Health needs of women who have sex with women
http://www.100md.com
《英国医生杂志》
EDITOR—We thank everyone who contributed to the rapid response debate on bmj.com.1 Many of the responses related to homophobia in medicine. The editorial was designed to raise awareness of the healthcare needs of women who have sex with women rather than to stimulate a debate about the morality of homosexuality.
Varney's comments on accessibility and appropriateness of care provided by an informed clinical workforce are apposite.
Malterud expressed justified concern about the appropriateness of the conclusions we drew using the restricted epidemiological data available. We agree that epidemiological data concerning sexuality and health outcomes are difficult to gather and interpret.
We are pleased Frisch brought attention to a Danish study that was not published at the time of our submission and is the only population based study in this area listed in Medline. It shows that women who have sex with women are not at higher risk of cancers than heterosexual women.2 We note the study's limitations in monitoring a self selected homosexual population in registered partnerships only, of relatively young age, and with short follow up. We also note the small numbers of incident cancers with which the statistical analyses were made and think it would be dangerous to draw unequivocal conclusions from a single paper.
The literature available presents evidence that women who have sex with women have increased risk factors for a variety of conditions. We look forward to the publication of further direct evidence that assesses the population impact of these risks and helps improve the standard of care for this important minority group.
Clare Hughes, final year medical student
Guy's, King's, and St Thomas's School of Medicine, London clarehughes@journalist.com
Amy Evans, specialist registrar, genitourinary medicine
Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds LS1 3EX amy.evans@leedsth.nhs.uk
Competing interests: None declared.
References
Electronic responses. Health needs of women who have sex with women. bmj.com 2003 http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/327/7421/939 (accessed 23 Jan 2004).
Frisch M, Smith E, Grulich A, Johansen C. Cancer in a population-based cohort of men and women in registered homosexual partnerships. Am J Epidemiol 2003;157: 966-72.
Varney's comments on accessibility and appropriateness of care provided by an informed clinical workforce are apposite.
Malterud expressed justified concern about the appropriateness of the conclusions we drew using the restricted epidemiological data available. We agree that epidemiological data concerning sexuality and health outcomes are difficult to gather and interpret.
We are pleased Frisch brought attention to a Danish study that was not published at the time of our submission and is the only population based study in this area listed in Medline. It shows that women who have sex with women are not at higher risk of cancers than heterosexual women.2 We note the study's limitations in monitoring a self selected homosexual population in registered partnerships only, of relatively young age, and with short follow up. We also note the small numbers of incident cancers with which the statistical analyses were made and think it would be dangerous to draw unequivocal conclusions from a single paper.
The literature available presents evidence that women who have sex with women have increased risk factors for a variety of conditions. We look forward to the publication of further direct evidence that assesses the population impact of these risks and helps improve the standard of care for this important minority group.
Clare Hughes, final year medical student
Guy's, King's, and St Thomas's School of Medicine, London clarehughes@journalist.com
Amy Evans, specialist registrar, genitourinary medicine
Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds LS1 3EX amy.evans@leedsth.nhs.uk
Competing interests: None declared.
References
Electronic responses. Health needs of women who have sex with women. bmj.com 2003 http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/327/7421/939 (accessed 23 Jan 2004).
Frisch M, Smith E, Grulich A, Johansen C. Cancer in a population-based cohort of men and women in registered homosexual partnerships. Am J Epidemiol 2003;157: 966-72.