An American survey has revealed that the number of women who recently had lesbian sex has increased 15-fold while the number of men who had gay sex doubled, according to a Reuters Health report.

The number of men who said they had recently had gay sex rose from 2% in 1988 to 4% in 1998, while rates among women climbed from 0.2% in 1988 to nearly 3% ten years later.

The survey conducted every two years by the National Opinion Research Center polled adult Americans over the age of 18 was published in a recent issue of the Journal of Sex Research.

While the study did not investigate the reasons behind the increase, Amy C. Butler of the University of Iowa who examined 1988-1998 data from the General Social Survey said that positive images of gay people in the media and declining legal and economic barriers 'may have made it easier for people to recognize their same-gender sexual interest and to act on it.'

Cathy Renna, news media director of the watchdog group Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) agreed saying that 'changes in the cultural environment have contributed to a culture where gay and lesbian people can be more safe, more comfortable and more self-accepting of who they are.' She added that shows like Will and Grace, If These Walls Could Talk 2, and other films 'reach people in an accessible, non-threatening way.'

Butler pointed out that in 1999, hundreds of US companies are providing domestic partnership benefits to same-sex couples compared to six in 1990. Gay and lesbian parents have also been granted parental rights in several states and sodomy laws have been repealed in 26 states.

The dramatic increase in women reporting lesbian activity could be attributed to women gaining more earning power, allowing them to support themselves and their families and to' consider family structures and sexual partnerships that do not include men.'

But while economic, social and legal constraints may be loosening, many gay individuals still face discrimination on a daily basis. One study cited in the report found that more than half of Americans believe that gay sex is ``always wrong.''

Butler also cautions against interpreting the results as estimates of the percentage of people who are gay or lesbian, since some people may experiment with same-gender sex but still identify themselves as heterosexual.