Self-reported Sexual Attraction Research Articles

Childhood and Adolescence Gender Role Nonconformity and Gender and Sexuality Diversity in Young Adulthood

Sexuality- and gender-diverse youth experience disproportionate health and social adversity. Accurate early-life indicators are important for development of supportive approaches. To examine whether commonly used items measuring childhood conformity to gender roles are associated with sexual orientation in young adulthood. This single-center, prospective cohort study (the Raine Study) assessed 2868 children of 2900 women who were recruited during pregnancy from August 1, 1989, to April 30, 1992, with follow-up ongoing. The Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) Child Behavior Checklist, Teacher Report Form, and Youth Self-Report tools were used to survey parents, teachers, and youths to examine gender diversity among the participating youths. Parents were followed up at years 5, 8, 10, 14, and 17, adolescents at years 14, 17, and 27, and teachers at years 10 and 14. Data were analyzed from August 1, 2020, to July 31, 2023. Parent and teacher report that a child "behaves like the opposite sex" (gender role behavior), and parent and self-report that a child "wishes to be the opposite sex" (gender role wish), in response to assessment items. Year 27 self-reported sexual identity, attraction, and behavior. Of the 2868 children in the original birth cohort, 1154 (40.2%) participated in the year 27 follow-up, of whom 608 (52.7%) were recorded female at birth and 546 (47.3%) were recorded male at birth. Of these, 582 who were recorded female at birth continued to identify as female (cisgender) (95.7%), and 515 recorded male at birth continued to identify as male (cisgender) (94.3%); 47 (4.1%) did not complete the questionnaire. Of cisgender participants, 76 of 605 women (12.6%) and 52 of 540 men (9.6%) had a diverse sexual identity, 204 of 605 women (33.8%) and 77 of 540 men (14.3%) were same-gender attracted, and 100 of 605 women (18.6%) and 39 of 540 men (7.2%) had ever engaged in same-gender sexual behavior. Across all follow-ups, after adjusting for gender, nonconforming gender role behavior was consistently associated with diverse sexual identity and behavior (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for identity, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.9-4.2; behavior aOR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.6-3.5). Self-reported gender role wish was consistently associated with diverse sexual orientation (identity aOR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4-3.8; attraction aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.5; behavior aOR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-2.9). In this cohort study, ASEBA gender role nonconformity was associated with diverse sexual orientation, beginning in early childhood. Findings suggest that the ASEBA measures should not be used to infer sexual orientation or gender diversity in clinical or research settings; asking direct questions may provide more accurate data.

Automatic Attention to Sexual Images of Men and Women in Androphilic, Ambiphilic, and Gynephilic Women

Attentional resources might be automatically attracted to highly motivational stimuli such as a possible sexual partner. We tested whether attention would be automatically attracted to images of men vs women in women with a self-reported sexual attraction to men (androphilic), women (gynephilic) or to both men and women (ambiphilic) in a dot-probe paradigm. While androphilic women showed a small bias toward the female images, both ambiphilic and gynephilic women showed a strong bias toward the female images. The results show that these early automatic processes of attention are toward women in this sample of ambiphilic women and therefore inconsistent with their self-report sexual preferences.

Nonvoluntary or Forced Sex Among Women, by Sexual Identity, Attraction, and Behavior — National Survey of Family Growth, United States, 2011–2017

Nonheterosexual (sexual minority) women report experiencing more sexual violence than heterosexual (sexual majority) women (1,2). Sexual minority women are often categorized as a collective whole, which fails to capture the nuances in sexual violence among subgroups of sexual minority women, such as bisexual and lesbian women (3). To estimate the prevalence of lifetime forced vaginal intercourse (forced sex) and of nonvoluntary first vaginal intercourse among women aged 18-44 years in the United States, CDC analyzed data from female respondents who were interviewed during 2011-2017 for the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG); respondents were stratified by self-reported sexual identity, attraction, and behavior. Log-binomial regressions and analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were performed to compare experiences across each dimension of sexual orientation, controlling for demographic characteristics. Compared with sexual majority women,* prevalence of any male-perpetrated nonvoluntary first vaginal intercourse or forced sex (nonvoluntary or forced sex) was higher among women who identified as bisexual (36.1% versus 17.5%), reported attraction to the opposite and same sex (30.3% versus 15.8%), and reported sexual behavior with the opposite and same sex (35.7% versus 15.9%). These sexual minority women reported that their earliest experience of nonvoluntary or forced sex occurred at younger ages than did that of sexual majority women. Among women who were unsure of their sexual attraction, the prevalence of nonvoluntary first vaginal intercourse was also higher than among sexual majority women. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive prevention approaches tailored for sexual minority women and prevention of child sexual abuse, given the average ages at earliest nonvoluntary or forced sex experience among sexual minority women (range = 12.5-16.3 years). Additional research is needed into the circumstances of and norms or attitudes that influence perpetration of nonvoluntary or forced sex and broader sexual violence against sexual minority women. Prevention of nonvoluntary or forced sex victimization among sexual minority women will require comprehensive approaches to prevent sexual violence and child sexual abuse. Engaging sexual minority women in the development of sexual violence prevention efforts and research would help ensure that the experiences of sexual minority women across the spectrum are represented.

140 Self-Reported Sexual Orientation and Attraction in a Cohort of Binary- and Non-Binary Transmasculine Patients Seeking Gender Affirming Surgery

Although research on health disparities often focuses on looking at the LGBTQ population as a whole, sexual orientation and gender identity exist along separate continua. However, sexual orientation can be relevant to gender care, and vice versa. In particular, interest in sexual intimacy and body acceptance by potential partners may play a role in some individuals’ desires to obtain gender affirming surgery. As part of an ongoing longitudinal study of psychosocial factors affecting satisfaction and other outcomes among transmasculine patients seeking gender affirming surgery, this study looked at self-reported sexual orientation and sexual attraction among transmasculine patients seeking gender affirming chest reconstruction, phalloplasty, or metoidioplasty.

Samoan Men's Sexual Attraction and Viewing Time Response to Male-to-Feminine Transgender and Cisgender Adults.

In many different cultures, some men express sexual interest in male-to-feminine (MtF) transgender individuals, but others do not. We examined whether, in Samoa, men who are sexually interested in fa'afafine (Samoan MtF transgender individuals) (MSF; N = 40) differed from men who were exclusively sexually interested in women (MSW; N = 41) in terms of their self-reported sexual attraction and viewing times responses to images of MtF transgender individuals who were feminine (e.g., had feminine hairstyles, makeup) but had not undergone gender-affirming surgeries (e.g., breast augmentation), cisgender women, and cisgender men. MSF reported that images of MtF transgender individuals were sexually attractive, although somewhat less attractive than images of cisgender women. In contrast, MSW reported that images of cisgender women were sexually attractive, but images of MtF transgender individuals were not. The groups did not differ in their sexual attraction ratings of men, which were uniformly low. MSF viewed MtF transgender individuals and cisgender women for a similar length of time and viewed both longer than cisgender men. In contrast, MSW viewed cisgender women longer than MtF transgender individuals and they viewed MtF transgender individuals longer than cisgender men. The present study indicates that responses to MtF transgender individuals vary among Samoan men who share a sexual preference for women.

Canadian undergraduate men\u2019s visual attention to cisgender women, cisgender men, and feminine trans individuals

Some heterosexual men express sexual interest in feminine trans individuals with penises. It is possible that this interest arises from a tendency for heterosexual men to be sexually responsive to gender in addition to sex. We compared the self-reported sexual attraction and visual attention patterns of Canadian undergraduate heterosexual men (N = 51) and gay men (N = 20) to nude images of feminine trans individuals with penises, cisgender men, and cisgender women. Heterosexual men were most attracted to cisgender women and fixated on them the longest. However, they were more attracted to feminine trans individuals with penises than to cisgender men. They also biased their attention to feminine trans individuals with penises over cisgender men. This pattern was unique to heterosexual men. Gay men were most attracted to cisgender men and allocated the most visual attention to them. They responded to feminine trans individuals and cisgender women in a relatively similar manner. As such, heterosexual men appear to be responsive to sex and gender, which may account for sexual interest in feminine trans individuals among some heterosexual men.

A map of desire: multidimensional scaling of men's sexual interest in male and female children and adults.

Men sexually interested in children of a specific combination of maturity and sex tend to show some lesser interest in other categories of persons. Patterns of men's sexual interest across erotic targets' categories of maturity and sex have both clinical and basic scientific implications. We examined the structure of men's sexual interest in adult, pubescent, and prepubescent males and females using multidimensional scaling (MDS) across four datasets, using three large samples and three indicators of sexual interest: phallometric response to erotic stimuli, sexual offense history, and self-reported sexual attraction. The samples were highly enriched for men sexually interested in children and men accused of sexual offenses. Results supported a two-dimensional MDS solution, with one dimension representing erotic targets' biological sex and the other dimension representing their sexual maturity. The dimension of sexual maturity placed adults and prepubescent children on opposite ends, and pubescent children intermediate. Differences between men's sexual interest in adults and prepubescent children of the same sex were similar in magnitude to the differences between their sexual interest in adult men and women. Sexual interest in adult men was no more associated with sexual interest in boys than sexual interest in adult women was associated with sexual interest in girls. Erotic targets' sexual maturity and biological sex play important roles in men's preferences, which are predictive of sexual offending. The magnitude of men's preferences for prepubescent children v. adults of their preferred sex is large.

Sexual orientation, attraction and risk for deliberate self-harm: Findings from a nationally representative sample

To date, there has been limited investigation identifying predictors of deliberate self-harm (DSH) among sexual minority adults. The present study examined the likelihood of DSH by sexual minority status as measured by self-reported sexual identity and sexual attraction in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Among respondents who answered both the sexual identity and attraction items on the NESARC (N = 34,273), the link between sexual minority status and DSH was examined. Univariate analyses yielded greater risk of DSH for all sexual minority identities compared to heterosexual identity. Individuals with same-sex only attraction did not differ from those with different-sex only attraction. At the multivariate level, respondents reporting bisexual and unsure identity and bisexual attraction were at two to three times greater risk of DSH compared to their heterosexual/different-sex counterparts. Same-sex attracted and gay/lesbian individuals did not differ from different-sex attracted or heterosexual individuals in adjusted multivariate models. Findings from this nationally representative sample are consistent with previous research suggesting that sexual minority status is a risk factor for DSH. There is a vital need to incorporate varying measures of sexual minority status within research and in clinics, as well as to inquire about DSH among sexual minorities.

75. Adolescents’ Self-Reported Sexual Orientation Identity and Sexual Attraction in Canada: Stability and Change Over Three Years

75. Adolescents’ Self-Reported Sexual Orientation Identity and Sexual Attraction in Canada: Stability and Change Over Three Years

Intersections between Sexual Identity, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Behavior among a Nationally Representative Sample of American Men and Women

Abstract Social scientists struggle on how to best operationalize and measure sexual orientation. Depending on the survey, researchers can use self-reports of lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) identity, same-sex partner cohabitation, same-sex sexual attraction, or same-sex sexual behavior. All measures come with their own limitations. To illuminate differences in these measures, this study examines the intersections between self-reported sexual identity, attraction, and behavior among a nationally representative sample of US men and women aged 15–45. I explore how and when the three measures align, examine the determinants of self-identifying as gay or bisexual based on sexual behavior and attraction, and assess gender differences in the patterns. I find that about 20% of women and 10% of men aged 15–45 would comprise the LGB community if it were defined to include those who report at least one of the following: gay or bisexual identity, any same-sex attraction, or same-sex sex in the last year. This is much higher than the 6.4% of women and 3.6% of men aged 15–45 who self-identify as LGB. I conclude with recommendations that can aid in measurement of the LGB population, and discuss implications for using certain measures over others when conducting research on the LGB community.

Identification of Sexual Minority Youth in Pediatric Primary Care Settings Within a Large Integrated Healthcare System Using Electronic Health Records.

The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of sexual minority youth (SMY) within an integrated health care system using a standardized questionnaire. This study assessed SMY status in youth aged 12.5-18years using a previsit Well Check questionnaire at Kaiser Permanente Northern California facilities in 2016. SMY was defined as self-reported attraction to the same sex or both sexes. A total of 93,817 youth (87.3%) self-reported sexual attraction, and 5% (n= 5,329) of respondents (N = 107,532) identified as SMY: 1.7% were attracted to same sex, and 3.2% were attracted to both sexes. There were youth who responded neither (1.5%) and unsure (2.4%). Females were 2.8 times (95% confidence interval 2.6-2.94) more likely to be SMY than males. SMY status significantly increased with age. Nonwhite youth were significantly less likely to be SMY compared with white youth. This is the first study to examine SMY prevalence in pediatric primary care. Primary care providers can use previsit screening before preventive visits to identify and support sexual minority adolescents, facilitate family acceptance, and promote healthy behaviors with care coordination.

Viewing Time and Self-Report Measures of Sexual Attraction in Samoan Cisgender and Transgender Androphilic Males.

Across cultures, androphilic males (natal males who are predominantly sexually attracted to adult men, not women) tend to present in one of two forms: cisgender or transgender. Previous research has shown that, although their gender presentation and identities are distinct, the two forms are similar in many other ways. The present study examined whether cisgender and transgender androphilic males exhibit a similar pattern of self-reported sexual attraction and viewing time response to images of men and women, and one that is directly inverse to that of cisgender gynephilic males (natal males who are predominately sexually attracted to adult women, not men). Using measures of self-reported sexual attraction and viewing time, we compared the response patterns of Samoan cisgender males who self-identified as men, were predominantly attracted to men, and had sex only with men (N = 16) and Samoan transgender males who self-identified as fa'afafine, were predominantly attracted to men, and had sex only with men (N = 30). Samoan cisgender males who self-identified as men, were predominantly attracted to women, and had sex only with women (N = 31) served as a comparison group. Androphilic men and fa'afafine reported greater sexual attraction to men than women and viewed the images of men longer than those of women. Gynephilic men showed the inverse pattern. Viewing time discrepancies between participant's preferred gender and their non-preferred gender were greater for gynephilic men compared to the two androphilic groups. The implications of these preliminary findings for the use of viewing time measures of male sexual orientation across different cultural contexts are discussed.

Category Specificity of Self-Reported Sexual Attraction and Viewing Times to Male and Female Models in a Large U.S. Sample: Sex, Sexual Orientation, and Demographic Effects

Recent research has documented large and robust sex differences in the category specificity of self-reported sexual attraction and viewing times to men and women, with men showing more polarized responses to the two sexes than women. However, this research has been limited by the use of small and restricted samples. To address this, the current study assessed a representative sample of more than 2800 U.S. adults on demographic and attitudinal variables and on two measures of category specificity: one based on self-reported sexual attraction and the other based on viewing times to male and female swimsuit models. Key findings were replicated. On average, men were considerably more category specific in self-reported sexual attraction and viewing times than women, and this was true for both heterosexual and homosexual participants. Self-identified bisexual and asexual participants tended to be lower on category specificity than other groups. Although demographic and attitudinal factors such as age, ethnicity, state and region of residence, social class, political liberalism-conservatism, and religiousness were sometimes weakly related to category specificity, sex differences in category specificity remained robust despite demographic and attitudinal variation.

Gender-Specificity in Viewing Time Among Heterosexual Women.

Measures of sexual interest tend to be more gender-specific in heterosexual men than in heterosexual women. Cognitive measures, such as viewing time to attractive stimuli, may also show similar patterns of gender-specificity or nonspecificity among men and women and thus serve as useful adjuncts to more direct measures of sexual interest. The objectives of the present research were to determine the extent of gender-specificity in women's viewing times for female pictures (varying in their perceived physical attractiveness) and explore the influence of social comparison of physical appearance on these patterns of responses. In Study 1, we recorded only women's viewing times for pictures of both genders, measured self-reported menstrual cycle phase, and manipulated the waist-to-hip ratio of the women in the female pictures. In Study 2, we recorded women's and men's viewing times, self-reported sexual attraction to pictures of males and females, and physical appearance social comparison. Study 1 found that heterosexual women's viewing time toward female pictures was not associated with manipulation of the perceived attractiveness of those pictures. Study 2 found that heterosexual men were more gender-specific than heterosexual women in their viewing time patterns. We also found that reported sexual attraction and physical appearance social comparison were associated with heterosexual women's viewing times for female pictures, while heterosexual men's viewing times were associated with sexual attraction only. Our results are discussed in relation to the utility of viewing time as an indicator of visual attention toward attractive or sexually appealing visual stimuli.

The relationship between disordered eating and sexuality amongst adolescents and young adults

Research shows that gay and bisexual males are at increased risk for disordered eating symptoms (DES); however, studies examining DES amongst lesbians and bisexual women have produced mixed findings. Furthermore, few studies have included questioning or “unsure” individuals. This study examined DES symptoms in adolescents and young adults across self-reported sexual attraction and behavior. Participants were recruited from ten primary care sites in Pennsylvania and administered the Behavioral Health Screen (BHS) – a web-based screening tool that assesses psychiatric symptoms and risk behaviors – during a routine visit. As expected, males who were attracted to other males exhibited significantly higher disordered eating scores than those only attracted to members of the opposite sex. Males who engaged in sexual activities with other males also exhibited significantly higher scores than those who only engaged in sexual activities with females. Amongst females, there were no significant differences in DES scores between females who were only attracted to females and those only attracted to males. Those who reported being attracted to both sexes, however, had significantly higher scores, on average, than those only attracted to one sex. More surprisingly, females who were unsure of who they were attracted to reported the highest DES scores of all. These findings are contrary to previous assumptions that same-sex attraction plays a protective role against eating pathology in females. Females who are unsure or attracted to both sexes may actually be at increased risk for developing DES.

Interest in child molestation among a community sample of men sexually attracted to children

ABSTRACTResearch including community samples of men suggests that sexual attraction to children, a significant risk factor for child sex-offending behaviour, may not be limited to forensic populations. The present study investigated proclivity for child molestation among two groups of community men: those who reported never acting on their sexual attractions (Not Acted) and those reporting at least one previous sexual encounter with a child (Acted). The Interest in Child Molestation Scale (Gannon & O'Connor, 2011) was found to be a reliable measure for use in a community sample of men with self-reported sexual attraction to children. Men in the Not Acted group reported less behavioural propensity towards low-force scenarios than did men in the Acted group. Overall, the research supports a distinction between sexual attraction towards children and the proclivity to engage in low-force child molestation.

Physiological Evidence for a Mostly Heterosexual Orientation Among Men

A review of over 60 studies published from 1994 to 2012, covering 26 different samples from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States that included sufficient data for participants to be designated as mostly heterosexual (Kinsey 1s) concluded that such individuals showauniqueprofileof sexualandromanticcharacteristics that differentiate them as a distinctive sexual orientation (SavinWilliams & Vrangalova, in press). Mostly heterosexuals differed from two adjacent groups, exclusively heterosexuals and substantiallybisexuals, in reportingasmalldegreeofsame-sex sexual and/or romantic attraction, fantasies, and, occasionally, same-sex behavior. In addition, they constituted a substantial prevalence in the general population (the second most prevalent sexual orientation group, claimed by a mean of 7.6–9.5 % women and 3.6–4.1 % men), were relatively stable in their orientation over time, and felt that this sexuality was valid and meaningful to them. Onerecommendation fromthis reviewwas toassess whether a mostly heterosexual orientation is reflected in physiological sexual arousal—withspecificbenefitsaccrued if theanswerwas affirmative. Because all previous investigations of mostly heterosexuals have been based on self-report, an important question has not been addressed: Is a mostly heterosexualorientation basedonsubjective reportsof sexualandromanticattraction, fantasy, behavior, and identity manifested in physiological sexual responses? Given the general relationship between self-report andphysiologicalassessmentsofsexualorientation, it isexpected that the two would be congruent among most men. That is, unlike for many women, self-reported sexual orientation is usually strongly reflected in men’s sexual arousal (Bailey, 2009; Chivers, Seto, Lalumiere, Laan, & Grimbos, 2010). Reviewing physiological sexual arousal studies, we found that only a few includedmostly heterosexuals in their samples and none provided a separate analysis of this group. However, mostly heterosexual patterns of arousal were apparent among some heterosexual men. For example, one genital arousal study concluded that most men‘‘may possess a certain capacity for bisexual arousal’’ (Rieger, Chivers, & Bailey, 2005, p. 582); some heterosexual men showed an arousal pattern that can be interpreted as mostly heterosexual, with major arousal toward women and slight arousal toward men. Although an fMRI study scanned self-identified heterosexual and homosexual men, heterosexuals had‘‘exclusive or nearly exclusive sexual activity and feelings’’ for women (Safron et al., 2007, p. 23, emphasis added). A large majority of men show sexual arousal patterns consistentwith their self-reported sexualorientation (Bailey,2009). Thus, we expected that mostly heterosexual men would have considerable physiological sexual responses to females, similar to heterosexual men, and, in addition, some sexual response to males, more so than exclusively heterosexual men but less so than bisexual leaning heterosexual men. We had access to two previously published datasets from separate research programs that allowed us to test this congruence (for research design details, see Rieger & Savin-Williams, 2012; Rosenthal, Sylva, Safron, & Bailey, 2011, 2012). In thefirst study,dataassessing102men’spenile tumescence to erotic stimuli were collected with a focus on three groups: heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual men (Rosenthal et al., 2011, 2012). This research included data on self-reported sexual attraction that allowed us to compare mostly heterosexuals to other men in their genital arousal patterns. R. C. Savin-Williams (&) G. Rieger Sex & Gender Lab, Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA e-mail: savin-williams@cornell.edu

Self-Reported Sexual Desire in Homosexual Men and Women Predicts Preferences for Sexually Dimorphic Facial Cues

Recent studies investigating the relationship between self-reported sexual desire and attraction to same- and opposite-sex individuals have found that homosexual men's sexual desire is positively correlated with their self-reported attraction to own-sex individuals only, while homosexual women's sexual desire is positively correlated with their self-reported attraction to both men and women. These data have been interpreted as evidence that sexual desire strengthens men's pre-existing (i.e., dominant) sexual behaviors and strengthens women's sexual behaviors in general. Here we show that homosexual men's (n=106) scores on the Sexual Desire Inventory-2 (SDI-2) were positively correlated with their preferences for exaggerated sex-typical shape cues in own-sex, but not opposite-sex, faces. Contrary to the hypothesis that sexual desire strengthens women's preferences for sexual dimorphism generally, homosexual women's (n=83) SDI-2 scores were positively correlated with their preferences for exaggerated sex-typical shape cues in opposite-sex faces only. Together with previous research in heterosexual subjects, our findings support the proposal that sexual desire increases the incidence of existing sexual behaviors in homosexual and heterosexual men, and increases the incidence of sexual responses more generally in heterosexual women, although not necessarily in homosexual women.

Mostly Heterosexual and Mostly Gay/Lesbian: Evidence for New Sexual Orientation Identities

A sample of 1,784 individuals responded to an online survey advertised on the Facebook social networking website. We explored the sexual orientation continuum by focusing on three components: self-reported sexual orientation identity, sexual attraction, and sexual partners. Results supported a 5-category classification of identity (heterosexual, mostly heterosexual, bisexual, mostly gay/lesbian, gay/lesbian) in that two added identity labels (mostly heterosexual and mostly gay/lesbian) were frequently chosen by participants and/or showed unique patterns of attraction and partners, distinct from their adjacent identities (heterosexual and bisexual, and bisexual and gay/lesbian, respectively). Those who reported an exclusive label (heterosexual, gay/lesbian) were not necessarily exclusive in other components; a significant minority of heterosexuals and the majority of gays/lesbians reported some attraction and/or partners toward their nonpreferred sex. The five identity groups differed in attraction and partners in a manner consistent with a continuous, rather than a categorical, distribution of sexual orientation. Findings also supported a sexual orientation continuum as consisting of two, rather than one, distinct dimensions (same- and other-sex sexuality). Having more same-sex sexuality did not necessarily imply having less other-sex sexuality, and vice versa. More men than women were at the exclusive ends of the continuum; however, men were not bimodally distributed in that a significant minority reported nonexclusivity in their sexuality.

A Comparison of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Related Factors Between Lesbian and Heterosexual Women

Objectives Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive endocrine disorder associated with infertility, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Despite anecdotal evidence that lesbians may have higher PCOS rates than heterosexuals, little empirically based evidence supports this theory. To address this gap, we examined PCOS prevalence and associated factors among a community sample of lesbian and heterosexual women. Methods Lesbian ( n = 114) and heterosexual ( n = 97) women aged 35 to 45 who participated in The Epidemiologic STudy of HEalth Risk (ESTHER) Project (Pittsburgh, PA) were recruited into our PCOS exploratory study between April and October 2008. A reproductive endocrinologist, “blinded” to participant sexual orientation, identified women with PCOS using a modified version of the 2003 Rotterdam Diagnostic Criteria for PCOS. Sexual orientation was defined by self-reported sexual identity, behavior, and attraction. Fisher’s exact, chi-square, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used for analysis. Results Approximately 6.2% ( n = 13) of the total sample ( n = 211) had PCOS. PCOS rates did not significantly differ between lesbian and heterosexual women ([7.9%, n = 9] vs. [4.1%, n = 4]; p = .256). No significant differences in PCOS-related factors were found between lesbian and heterosexual women: polycystic ovaries ([10.5%, n = 12] vs. [6.2%, n = 6]; p = 0.261), hirsutism ([24.6%, n = 28] vs. [15.5%, n = 15]; p = 0.102), oligomenorrhea ([3.6%, n = 4] vs. [5.4%, n = 5]; p = 0.735), adult acne ([21.1%, n = 24] vs. [24.7%, n = 24], p = 0.524), and median testosterone ([1.69 ng/mL, n = 114] vs. [1.52 ng/mL, n = 97]; p = 0.069) and androstenedione ([1.63 ng/mL, n = 114] vs. [1.51 ng/mL, n = 97]; p = 0.079) concentrations, respectively. Conclusion PCOS and related factors did not differ by sexual orientation. Despite this, our observed rates warrant the need for additional studies to examine the relationship between PCOS diagnoses, PCOS-related factors, and sexual orientation.