Sexual orientation and gynecologic medical care: A cross-sectional study with Brazilian women

OBJECTIVE: To study a sample of Brazilian lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual women concerning their gynecologic history and their experience with gynecologic care. METHODS: An internet-based survey for women aged 18 years or older was conducted to gather epidemiologic data on sexual habits, primary gynecologic diseases, and patient-gynecologist relationships. RESULTS: The survey was answered by 1201 women, with 571 reporting being heterosexual, 272 lesbian, and 358 bisexual. The lesbian/bisexual (LB) group contained fewer Caucasian individuals, used more public health resources, and had more individuals consuming tobacco, alcohol, and recreational drugs. No significant differences were found in the number of individuals with diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, and sexually transmitted diseases. Depression was more common in the LB group. Endometriosis and vaginismus were more common in bisexual women, whereas polycystic ovary syndrome was more frequent in lesbians. Questions on the patient-gynecologist relationship revealed that most LB women felt uncomfortable and dissatisfied with the treatment received. CONCLUSION: The LB group had different epidemiologic characteristics from the heterosexual group. Differences in morbid antecedents were found only in endometriosis, vaginismus, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Most LB Brazilian women are dissatisfied with treatment received from gynecologists.