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Pregnancy and Sexual Orientation: Understanding the Disparities in Women's Health

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 3 min read.

"A closer look at how sexual orientation impacts health access and outcomes for pregnant women, and what can be done to bridge the gap."

For years, research has highlighted the disparities in health and healthcare access experienced by sexual minority populations. While this knowledge is crucial, there’s a significant gap in understanding the specific healthcare needs of pregnant women within these communities. Sexual minority women often encounter stressors, discrimination, and stigma, which can significantly affect their well-being during pregnancy.

A recent study published in Women's Health Issues sheds light on these critical issues. The study, which analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), examines the health status, healthcare access, and health behaviors of reproductive-age women, comparing heterosexual women with lesbian and bisexual women, both pregnant and non-pregnant.

By understanding the unique challenges faced by pregnant sexual minority women, healthcare providers, policymakers, and community organizations can work together to create more inclusive and supportive environments, ultimately improving maternal and infant health outcomes. This article aims to break down the study's findings and discuss their practical implications.

What Challenges Do Pregnant Sexual Minority Women Face?

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The study revealed several key disparities between pregnant sexual minority women and their heterosexual counterparts. Approximately 3% of reproductive-age sexual minority women reported being pregnant. These women were more likely to experience:

Approximately 3% of reproductive-age sexual minority women reported being pregnant. These women were more likely to experience:

Unmet medical care needs due to cost.
Frequent mental distress, depression, and poorer self-rated health.
Activity limitations and chronic health conditions.
Risky health behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption.

Non-pregnant sexual minority women also reported significant challenges, including barriers to healthcare access, activity limitations, chronic conditions, and higher rates of smoking and binge drinking. While health outcomes were similar between pregnant and non-pregnant sexual minority women, pregnant sexual minority women were more likely to smoke cigarettes daily.

Moving Towards Inclusive Perinatal Care

This study reinforces the need for a more focused approach to perinatal care that is inclusive of diverse families and sexual orientations. By addressing the unique challenges faced by pregnant sexual minority women, healthcare providers and policymakers can work to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for both mothers and their children. Further research and tailored programs are essential to ensure that all women receive the support and care they need during pregnancy and beyond.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.whi.2018.10.006, Alternate LINK

Title: Health And Access To Care Among Reproductive-Age Women By Sexual Orientation And Pregnancy Status

Subject: Maternity and Midwifery

Journal: Women's Health Issues

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Gilbert Gonzales, Nicole Quinones, Laura Attanasio

Published: 2019-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What specific challenges do pregnant sexual minority women face regarding healthcare access and overall well-being?

Pregnant sexual minority women encounter several challenges, including unmet medical care needs due to cost, frequent mental distress, depression, and poorer self-rated health. They also report activity limitations, chronic health conditions, and risky health behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption. These disparities highlight the need for inclusive and supportive healthcare environments tailored to their specific needs. Addressing factors like discrimination and stigma is crucial to improving their well-being during pregnancy. The study in *Women's Health Issues* highlights these disparities using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

How does being a sexual minority woman impact access to medical care during pregnancy, and what are the potential consequences?

Sexual minority women, both pregnant and non-pregnant, often face barriers to healthcare access. This can include difficulty finding inclusive and understanding providers, experiencing discrimination, and facing financial constraints that lead to unmet medical needs due to cost. These barriers can result in delayed or inadequate prenatal care, potentially leading to poorer maternal and infant health outcomes. The intersection of sexual orientation and pregnancy creates unique challenges that require targeted interventions to ensure equitable access to care. The BRFSS data emphasizes this point.

Why are pregnant sexual minority women more likely to engage in risky health behaviors, such as smoking, and what can be done to address this?

Pregnant sexual minority women may be more likely to engage in risky health behaviors like smoking due to factors such as increased stress, discrimination, and a lack of tailored support systems. Addressing this requires comprehensive interventions that include smoking cessation programs designed specifically for this population, mental health support to cope with stress and discrimination, and inclusive healthcare environments that promote trust and open communication. Understanding and addressing these underlying factors is essential to improving maternal and infant health outcomes. The study published in *Women's Health Issues* used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

What does inclusive perinatal care entail for pregnant sexual minority women, and how can healthcare providers contribute to creating a more supportive environment?

Inclusive perinatal care for pregnant sexual minority women involves creating healthcare environments that are welcoming, respectful, and affirming of their identities. Healthcare providers can contribute by receiving training on LGBTQ+ health issues, using inclusive language, avoiding assumptions about family structures, and actively addressing discrimination and stigma. Additionally, providing access to mental health support and connecting women with LGBTQ+-affirming community resources are crucial steps. By addressing the unique challenges faced by this population, healthcare providers can help reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for both mothers and their children. The study in *Women's Health Issues* analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

What are the long-term implications of the disparities in healthcare experienced by pregnant sexual minority women, and what policy changes could help bridge the gap?

The long-term implications of healthcare disparities experienced by pregnant sexual minority women include poorer maternal and infant health outcomes, increased rates of chronic health conditions, and persistent mental health challenges. Policy changes that could help bridge the gap include expanding access to affordable healthcare, implementing non-discrimination policies in healthcare settings, increasing funding for research on LGBTQ+ health issues, and promoting cultural competency training for healthcare providers. Additionally, policies that support LGBTQ+ families, such as paid parental leave and access to adoption services, can contribute to creating a more equitable and supportive environment. The data analyzed for the study in *Women's Health Issues* came from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).