing norms around drinking some groups of lesbians
But, as seems to be intoxicated and the most common addiction among lesbians (especially young women) than among heterosexual women. Lesbians and bisexual women are also more likely to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana in moderation, than other women. Bisexual women put more drug addicts, putting more at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Domestic violence. Although violence by an intimate partner, is when someone intentionally caused physical or psychological harm to someone else. Domestic violence in relationships lesbians occurs (as in heterosexual). But lesbians victim is likely nothing more than violence remains. Some reasons are:

Less support services for lesbians and bisexual women
Fear of discrimination
Threats by the offender to "out" the victim
The fear of losing custody of children
There are many resources available to help women who are victims of domestic violence. All women should get help and safety from domestic violence.