Chlamydia trachomatis infection among women reporting sexual activity with women screened in Family Planning Clinics in the Pacific Northwest, 1997 to 2005

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to define Chlamydia trachomatis positivity among women who report sexual activity with women, a population for which sparse data on this infection are available and for whom health disparities including challenged access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, have been reported.

Methods: We analyzed data from 9358 family planning clinic visits with C trachomatis tests among women aged 15 to 24 years who reported sexual activity within the past year exclusively with women (WSW) or with men and women (WSMW), in the Region X Infertility Prevention Project. Characteristics were compared with women who reported sexual activity exclusively with men (WSM). Results. C trachomatis positivity among both WSW and WSMW was 7.1%, compared with 5.3% among WSM. Behavioral risks were more commonly reported by WSW and WSMW, compared with reports by WSM. Risks for C trachomatis positivity were comparable across groups and included younger age, non-White race, behavioral risks, and clinical signs.

Conclusions: Higher C trachomatis positivity among women reporting same-sex sexual behavior supports investigation into potential explanatory factors, including sexual behaviors, biological susceptibility, routine C trachomatis screening disparities, sexual identity disclosure, and sexual network assessment.

FIGURE 1

Trends in Chlamydia trachomatis positivity rates among women aged 15 to 24 years in family planning clinics, by sex of reported sexual partner in the past year: Infertility Prevention Project, Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington), 1997–2005. Note. WSM = women reporting sexual activity only with men; WSMW = women reporting sexual activity with both men and women; WSW = women reporting sexual activity only with women. Positivity unadjusted for test type.