Sexual Behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Self-Identified Lesbian and Bisexual College Women Lisa L. Lindley Molly B. Kerby Thomas J. Nicholson Ning Lu ABSTRACT. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant health issue for lesbian and bisexual women. Older age and having a history of sexual intercourse with males are primary risk factors for STIs among this population. However, little research has been conducted to assess sexual risk among lesbian and bisexual college women exclusively. A cross-sectional Internet survey was conducted with 230 self-identified lesbian and bisexual female college students to examine their sexual risk and to determine with which, if any, STIs they had ever been diagnosed. Eight percent of lesbian and bisexual college women reported ever being diagnosed with an STI; the human papillomavirus, bacterial vaginosis, and genital herpes accounted for 84% of STI cases. Number of lifetime sex partners was significantly associated with an STI diagnosis among this population. Older age, engaging in penile–vaginal intercourse with a male (lifetime), and younger age at first same-sex experience were significantly associated with a greater number of lifetime sex partners. Results may be useful to sexual health programs targeting lesbian and bisexual college women and/or their providers. KEYWORDS. Lesbians, bisexual women, college students, sexual behavior, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant health issue for women who have sex with women (WSW). Depending on the STI and/or population of women being stud- ied, between 2% and 31% of WSW have re- ported an STI diagnosis during their lifetime (Bailey, Farquhar, Owen, & Mangtani, 2004; Carroll, Goldstein, Lo, & Mayer, 1997; Dia- mant, Lever, & Schuster, 2000; Dolan & Davis, Lisa L. Lindley, DrPH, MPH, CHES, is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. Molly B. Kerby, MPH, PhD(c), is Instructor at the Women’s Studies Program, Western Kentucky Uni- versity. Thomas J. Nicholson, PhD, MPH, is Professor, Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University. Ning Lu, PhD, MPH, is Associate Professor and Undergraduate Director, Department of Health Administration, College of Health Professions, Governors State University, University Park, IL. Address correspondence to: Lisa L. Lindley, DrPH, MPH, CHES, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208 (E-mail: llindley@gwm.sc.edu). 2003; Marrazzo, 2000; Marrazzo et al., 1998; Marrazzo, Koutsky, Kiviat, Kuypers, & Stine, 2001; Marrazzo, Stine, & Wald, 2003; O’Hanlan & Crum, 1996). Infection with bacterial vagi- nosis (BV) and candida have been particularly common, and herpes simplex type-2 (HSV-2) an- tibodies and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA were detected in 8% and 30%, respectively, of one WSW population (Bailey et al., 2004; Journal of LGBT Health Research, Vol. 3(3) 2007 Available online at http://jlhr.haworthpress.com C  2007 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved. doi: 10.1080/15574090802093323 41