Chlamydia trachomatis infection among women reporting sexual activity with women screened in Family Planning Clinics in the Pacific Northwest, 1997 to 2005.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to define Chlamydia trachomatis positivity among women who report sexual activity with women, a population for which sparse data on this infection are available and for whom health disparities including challenged access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, have been reported.


METHODS
We analyzed data from 9358 family planning clinic visits with C trachomatis tests among women aged 15 to 24 years who reported sexual activity within the past year exclusively with women (WSW) or with men and women (WSMW), in the Region X Infertility Prevention Project. Characteristics were compared with women who reported sexual activity exclusively with men (WSM). Results. C trachomatis positivity among both WSW and WSMW was 7.1%, compared with 5.3% among WSM. Behavioral risks were more commonly reported by WSW and WSMW, compared with reports by WSM. Risks for C trachomatis positivity were comparable across groups and included younger age, non-White race, behavioral risks, and clinical signs.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher C trachomatis positivity among women reporting same-sex sexual behavior supports investigation into potential explanatory factors, including sexual behaviors, biological susceptibility, routine C trachomatis screening disparities, sexual identity disclosure, and sexual network assessment.
Singh
Devika
D
Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98104, USA. dsingh@u.washington.edu
Fine
David N
DN
Marrazzo
Jeanne M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015205:Northwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult