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Limited research has examined the social network types of older SGM women and gender non-binary adults. To better understand their social network types, 37 semi-structured interviews were conducted with SGM women and gender non-binary adults, ages ranged from 50 to 84 years old. Five previously identified social network types were examined: diverse, diverse/no children, friend-centered/restricted, immediate family-focused, and fully restricted. Participants were grouped based on their current social network and common network themes were identified. Results offer insights that can help identify individual characteristics of those in each network to develop interventions to increase social resources and reduce social isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women who have sex with women and men (WSWM) are less likely to use effective contraception and more likely to experience unintended pregnancies than their exclusively heterosexual peers. The authors examined contraception use among a community sample of 80 WSWM (defined as genital contact with at least one cisgender man and woman during the past 12 months) of reproductive age living in the Midwest. Authors determined if contraceptive use differed by sociodemographic characteristics, or sexuality and relationship characteristics, and used a modified timeline follow-back calendar to explore contraception use during most recent penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI). Overall, use of highly effective contraception was low (38.8%) with combined hormonal contraceptive pills reported most frequently (54.8%). Of participants who engaged in PVI during their most recent sexual event with a male, nearly one half (46.1%) reported using at least one form of contraception. WSWM with a primary sexual attraction to men were more likely to use contraception (p <.01), as were those who recently engaged in PVI (p <.05). Self-identified lesbian participants were less likely than all others to use contraception (p <. 05). WSWM not planning to engage in sex with men may not use contraceptives consistently or at all, suggesting an area where inclusive contraception counseling can improve the reproductive health of women who have sex with women and men [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on sexual satisfaction tends to focus mostly on heterosexual women and women in monogamous relationships. Sexual satisfaction among sexual minority women and women who are nonmonogamous or not partnered is under-researched. Through an online survey, we gathered data from 334 cisgender sexual minority women in various relationship configurations and assessed sexual satisfaction in relation to individual and interpersonal factors. Sexual satisfaction was not related to sexual identity or gender of relationship, dating, or sexual partners. Although women without a partner reported lower sexual satisfaction compared to those with one partner and those with more than one partner (p <.001), satisfaction between monogamous and nonmonogamous women did not differ (p <.001). Less internalized homonegativity was associated with greater sexual satisfaction (p <.001). This study broadens our knowledge of the sexual lives and health of sexual minority and nonmonogamous women. Findings support reconceptualizing how we understand and measure sexual satisfaction and expanding samples in future research to include sexual minority women and women in nonmonogamous relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sizable minority of women report lifetime sexual behavior with both men and women. In the present study, a multinational sample of women who reported genital contact with at least one man and one woman in their lifetime (N = 2,751) were asked to provide their behavioral definitions of “having sex with a woman” and “having sex with a man.” Replicating previous research, participants were asked “Would you say you ‘had sex’ with a woman/man if the most intimate behavior you engaged in with her/him was …” followed by a list of behaviors that differed based on the hypothetical partner gender. While most participants indicated that they would consider “having had sex” if they engaged in a variety of behaviors, behaviors involving genital contact were most often included within the participants’ definitions of having sex, regardless of partner gender. The percentage of behaviors included in the participants’ definitions of having sex with a woman (M = 59.40%,SD = 20.77%) was higher than the percentage of behaviors included in their definition of having sex with a man (M = 37.26%,SD = 28.97%). Broadening our understanding of “having sex” for individuals with diverse sexual experiences may have important implications for clinicians and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]