Many lesbians are convinced that while having sex with a person of the same gender they are not in danger of being infected with HIV that then results in AIDS or with another various sexually transmitted viruses. They are so sure of their safety because almost no one considers lesbians to be a vulnerable group. However, quite often lesbians get sexually transmitted diseases and HIV from each other.

What a lesbian should do to stay healthy? The best way to remain sexually active and at the same time to protect oneself from various viruses is to be aware of safe sex rules. These rules must be followed and propagandized by every lesbian who wishes to stop spread of HIV and other deadly infections.

The information given below is addressed to lesbians.

Discuss sex safety with your girlfriend! Do not be afraid she will think you do not trust her. Heterosexual women are ashamed of speaking about safe sex with their men-partners as well as you. But they should not. When speaking about sex safety measures you show your care for health and life of your beloved partner. Safe sex is as natural method to protect oneself from a disease as a usual inoculation against a virus.

How a lesbian can get infected?

HIV is transmitted through vaginal discharges, blood, breast milk and sperm provided these fluids get on mucous membrane that (it is in the mouth, in the vagina and in the mouth), on injured skin or into eyes.

What puts lesbians in jeopardy?

• Co-use of needles, syringes and sex toys
• Unprotected oral sex with an infected partner, especially while she is having menstruation
• Any kind of unprotected sex for money or for drugs
• Any kind of unprotected sex with a woman who has promiscuous sexual relations
• Any kind of unprotected sex with a person who has a disease that requires frequent blood transfusion

A lesbian is less likely to be infected if

• She have only one faithful sex partner
• She never has sex with men
• If she and her partner always have condoms and lubricants at hand

What are the rules of lesbian sex safety?

Oral sex

Always use a latex barrier made of a slit condom (a square piece of latex). Put a lubricant containing nonoxynol-9 your partner?s clitoris and area surrounding it and then put the piece of latex.

Do not re-use the latex barrier and do not turn it upside down! It must be used only once!

Finger sex

HIV and other infections do not penetrate the organism through healthy skin. But sex will be dangerous if you have injures, or if you cut your nails short or if you have just done manicure. If you have too long nails than this kind of sex is likely to cause an injury or even bleeding.

Girls! Take care of your hands if you prefer lesbian sex. Long nails are not always beautiful. Moreover, they might be dangerous. Use latex gloves or finger-stalls (these can be bought at a drug-store) and put a lubricant on them. Change the gloves for each penetration.

Mutual genital friction

There are different opinions on this kind of sex. Some scientists consider that it is quite dangerous; others are convinced this is the safest kind of sex. However, it becomes dangerous if one of the partners is infected. If you got in bed with an unfamiliar girl, try to get pleasure through other kinds of sex.

Kisses

It was found out that HIV virus is in all body discharges and in saliva as well. However, the virus concentration in saliva is very low. Nevertheless, you might contact with your girlfriend?s blood, because your tongue can touch her injured or bleeding gums. Take care of your mouth cavity and avoid contacts with unknown people.

Sex toys

All sex toys should be used by one person. To avoid catching a sexually transmitted disease, you should bear in mind the following: every girl should have her personal sex toy.

Almost all kinds of sex toys (dildos, vibrators and others) contact with biological fluids of the body. To make use of sex toys safe, every time after making love wash your sex toys with soap.

Do not use one and the same sex toy for anal and vaginal sex, because this might affect anal or vaginal microflora. What is more, you might be infected with a virus.

The only way out is to use condoms. By the way, do not forget to ask your partner whether she has allergy to latex or not. If she has this kind of allergy, than try to use polyurethane.

Unpleasant sensations after using a sex toy can be provoked by allergic response to the material the sex toy was made of.

Oral-anal sex (rimming)

Always cover your girlfriend?s anus with a latex-barrier. There can be some parasites or bacteria that should not get into your organism, no matter whether the partner is infected with HIV or not.

Do not be careless. Take all necessary measures to protect yourself and your partner against diseases. Choose safe sex. Your health is worth it.