Although uncommon, exists. Including, Hughes and Evans (2003, 939) show that “more than 10% of females with solely feminine lovers have actually a brief history of sexually transmitted infections”. Inside our research, one fifth of the participants reported exclusive feminine lovers and feasible female-to-female HIV transmissions. The self-reports of individuals in this research recommend towards developing research that is further can help Montcalm and Myer’s (2000, 132) argument that “women with no danger facets aside from participating in intimate tasks with infected feminine lovers are testing positive for HIV”.
Since there is evidence confirming that lesbians are now being contaminated with HIV, numerous still genuinely believe that they’re not at an increased risk and so are therefore “safe”.
Ladies who report a good hiv status and exclusive intimate relations with feminine lovers thought that these are typically “safe”. Likewise in two studies carried out because of the Kaiser system and also by Young et al. (1992) it absolutely was discovered that lesbians genuinely believe that these are generally at no danger for contracting HIV for their identity that is sexual ladies’ Institute 2009; Formby 2011). An additional scholarly study, individuals had been reported to state that lesbians need not utilize condoms (when using adult 
sex toys) “because they’re not at an increased risk for either maternity or STDs” (Marrazzo, Coffey and Bingham 2005, 8).
Dolan and Davis due to their component argue that “lesbian ladies’ construction of vulnerability and risk happen against a backdrop of identification and behaviour. ” Lesbians “perceive their identification as protective against HIV illness” (2003, 28). Richardson (2000, 44) adds that lesbians “rely on notions of this security of `lesbian intercourse’ or they may emphasise identification over behaviour”. It is a “false feeling of security” contends Formby (2011, 1172) and shows too little knowledge from the element of lesbians by themselves along with wellness providers while the public that is general. Self-reports of participants within our research declare that participants think that that they can be at risk because they are in relationships with women, it is almost unthinkable. This describes their feeling of disbelief whenever learning about their HIV status that is positive.
Studies have demonstrated that when lesbians understand they want to protect their partners or feel a sense of responsibility towards their partner that they are living with HIV.
This can be seen as viewing intimate partner relationships as an important source of support and protection for lesbians living with HIV (Jarman, Walsh and De Lancy 2005) in one way. Within their research, Marrazzo, Coffey and Bingham (2005, 10) noted the way the need certainly to protect someone from infection ended up being articulated as “courtesy to my partner”. Individuals inside our research confirm comparable notions. They demonstrated sensitiveness for maybe maybe not sex that is infecting, other people or even re-infect by themselves. There is apparently a feeling of planning to protect other people by maybe maybe perhaps not “burdening” them while in the exact same time protecting the self through the feeling of “otherness” that has experience with living with HIV (Jarman, Walsh and De Lancy 2005). While there might be a desire to guard the self and somebody, this becomes practically challenging when real method of security are unavailable.
It seems, as individuals have actually stated, being in a relationship with a female makes it `easier’ to reveal an individual’s status. Simoni et al. (2000) have actually noted comparable habits of disclosure among ladies. They demonstrated exactly exactly how ladies’ habits of disclosure favoured intimate lovers and feminine family relations first when compared with `casual’ intercourse lovers and male family unit members.
Contributing to the experiences of lesbians presenting with HIV will be the attitudes they encounteredwhen looking for screening as well as other wellness solutions. Notably, presumptions of heterosexuality can alienate women that are lesbian use of wellness solutions. Experiences of lesbians managing HIV suggest that attitudes towards same-sex orientation that is sexual be observed as an issue contributing to prejudice and discrimination (Women’s Institute 2009). These, within our view, can additionally be in the means of adequately handling the wellness requirements of lesbians.