title: Sexual orientation and sexual and reproductive health among adolescent young women in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied sexual and reproductive health among self-identified bisexual, lesbian, and heterosexual adolescent young women. Prior research has suggested that bisexual and lesbian young women may be at greater risk for many negative health outcomes, including risky sexual and reproductive health behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the U.S. nationally representative 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), we examined sexual and reproductive health among young women 15-20 years of age as a function of sexual orientation. We used logistic regression and ANCOVA to examine differences in sexual and reproductive health across groups while controlling for demographic group differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bisexual and lesbian young women reported elevated sexual and reproductive health risks. Bisexual and lesbian participants reported being younger at heterosexual sexual debut, and having more male and female sexual partners, than did heterosexual participants. Further, they were more likely than heterosexual young women to report having been forced to have sex by a male partner. Bisexual young women reported the earliest sexual debut, highest numbers of male partners, greatest use of emergency contraception, and highest frequency of pregnancy termination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, sexual minority young women-especially those who identified as bisexual-were at higher sexual and reproductive risk than their heterosexual peers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. Electronic address: SLT6A@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Samantha L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tornello
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Rachel G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Riskind
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Charlotte J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001727:Bisexuality; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent; Bisexual; Lesbian; Reproductive health; Sexual behavior; Sexual orientation; Sexual risk