Background:
Little information is available regarding young bisexual women's STD-related risk behavior with male sex partners.

Objective:
Describe characteristics of young bisexual women and their relationships with male sex partners in order to characterize these sexual networks.

Method:
Women 16-29 years who reported sex with at least one woman in the previous year were eligible. Subjects underwent computer-assisted self-interview at a research clinic.

Result:
Of 208 subjects (median age, 25 years; lifetime no. male/female partners, 5/6), 67 (32%) self-identified as lesbian, 45 (22%) as queer, 89 (43%) as bisexual, one (0.5%) as straight, and 6 (3%) as “other.” 164 women (79%) reported prior sex with a male; 85 of these (52%) characterized their most recent encounter and comprise the group for the following analyses. 78 (92%) reported vaginal intercourse, with 25 of these (32%) “never” or “sometimes” using condoms and 9 (11%) self-identifying as lesbian. 22 (13%) reported anal intercourse, with 10 of these (45%) reporting “never” using condoms. Sixteen of them (19%) believed their male partner had ever had sex with another man, with concurrency in 7 (44%). Perceived sexual identity of the male partner for these 16 subjects included gay for one (6%), bisexual for 8 (50%), queer for 3 (19%) and straight for 4 (25%). Fourteen women reported >2 male partners during the previous 3 months. Additional sexual network analysis will be discussed.

Conclusion:
Young bisexual women evidence considerable STD-related risk behavior, and should be assessed and counseled appropriately regardless of self-identification. Selection of male partners who have sex with men and frequent report of no condom use for both vaginal and anal intercourse may place these women at increased risk for STD/HIV.

Implications:
Clinicians and health educators should be aware of the risk behaviors among young bisexual women, regardless of self-identification, and assess and counsel them accordingly.