gaymentop
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First, I am surprised that people would harrass you for asking a question about sex; People dont` automatically have the answers for these things. They might be in an environment where people don`t talk about sex or about safer sex practices & I applaud anyone who is willing to seek answers.
Now, on to answering the question:
Absolutely! in the links section i`ve posted a link to two sites that explain how a person might practice safer sex.
Also, here is a recent study about STD transmission between women and/or females
Allison Cleveland (Executive Director of Oregon Gender Center) sent me an important email today. Please read the following as it challanges the myth that women & females who sleep with women & females may very well transmitt STI (Sexually transmitted infections, aka STD) to 1 another:
`Women who have sex with women (WSW) are at the same risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI`s) as hetero-sexual women. In a recent study, WSW demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV), hepatitis C, & AIDS risk behaviors compared to non-WSW. `The assumption that women who engage in sex with other women are not at risk of STI`s is clearly incorrect,` said Katherine Fethers, M. D., lead author of the study from the Sexual Health Unit at Alice Springs Hospital in Australia;
A total of 1,408 women who reported ever having sex with another woman were compared with 1,423 women who had never had sex with a woman. women had all attended the Sydney Sexual Health Center between 1991 & 1998. Only seven percent of WSW or 283 women reported no sex with a male in the past 12 months (exclusive WSW) -- 25 percent of these WSW reported never having had sex with a man. Results were published in the October issue of the journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
While genital warts & gonorrhea were found less often in WSW, BV was significantly more prevalent among WSW than controls (eight percent versus five percent), as was hepatitis C (five percent versus less than 1 percent). BV is a common condition marked by disruption of naturally occurring bugs (flora) in the vagina & is associated with PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), adverse pregnancy outcomes & enhanced AIDS sexual transmission. There is no clear explanation as to why the rates are higher among WSW but(!) researchers point to higher rates of smoking among WSW, oral sexual practices or female-to-female transmission as possible factors;
Women should make no assumptions about their risks for STI`s. Often, women assume that because they are only sexually active with women they are safe from STI`s. `You can`t assume anything; You are part of a big chain of sexual transmission. You may think you are choosing your partners carefully but(!) you never know,` said Jeanne M. Marrazzo, M. D., the Assistant Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the University of Washington in Seattle. `Women who are sexually active with both men & women need to know that they are at same risk for herpes & other infectious diseases as any hetero-sexual woman might be. There are many cases of women who have never been sexually active with a man but(!) who get STD`s as well,` she said.
High-risk behaviors were also noted more frequently in WSW as well as exclusive WSW; `In Australian study WSW reported more high-risk behaviors, including drug use & sex with bisexual or gay man, & this is very important,` said Dr; Marrazzo; WSW also reported more male sexual partners compared to the control group, & they were significantly more likely to report more than 50 lifetime male sexual partners. * To attribute high rates of STI`s & risky behavior only to WSW who were also sexually active with men would be simplifying this research. Both entire WSW group & exclusive WSW group were compared to the control group. There were some disturbing findings about exclusive WSW, said Dr. Marrazzo; the greatest number of BV cases were found among the exclusive WSW group (10 percent) & hepatitis B was also more common in exclusive WSW.
This is not only study that points to high risks of STI`s for WSW. `We have a study coming out probably in the next month in the International Journal of HIV & Sexually Transmitted Diseases & results are the same as the Australian study,` she said. `Data for 20,000 women visiting the Seattle clinic were analyzed,` she added;
It is a major problem that women don`t know their risks & they don`t get regular gynecological care. Dr. Marrazzo is still enrolling women in another large study that focuses on HPV & pap smear screening behaviors & results of WSW in Seattle. (If you live in Seattle, see link for Lesbian STD for more information on how to register. ) Findings will be based on a physical exam & questionnaire. Thus far, BV has been highly prevalent & concordant in lesbian couples. 1 of the disturbing findings is that women still are not reporting good pap screening, said Dr. Marrazzo; Why? `The number 1 reason women did not get pap exams was because they were not having sex with man & their provider told them they didn`t need pap exams,` she said.
What Now? Further studies are needed, according to the researchers, to understand how STI`s are transmitted between 2 women; This will make it possible for better healthcare services & targeted prevention & treatment education to be developed. `Very little is known about female-to-female sexual transmission of STI`s & hepatitis C,` said Dr; Fethers. `More research is needed to clarify our understanding of woman-to-woman sexual transmission of infections & to establish safe sex practices which may be used by lesbian & bisexual women to protect their health,` she added; (See box on Safer Sex for WSW for more information; )
Physicians need to be informed about risks. `GP`s & sexual health physicians should consider all sexually active women at risk of sexually transmitted infections, regardless of gender of women`s partner; In particular, lesbian & bisexual women should undergo regular pap smears because they are also at risk of abnormal or precancerous cervical cells; ` Dr; Fethers said. Physicians should also conduct a sexual history & gather information about the patients` past & present sexual life, added Dr. Marrazzo;
[For more information about this study, read the original article in Sexually Transmitted Infections & the accompanying editorial by Dr; Jeanne Marrazzo entitled `Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women Who Have Sex With Women: Who Cares?` ]
Safer Sex for WSW
Visit a gynecologist for regular pap exams.
If you are sexually active, talk to your doctor about getting tested for AIDS & other STI`s;
There does not need to be penetration for women to catch STI`s. Use barriers during sex, especially if you or your partner has an STI: Wear latex gloves. Use dental dams during oral sex or rimming.
Don`t forget: dildos & sex toys can carry STI`s! So cover them up with condoms & change the protection between uses if you are sharing;
brought to you by http://www. gayhealth. com
Dr; Susan C. Ball, MD, M. P. H.
Co-Medical Director of GayHealth. com
Dr. Susan C. Ball, M. D;, M. P. H;, is assistant director of Birnbaum Unit AIDS Care Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital. She is an associate professor at Cornell University`s Wiell Medical College & a regular columnist for the HIV Reader. She has published numerous articles related to AIDS care; Dr. Ball is at the forefront of gay & lesbian health. She resides in New York City with her partner & their 2 sons
 Posted 747 days ago
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