Berger et al., 1995

Sexually active during lifetime with one or more female partners; no sexual intercourse with men during past 12 months

Whether bacterial vaginosis occurs in lesbians and, if it does, whether it is sexually transmitted (n = 103)

Bevier et al., 1995

Sex of sexual partners since 1978; engagement in vaginal intercourse, oral-penile sex, and/or anal intercourse in more than 50% of sexual encounters

Characteristics, behaviors, and HIV infection of women attending an STD^a clinic who reported same-sex contact (n = 135) compared to women who had sex only with men (n = 1,383)

Bloomfield, 1993

Whether women report being primarily heterosexual, primarily or exclusively lesbian, or bisexual

Drinking patterns of self-identified heterosexual women and self-identified lesbian or bisexual women in San Francisco (n = 844)

Brand et al., 1992

Scale from 1 = exclusively heterosexual to 5 = exclusively gay or lesbian

Comparison of lesbians, gay men, and heterosexuals on weight, dieting, preoccupation with weight, and exercise activity (n = 124)

Buenting, 1992

Sex of preferred sexual partner

Survey of health lifestyles of lesbian and heterosexual women (n = 79)

Carroll et al., 1997

Self-identification as lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual, or other

Sex of partner asked with respect to participation in nine specific sexual practices; years since last male sexual encounter; lifetime number of male and female partners

STD testing, diagnosis, and sexual practices among self-identified lesbian and bisexual women (n = 421)

Chicago Women's Health Study (Hughes et al., 1997)

Self-identification: "only heterosexual, mostly heterosexual, bisexual, mostly homosexual, or only homosexual"

Sexual behavior in the past year: "only men, mostly men, equally men and women, mostly women, only women"

Current sexual interest or attraction: "only men, mostly men, equally men and women, mostly women, only women"

Indicators of mental health in lesbians (n = 284) and a comparison group of heterosexual women (n = 134)