Reasons for having sex among lesbian women.

Research suggests that lesbian women's reasons for having sex are both similar to and different from those reported by heterosexual women. However, there have been few such comparative studies and some of the quantitative findings have been inconclusive. In the present qualitative study, twenty lesbian women aged 19-42 years were interviewed about their reasons for engaging in sexual activity with a partner. Thematic analysis of their responses yielded four themes reflecting their reasons and motivations for having sex: physical, emotional, relational and psychological, and ten related sub-themes. Participants often reported more than one reason for having sex and frequently identified a combination of physical and emotional motivations. While some of their reasons were similar to those cited in prior studies by heterosexual women, other reasons suggested differences from heterosexual women in areas such as spontaneous desire and feelings regarding sexual obligation and duty in their relationships. The implications of the findings are discussed in the context of the limited research currently available on lesbian women's reasons for having sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]