Is it common for women to pass along STDs through lesbian sex?

Bea Silver

The short answer: Yes.

Frankly speaking, too many lesbians and (bi chicks who are currently sleeping with women) don’t give enough thought to sexually transmitted diseases when they’re gettin’ down. Let’s remedy that and outline some of the nasties they can (pretty easily) pass along.

Bacterial vaginosis is basically an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in your most private of regions. (Hint: You want more of the good ones.) When the battle between good and evil is being won by the latter, you’re dealing with a gnarly case of stirrups, speculums, and antibiotics. Pass!

Chlamydia is passed on through vaginal, oral, or anal sex and is caused by the presence of a hideous little bacteria. The signs of chlamydia aren’t overt, but it can wreak havoc on a woman’s reproductive system. Antibiotics should be able to clear you up, but still …

Genital herpes sound like fun, right? (Ugh.) What’s worse is there’s no cure. The symptoms usually show up as “fever blisters” around your lips and places below where you really don’t need a sensitive breakout. At all. Ever.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is actually pretty scary, as it can cause cervical cancer if untreated. There’s no cure for it, but a healthy immune system usually fights it off on its own. As well, two vaccines (Gardisil and Cervarix) can be given to women 26 and under to protect them against the types of HPV that cause cervical cancer.

But these aren’t all! Sexual contact between women can spread HIV, public lice, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis as well. So how are they passed along?

Skin-to-skin contact

Mucosa contact (mouth to vagina)

Vaginal fluids

Menstrual blood

Sharing sex toys

So, ladies … just like the guys, you should know your partner’s stats before you dive in. Practice safe sex with condoms on sex toys and/or dental dams if you’re unsure, but by all means: stay healthy and safe, and keep those nasties to an absolute minimum!ü