2005
Let’s Talk About Sex Baby!
Specifically safe sex. More specifically, safe lesbian sex. I’ve been out for 10 years. In that time I have heard “Wear a condom” 15 million times. Condoms are given out in almost all the bars, at the gay and lesbian community center, at every gay pride function, etc etc, and on and on. I even keep a box at my house for my boys, should they happen to get lucky at my place. On this past Memorial Day, I saw my very first dental dam. First EVER. In 10 years. And for the record, I didn’t see any gloves. Now I have heard, as I’m sure you have, that lesbians have a very remote chance of contracting an STD. Thats pretty much what the community says, thats what the doctors say, hell, that’s what I used to say. The problem is that there is very little data available. For the most part, we simply don’t know the probability of contracting STDs through oral-vaginal, digital-vaginal, or vaginal-vaginal* contact. Never mind transmission rates from the use of sex toys, BDSM practices, etc. I, personally, have never had safe sex. Well, not with a woman at least. The overwhelming majority of sex that I have had has been with a long term monogamous (or so I thought) partner, and it never really crossed my mind. I thought it was a non-issue. My Gynecologist pretty much confirmed that attitude at my first appointment.
Doc: It says here you had sex with a man. Did he wear a condom?
Me: Yeah. Why?
Doc: So I know if I need to screen you for STDs.
Apparently the answer was no. When the big break up happened, and I had my one-and-only one night stand, I revisited the topic and decided to do some research. What I found tends to freak me out just a bit. While we are at very low risk of contracting HIV through lesbian sex, there are bunches of STDs that can be transmitted woman to woman. Hepatitis, Trichomoniasis and Pubic Lice, among others, have all had documented cases of woman to woman transmission. source One STD (Bacterial Vaginosis) is very common in lesbians, and thought to be easily transmitted WTW. source Has all this information made me a safe sex do-be? Probably not. (ya wouldn’t eat a Snickers bar still in the wrapper** now would ya? heh) But at least now I know the risks. And I keep a dental dam on my nightstand. Just in case.
More info:The National Women’s Health Information Center; AlwaysYourChoice.com
*Also known as frottage, which I think is the coolest word ever.
**stolen from a friend
