Lesbian Health

The sexual orientation of lesbians is just one factor in their lives, yet providers of healthcare often assume everyone is heterosexual and counsel their clients accordingly. This book contains a series of scientific investigations by leading authorities in the field into multiple problems lesbians face when seeking healthcare. Should lesbians disclose their sexual orientation? Can it be kept of the record? Where can lesbians go if they feel unable to trust traditional medicine and what is the history of the scientific and medical community towards lesbians? How are lesbians viewed by college students today? Lesbians are treated in this book as women first; their sexual orientation is just one factor in their lives. Lesbian health care research - a review of the literature from 1970 to 1990; ecological transition - using Bronfenbrenner's model to study sexual identity change; lesbian stereotypes; reasons American lesbians fail to seek traditional health care; lesbians as an invisible minority in the health service arena; health life styles of lesbians' images of recovery from alcohol problems; how do lesbian women develop serenity; lesbian childbearing couples' dilemmas and decisions; an investigation of the health care preferences of the lesbian population; the lesbian custody project.