Do you really know the person that you chose to share your life and body with? There is a myth that two women can't contract a disease from one another! What are the statistics for the lesbian community when it comes down to sexually transmitted diseases. These questions and more will be answered in this article.
I have always known that I was quite fortunate not to have contracted any diseases from the women that I have been with in the past! Growing up as fast as I did and loving and desiring women the way that I do I never took time to think about catching anything from another woman but as I grew older and wiser I was more conscientious of the women I shared my body with and who shared their body with me! I was certain to get my pap smears and blood work because their are some std's that does not show up in a pap smear. Sure we as lesbians think that if she looks good and smells good then she must be clean. Don't fool yourself "Everything that shines..ain't Gold". I remember being told by my mom that if you're going to do that then make sure they past the test. One of the test was taking earwax from your ear and rubbbing it on their clit and if they started to get a burning sensation then something was not right down there! Yes sounds silly I know but getting a STD from another woman is no laughing matter especially "Herpes" which remains with you for the rest of your life!
There was also the scratch and sniff test,not to be fooled by the fresh odor down there because it could be covering up something! Needless to say I never performed any test but I am grtaeful that I am disease free!! I love my health and I think that Lesbians ought to take more steps into assuring that they too know what they are dealing with when it comes to a partner! I cringe at the thought of being forever scarred in such a dreadful way. One friend told me something that made a lot of sense and that is you never really no anyone the only person you really know is yourself!
I've often stayed clear of the bi-sexual woman, because of the fact that if she's sleeping with a man and then she sleeps with you then you run the risk of contracting something that she has probably got from the man she was with! Sperm lives inside of a woman for a long time and to knowingly do that to another woman is just nasty to me! yet in still there are women out there who will allow you to have oral sex with her hours after she has been with a man!!
Could you or rather would you be with another woman if she was honest enough to reveal to you that she infact had a STD? I am sure that the revealing part would be somewhat uncomfortable for a woman to do but I do feel that it is necessary! The woman may decide that she could not be with you for fear of infecting herself but in the end she will respect you for being honest!!
Women are prone to sleeping with other women without taking time to really know one another...Same with the heterosexual woman who carelessly gives her body to a man without considering protection.
"There is a misconception among health care providers and women themselves that lesbian and bisexual women have little or no risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). This myth is fueled by the lack of reliable studies of STD transmission in these communities.
In fact, the risk of STD transmission between women varies significantly depending on the STD. Herpes, HPV (genital wart virus), and bacterial vaginosis are transmitted fairly easily between women during sex. HIV, hepatitis B, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are much less likely to be transmitted--the risk is low but it is still possible.
The majority of lesbian and bisexual women have (or have had) sex with men, and all STDs are easily transmitted from men to women during intercourse. Often STD do not have symptoms, so it is possible for a woman to have become infected years ago and to still harbor the infection.
It is important that you share your particular sexual history with a GLBT-friendly health care provider who can advise you of the appropriate STD screening tests for you. All women, including lesbian and bisexual women, need to receive regular Pap tests.
Women who have sex with women are just as much at risk of sexually transmitted infections as heterosexual women, finds a study in Sexually Transmitted Infections.
And high proportions have also had sex with men, the research shows.
Sexual history and behavior data were analyzed from the records of almost 3,000 women.
Bacterial vaginosis was significantly more common among lesbians, suggesting that it may have been sexually transmitted. Rates of genital warts and herpes were high among all women in the study. Women with female sex partners were also six times more likely to inject drugs and were significantly more likely to be infected with hepatitis C.
Only 7% of women who had sex with women said they had never had sex with a man. They were three times as likely to have had sexual contact with a gay or bisexual man, and much more likely to have had more than 50 male sexual partners during their lifetime.
Lesbian safer sex is not an oxymoron. There are ways to improve the safety of most, if not all, sexual activity that takes place between women. The mechanics of many safer sex acts between women are the same as those for many other types of couples and include:
•Using barriers, such as dental dams, saran wrap, or slit open condoms, for oral-vaginal and oral-anal contact.
•Using gloves when inserting fingers into the vagina or rectum.
•Putting condoms on insertable sex toys and changing the condom for each partner.
Note: Condoms should also be changed when moving a toy from the vagina to the rectum or vice versa.
Aids is another concern of mine when it comes to Lesbians or women who are Bi-sexual..Though some say its hard to contract it from another woman it is possible!!
I searched for other articles which would give us all some insight into this matter and found this:
Response from Mr. Sowadsky who is ove the Nevada State Health Divisions Aids Program...
"Many times I've been asked how many HIV positive Lesbians there are. The truth is, the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) does not keep a statistic as to how many Lesbians and Bisexual women have HIV. The CDC now believes that there is a small but significant number of Lesbians with HIV infection, and that woman-to-woman transmission of HIV is possible. In fact, woman-to-woman sexual transmission of HIV has already been reported in the medical literature. The risk of HIV transmission between women is lower than HIV transmission between men, and between men and women. We cannot say how often sexual infection between women occurs, but the rate is probably relatively low.
The way we keep statistics can also lead to erroneous conclusions as to the rate of HIV among Lesbians/bisexual women. If an HIV positive woman reported having sex with many women, but had sex with just one man (even just one time), for statistical purposes, she is considered heterosexual.
I've heard health professionals say that HIV isn't a problem in Lesbians, since they have not seen any statistics on how many Lesbians are actually infected. Part of the problem is that many healthcare professionals will not ask an HIV positive woman if she has female sex partners. Many healthcare professionals don't feel comfortable talking about Lesbian sex, and many just assume that if a woman has HIV, she either got it from a man, or through IV drug use. The truth is, if you don't ask the questions, you're not going to find the answers. Because we do not keep statistics on how many women with HIV are Lesbians (or bisexual), we cannot say how common HIV is in the Lesbian community.
I'm starting to find more and more Lesbians and Bisexual women with HIV and other STD's. From a recent medical study (and my own personal experience), many Lesbians and Bisexual women with HIV became infected through IV drug use. If a woman had multiple risk factors (unprotected sex with multiple partners, drug use etc.), it's hard to know how she became infected. Was it from her drug use? Was it from her female sex partners? Was it from her male partners (if any)? Sometimes it's hard to tell which of her risk factors she became infected by.
There is also a common myth in the Lesbian community that Lesbians and Bisexual women don't get HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's). The fact is they do. But again, we don't keep any statistics as to how many Lesbians have HIV, or other STD's for that matter.
In summary, all we can say is that female-to-female sexual transmission is possible. But we don't know how common (or rare) this is. Many Lesbians/Bisexual women became infected through IV drug use. Some may have become infected from male partners. Because we don't keep records of how many Lesbians/Bisexual women have HIV, the true prevalence of HIV in this community is unknown. HIV and STD's among Lesbians and Bisexual women is real and does exist....it's just never discussed. If you have any further questions, please feel free to call the Centers for Disease Control at 1.800.232.4636 (Nationwide).
Although he states that the rate is low..to my Lesbian friends it is very possible to contract Aids or an STD from another woman!!
Bacterial Vaginosis
What is bacterial vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age, and it is sometimes accompanied by discharge, odor, pain, itching, or burning.
What causes bacterial vaginosis?
The cause of BV is not fully understood. BV is associated with an imbalance in the bacteria that are normally found in a woman's vagina. The vagina normally contains mostly "good" bacteria, and fewer "harmful" bacteria. BV develops when there is a change in the environment of the vagina that causes an increase in harmful bacteria.
How do women get bacterial vaginosis?
Not much is known about how women get BV. Women who have a new sex partner or who have had multiple sex partners are more likely to develop BV. Women who have never had sexual intercourse are rarely affected. It is not clear what role sexual activity plays in the development of BV, and there are many unanswered questions about the role that harmful bacteria play in causing BV. Women do not get BV from toilet seats, bedding, swimming pools, or from touching objects around them.
How common is bacterial vaginosis?
Scientific studies suggest that BV is common in women of reproductive age. In the United States, as many as 16% of pregnant women have BV. BV is generally more commonly seen in women attending STD clinics than in those attending family planning or prenatal clinics.
What are the signs and symptoms of bacterial vaginosis?
Women with BV often have an abnormal vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor. Some women report a strong fish-like odor, especially after intercourse. The discharge is usually white or gray; it can be thin. Women with BV may also have burning during urination or itching around the outside of the vagina, or both. Some women with BV report no signs or symptoms at all.
How is bacterial vaginosis diagnosed?
A health care provider must examine the vagina for signs of BV (e.g., discharge) and perform laboratory tests on a sample of vaginal fluid to look for bacteria associated with BV.
Who is at risk for bacterial vaginosis?
Any woman can get BV. However, some activities or behaviors can upset the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina and put women at increased risk:
•Having a new sex partner or multiple sex partners
•Douching
•Using an intrauterine device (IUD) for contraception.
Pregnant women are at increased risk for complications of BV.
What are the complications of bacterial vaginosis?
In most cases, BV causes no complications. But there are some serious risks from BV:
•Pregnant women with BV more often have babies who are born early or with low birth weight.
•The bacteria that cause BV can sometimes infect the uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes (egg canals). This type of infection is called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause infertility or damage the fallopian tubes enough to increase the future risk of ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition in which a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube.
•BV can increase a woman's susceptibility to HIV infection if she is exposed to the virus.
•Having BV increases the chances that an HIV-infected woman can pass HIV to her sex partner.
•BV can increase a woman's susceptibility to other STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Who should be treated for bacterial vaginosis?
Although BV will sometimes clear up without treatment, all women diagnosed with BV should be treated to avoid such complications as PID. Treatment is especially important for pregnant women. All pregnant women, regardless of symptoms, who have ever had a premature delivery or low birth weight baby should be considered for a BV examination and be treated when necessary. All pregnant women who have symptoms of BV should be checked and treated. Male partners generally do not need to be treated. However, BV may spread between female sex partners.
What is the treatment for bacterial vaginosis?
BV is treatable with antimicrobial medicines prescribed by a health care provider. Two different medicines are recommended as treatment for BV: metronidazole or clindamycin. Either can be used with non-pregnant or with pregnant women, but the recommended dosages differ. Women with BV who are HIV-positive should receive the same treatment as those who are HIV-negative. BV can recur after treatment.
How can bacterial vaginosis be prevented?
BV is not completely understood by scientists, and the best ways to prevent it are unknown. However, enough is known to show that BV is associated with having a new sex partner or having multiple sex partners. It is seldom found in women who have never had intercourse.Some basic prevention steps can help reduce the risk of upsetting the natural balance in the vagina and developing BV:
•Not having sex is the best protection against acquiring BV and other STDs.
•Having sex with only one uninfected partner who only has sex with you is safe.
•Using latex condoms, consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of BV and other STDs.
•Limit the number of sex partners.
•Do not douche.
•Use all of the medicine prescribed for treatment of BV, even if the signs and symptoms go away.
Herpes
(Simplex 1 & 2)
Herpes Overview
Herpes is a common viral infection. It causes oral herpes - cold sores or fever blisters,
and genital herpes - genital sores or sores usually below the waist.
There are two herpes simplex viruses:
Herpes Simplex Type 1 (HSV-1)
Herpes Simplex Type 2 (HSV-2)
These viruses look identical under the microscope, and either type can infect the mouth or genitals. Most commonly, however, HSV-1 occurs above the waist, and HSV-2 below.
The body's natural defense system is called the "Immune Responses". Whenever herpes attacks the immune system, the body fights back against this menace. As the battle grows more intense, there are heavy losses by both the herpes virus and the immune system. This causes the body to be less able to defend itself from attacks by other viruses. For those very reasons, a herpes patient should try to keep the herpes virus under control at all times.
There are two widespread attitudes about herpes:
Herpes does not effect any other part of the body.
There is nothing I can do to keep from having an outbreak.
Both attitudes are wrong!
Remember...
You are not alone. Herpes is estimated to affect some 80 million people in America. At least one in five adults in the United States has genital herpes.
At least one in four teenage American girls between 14 - 19 years of age has a sexually transmitted disease, suggests a CDC study that startled some adolescent-health experts. 2% have herpes.
In the study mentioned above, only about half of the teenage girls admitted to having sex. Some teens defined sex as intercourse only, not including other types of intimate behavior such as oral sex, which can also spread diseases, herpes included. An alarming 40% of those who admitted to having sex, had an STD!
The better informed you are about herpes, the easier it will be to manage. Give yourself the best possible chance to limit recurrences by maintaining general good health , adding lysine to your diet, and keeping stress to a minimum.
Take care of the affected skin area. Keep the area dry and clean during outbreaks to help healing.
Avoid physical contact with the area from the time of the first symptoms (tingling, itching, burning) until all sores are completely healed, not just scabbed-over. Also be aware of possible shedding or "asymptomatic transmission", even after the sores have healed.
Use Condoms! When properly used, latex condoms help reduce your risk of spreading or getting herpes.
Prevent self-infection to other areas of your body. Wash your hands with soap and water if you touch a sore. Better yet, don't touch the sores.
People Talk About....Herpes is a great reference book wth real live stories and answers to many questions.
Prospective parents: If either mother or father has genital herpes, or any of the mother's or father's previous sexual partners had genital herpes, tell your doctor about it.
It is possible to get genital herpes from cold sores.
Women with genital herpes: Don't skip your annual Pap smear.
Inform yourself about herpes. For many, diagnosis with herpes can mean a time of confusion, anger, fear and frustration. For many, it seems there is no place to turn for help in dealing with the sensitive aspects of herpes infection. There is help available.
Increase your intake of L-Lysine and decrease the amount of arginine in your diet.
Herpes is spread by direct contact.
Herpes may play a role in the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV infection, and it can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious.
symptoms that they don't recognize
Many people infected with the genital herpes virus experience outbreaks from time to time. These herpes outbreaks often appear as blisters or sores. The first herpes outbreak usually develops between 2 to 20 days after infection, although it sometimes takes longer. Although it varies, symptoms associated with the first outbreak may last up to 3 weeks.
However, there are many other people with genital herpes who have symptoms that they don't recognize. It is important to know that in addition to blisters or sores, there are also many other symptoms that occur around the genital area because of genital herpes.
Examples of these include:
•Itching
•Redness
•Pain while urinating
•Bumps
•Tingling
•Cuts in the genital area
•Vaginal discharge
•
Some people confuse their symptoms with different conditions such as:
•Vaginitis
•Yeast infections
•Jock itch
•Urinary tract infections
•Rash
•Hemorrhoids
•Folliculitis
•
Nearly 90% of people with genital herpes get a returning outbreak within the first year of infection. This may happen when something triggers the virus, which lays "sleeping" near the base of the spine. Many things may trigger an outbreak, including stress, excessive sunlight, menstruation, vigorous sexual activity, or a worn-down immune system. Once the herpes virus is awake, it begins to multiply and symptoms can appear, usually at the site of the original infection. The blisters generally heal within 7 to 10 days. Some people have frequent outbreaks, while others have them rarely or never."
If you find out that you do have an STD be woman enough to inform the person you are with or the person you are planning on having a sexual relationsip with! For more information visit the www.stdcafe.com!
Be Blessed and Know who you're sleeping with!!
Angela Wilson
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