This is because HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact in the genital area, which can include sexual touching, sharing sex toys, oral sex and penetrative sex. It can be passed on between women, even if neither of them has ever had sexual contact with a man. HPV is a really common virus that 80% of us will get at one point in our lives. This has had a lasting impact of declining smear test attendance in the LGB community. Research from the LGBT Foundation has shown that 40.5% of LGB women of screening age have incorrectly been told they don’t need to attend because of their sexual orientation.
Yet, as well as dealing with common barriers for not attending cervical screening, LGB women sadly face the myth that they don’t need to attend cervical screening, caused by common misconceptions, and lack of understanding around HPV and how cervical cancer develops.
So, why are lesbian, gay and bisexual women less likely to take up their cervical screening invite?Īnyone with a cervix (aged 25 to 64) is eligible to attend cervical screening. This blog was originally written for the LGBT FoundationĪccording to the LGBT Foundation, 17.8% of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) women of eligible screening age (25 to 64) have never been for cervical screening.Ĭervical screening (often called a smear test), prevents up to 75% of cervical cancers developing and not attending is actually the biggest risk factor to developing cervical cancer.
