This article reviews the literature relating to healthcare provision for lesbians. The author discusses the attitudes of healthcare providers to this client group and the experiences of these women in a prejudiced healthcare system

The incidence of homosexuality in women has been reported to be from 2 to 12 per cent of the female population (Hall 1978, Olesker and Walsh 1984, Robertson 1992). The true incidence may be underestimated due to the ‘invisibility’ of lesbians in society; women may be forced to hide their sexuality out of necessity for fear of losing family and friends or employment.