Exploring Medical Personnel’s Discourses on the Sexual Health of Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Greater Lisbon, Portugal/ Exploración del Discurso del Personal Médico Sobre la Salud Sexual de Mujeres Lesbianas y Bisexuales en Gran Lisboa, Portugal/ Explorando os Discursos da Equipe Médica Sobre a Saúde Sexual de Mulheres Lésbicas e Bissexuais na Grande Lisboa, Portugal

Abstract

This qualitative exploratory study analysed the discourses of medical personnel on lesbian and bisexual women’s sexual health. We aimed at identifying the best practices to eradicate heteronormativity in this sector and enhance health care provision for this population. We interviewed 16 physicians in the metropolitan area of Lisbon using semi-structured interviews. The thematic analysis identified a lack of professional knowledge in dealing with non-heterosexual patients, despite the consensual discourse on the necessity of non-discriminatory practices.

Keywords

• lesbian
• bisexual women
• medical personnel
• sexual health
• heteronormativity