The authors of a new B University said that despite the increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancy, lesbian and bisexual girls did not get enough information about safe behaviorC. study.
The study used data from an online focus group of 160 girls aged 14 to 18 in the United States, the reasons why girls chose not to use barriers such as female condoms or dental dams to prevent sexually transmitted infections in women were studiedto-female sex.
"The real surprise for us is that young people know very little about it --
They say over and over again that when it comes to the risk of sexually transmitted infections and even the benefits of using barriers in this activity, they just don't get the information, "Elizabeth sevik, director of the UBC School of Nursing, said
A study published last month in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Participants expressed concern that sexual pleasure would decrease if they used protective measures, or would feel embarrassed, which is also frequently heard in heterosexual adolescents.
However, lesbian and bisexual girls are more likely to be unaware of the risk of sexually transmitted infections than their peers in the opposite sex.
Many respondents said they did not know that sexually transmitted infections could be transmitted between women or sexual toys.
Some say they don't even consider the use of barriers, which are often related to the sexual behavior of a male partner or the prevention of pregnancy.
Even participants who say they are familiar with the concept of protection point out that they do not know where to find them or that it is difficult to find them.
Unlike male condoms that are easy to find in pharmacies or community clinics, female condoms and dental dams are harder to find.
Some pharmacies have female condoms, says Saewyc, but dental dams are usually sold only online or at dental stores.
Interestingly, participants also indicated that they trusted female partners more than male partners, which affected their perception of risk.
The study is part of a larger study funded by the American Office of Adolescent HealthS.
The aim is to improve sexual health and prevent teenage pregnancy for lesbian and bisexual girls, but the findings also apply to Canada.
Many public schools in Canada, especially those with LGBT people
Inclusive policies may be more appropriate to ensure that sex education is inclusive, "but for many schools this has not yet been noted," said Saewyc . ".
She added that the findings highlight the need to tailor sex education to different sexual orientation in order to provide them with the skills and knowledge to have a safe sex life.
"It is important that our sex education is medically accurate and scientifically accurate for all adolescents and for all genders.