Chen X, Yan H, Cao Y, Li S, Yang N, Li X. Epidemiological investigation on the cervical health of lesbians in Beijing, China.
J Int Med Res 2020;
48:300060519889754. [PMID:
32054350 PMCID:
PMC7105738 DOI:
10.1177/0300060519889754]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective
To investigate human papillomavirus (HPV) infection status and influencing factors among lesbians.
Methods
In August to October 2018, 300 lesbians were recruited in Beijing using snowball sampling. Sociodemographic characteristics, behavioural indices and HPV status were measured. Colposcopy was performed on participants with HPV genotypes 16 and 18 and on participants with other high-risk HPV subtypes and positive ThinPrep (TCT) results.
Results
The overall HPV-positive rate was 25%. High number of sexual partners, smoking, drinking, not using condoms and using sex toys during intercourse were identified as HPV infection risk factors. Of the HPV subtypes detected, 84% were high-risk HPV subtypes. The colposcopy results showed that 20 participants (80%) with HPV 16 and HPV 18 had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia I (CIN I) or above lesions. The colposcopy results also showed that 16 participants (64%) infected with other high-risk types of HPV virus and who had positive TCT results had CIN I or above lesions.
Conclusions
The cervical health of lesbians should not be neglected, and appropriate health education should be improved for this group.
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