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INTRODUCTION: While more and more women say they are non-heterosexual, they feel that they benefit from poorer follow-up, both quantitative and qualitative, in general medicine than heterosexual women. Few studies focus on the experience of general practitioners with this audience.

PURPOSE OF RESEARCH: To identify the medical practionners' representations and pratices in approaching the sexual orientation with female patients.

METHOD: This is a qualitative study with data from 10 interviews with general practitioners selected as part of a theoretical sampling. Grounded theory-based analysis was used.

RESULTS: General practioners deduced sexual orientation from one of its 3 components: attraction, practices and sexual identity. General practitioners described heteronormative behaviors but some operated a progressive distancing from it. In practice, this resulted in an inclusive approach of non-heterosexual people with an absence of presumption of heterosexuality. Whether or not to discuss sexual orientation depended on general practioners' perceptions of the usefulness and intrusiveness of this data. Social representations and stereotypes of the sexuality of non-heterosexual female patients could lead to discrimination in access to care.

CONCLUSION: Identifying one's social representations and questioning one's heteronormativity allows for more inclusive care of non-heterosexual female patients. Supporting students and professionals in this process is one of the keys to better support for minority people.