And it's true that recent findings have shown that lesbians have the lowest incidence of gonorrhea and syphilis of any group, except for those who have never had sexual relations. For instance, herpes simplex virus, human papilloma virus, chlamydia, trichomonas, and syphilis can all be transmitted between women. Additionally, hepatitis B or C and HIV can potentially be shed through vaginal secretions, especially during menstruation. It is a myth that lesbians do not contract or transmit HIV infection through exclusively homosexual activity. AIDS has become the sixth leading cause of death for women between 25 and 44 years of age in the United States.
Some lesbians have a history of intravenous drug abuse or prior sexual relations with a male.
These activities greatly increase a lesbian's risk of HIV infection. These men are often young gay and bisexual men who are among those most at risk for HIV infection. Prevention of heart disease is a major health issue for lesbians. Over a lifetime, women are 10 times more likely to develop heart disease than breast cancer. The incidence of heart disease in women ages 35 to 44 years is one per 1,000 increasing to four per 1,000 in women ages 45 to 54.