Safer Sex: Lesbian & Bisexual Women
"Having safer sex makes things much less worrisome, allowing my partner and I
to focus less on fear and more on …"
Emma, 22
Everyone's heard it, right? The myth that lesbians don't
have to worry about STIs or HIV/AIDS. Our friends tell us that,
we tell each other that. Some of us might have even had our
health care providers share that misinformation with us.
Truth is, your sexual orientation doesn't make you immune to sexually transmitted
infections. In fact, in a recent survey of 504 lesbian and bisexual respondents,
26% of women reported having been previously diagnosed with an STI (Reuters Health,
1/26). That's one in four women.
Which means we need to respect ourselves and each other by protecting ourselves
during sex.
Here's the good news. It's relatively easy to protect yourself from STIs once
you know the facts.
"I'm pretty vain when it comes to using protection! I don't want any diseases,
so safer sex is an imperative. My body deserves to be treated like the temple
it is."
Tara, 19
STIs are illnesses that are passed from one person to another by vaginal,
oral, and/or anal intercourse, or by other intimate contact. Their consequences
can range from inconvenient, to painful, to life threatening, in the case of
HIV. They may be passed by sharing blood (including menstrual blood), semen,
or vaginal secretions. There are several methods for reducing your risk for HIV
and other STIs.
The only sure method for not getting an STI or HIV is through abstinence (not
being sexually active). Communicate with your partner and talk about if you want
to have sex or not. There's plenty of other ways to express yourself with someone:
hugging, kissing, talking, and massage. Use your imagination!
Unprotected oral sex can put you at high risk for STI infection. If you're having oral sex use a dental dam or another latex barrier, such
as a unlubricated condom cut down the middle. A dental dam is a square piece
of latex about five inches on each side available at dental and medical supply
stores. And since it can be hard to find dental and medical supply stores, you
can also use plastic wrap, available at your local grocery store. If you're having
oral sex with a guy, be sure to use an unlubricated condom.
"Asking my partner to put on a glove is very erotic. I'm expressing my
desire for her to touch me. Safer sex is a turn on."
Megan, 24
For manual sex, use a latex barrier like surgical gloves, especially
if you have a cut or rash on your hands. (You can buy these really cheaply
at a drug store.)
"When I'm ready to lose my virginity, I will make sure to be safe about
it. I figure it's better to take the few minutes of time it takes to be safe
instead of spending the rest of my life with some incurable disease!"
Adena, 17
Always avoid direct contact with blood.
If you're having sex with guys, be sure to use a condom every
time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. This simple step can prevent pregnancy
as well as HIV and STIs.
If you're planning on being in a monogamous relationship don't
throw out the latex as soon as you've made the commitment! Get tested for HIV
and STIs and then wait 6 months and get tested again. It can take 3-6 months
for HIV results to come back positive. After that point, if you both come back
negative, you can be pretty sure you're at a lower risk level. But honest and
open communication is the key!
Also, remember if you're drinking alcohol or doing drugs it
can affect your judgment and you might do something you would regret. The
way to play it safe is to stay sober and keep your head on straight. But
if you
decide to drink remember to plan ahead before you start drinking. Sharing
needles (for drugs, tattoos or piercings) also puts you at great risk for HIV infection.
More Information >>
Safer Sex :: How to Use
a Condom :: Partner Communication ::
Lesbian & Bi
Women :: HIV Prevention :: STI Prevention
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