So you've entered a chat for lesbians, met up with someone, and shared a connection you want to take to the next level. Now what?
Unfortunately, sex education is painfully heteronormative, leaving queer women to figure things out independently. If your knowledge of safe sex for lesbians is severely lacking, we have you covered! Here are some essential things to know to practice safe sex.
STIs are Still a Concern
One huge misconception is that a penis needs to be a part of the equation to spread sexually transmitted infections. We hate to burst your bubble, but that couldn't be further from the truth!
Many STIs can path through skin-to-skin contact. Contact with bodily fluids on hands and fingers, sharing sex toys, and oral sex can lead to STI spread, too. You might not have to worry about pregnancy, but you need to be wary of Chlamydia, syphilis, HPV, genital herpes, gonorrhea, and more.
Staying Protected
There are many ways to protect yourself from STIs. You can use dental dams or craft a makeshift barrier using a traditional condom. For hand play, try using latex gloves.
Here's a tip to keep in mind, ditch the flavored lubes. Those products can irritate the vulva and cause other issues.
In addition to physical protection, it's a good idea to get tested regularly. Physicians don't always offer throat swabs for STIs, but you can request them. Traditional smear tests are crucial, too, despite the misconception that lesbians don't need them.
Best practices say that you should get tested between monogamous partners or at least once annually. You can even go in every six months to be on the safe side!
Keep the Lines of Communication Open
The most important tip we can give is to communicate with your partner. Lesbians are susceptible to STIs just like heterosexuals. No form of sexual contact is without risks, so you need to discuss those matters to decide what forms of protection you need.
If you need to learn more about sexual health for queer women, check out a chat for lesbians and communicate with others going through the same experiences.
Read a similar article about long distance lesbian relationship here at this page.
