Do You Know Lesbians Can Get STIs Too?
When people think about safety during sex, they often focus on pregnancy. This leads to the common misconception that queer and lesbian women are completely safe. But sex isn’t just about pregnancy—protection is important to prevent STIs, HIV, and other infections. Lesbian sex can be just as risky as heterosexual sex. Practicing safe sex not only protects your health but also enhances pleasure and strengthens intimacy with your partner.
STDs such as herpes, genital warts, and HPV are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact between women. Other infections, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), trichomoniasis (trich), chlamydia, and gonorrhoea, can pass through vaginal fluids. There have also been reports of HIV and syphilis being transmitted between women. So, it is a misconception that lesbian sex is completely safe.
Here is how You Can Get Infected During Lesbian Sex:
- Grinding: Grinding is a common way to experience pleasure in lesbian sex, where you rub your vagina against your partner’s. The exchange of vaginal fluids can lead to STIs, gonorrhea, and herpes.
- Long nails and unclean hands: Fingering your partner with long nails and unclean hands can cause yeast infections and itchiness.
- Shared sex toys: If sex toys are not cleaned properly before sharing, they can transmit gonorrhea, herpes, HPV, and possibly other STDs.
- Oral sex: Oral sex is an important part of pleasure in lesbian sex, but the risks are higher if you don’t take precautions.
How to Practice Safe Lesbian Sex:
- Use a dental dam: A dental dam is a square piece of stretchy latex or similar material used to cover a woman’s genitals during oral sex. You can cut a condom into a square shape and use it as a dental dam for safer oral sex.
- Use condoms on sex toys: Covering dildos and other simulators with condoms can lower the risk of infections.
- Regularly clean sex toys: Sex toys bring a lot of pleasure, but they must be cleaned regularly to avoid STIs and infections like herpes. Read more about sex toys and hygiene.
- Cut your nails and clean your hands: Trim your nails before fingering your partner, and always wash your hands properly to avoid irritation, burning, or itching.
- Wash your vagina: After sex, wash your vagina with clean water only. This helps maintain hygiene and prevents irritation like itching.
- Do not brush immediately after oral sex: Brushing your teeth right after giving oral sex can cause small cuts in your mouth, increasing the risk of infections. Instead, rinse your mouth with clean water first.
- Get regular checkups: One of the most important ways to stay safe is to get tested regularly and stay updated about your sexual health. This ensures a pleasurable and healthy future for both you and your partner.
- Get the HPV vaccine: The HPV vaccine can help prevent genital warts and ensure a safer sex life.
Conclusion
Lesbian sex, like any other form of intimacy, comes with risks if precautions aren’t taken. Safety isn’t just about pregnancy—it’s also about protecting yourself from STIs and infections. Queer health deserves more attention and awareness. By practicing safe sex, getting regular checkups, and staying informed, you can ensure both pleasure and well-being.
Your health matters. Start the conversation, break the myths, and make informed choices. Stay safe, stay aware, enjoy intimacy, enjoy queerness without fear.
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1 thought on “Do You Know Lesbians Can Get STIs Too?”
I had no idea about this, thanks for this