Yet lesbians let three times as much time go by between Pap smears as heterosexual women do. Many lesbians incorrectly assume that with fewer or no children they do not have to do breast self-exams. The truth is that because of this they're at higher risk. More invisible than gay men, lesbians are reluctant to self-identify. This compounds the secrecy already surrounding gynecological health concerns and its focus on childbearing.
Women often encounter shame issues around body issues as it is.
Although lesbians are active in AIDS and often led the women's health movement, little has been done to document lesbian health needs or address them explicitly. Many providers show a lack of interest in cancer and focus instead on birth control. Three-quartesr of lesbian patients report derogatory remarks or ostracism. A further problem can occur if lesbians reject traditional medicine as a result and rely instead on more personable practitioners of alternative medicine whose remedies remain unscientifically proven. Then financial stress adds itself to all the other stress aggravating the illness.