Ask Doctor T

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What should I know about safe female-female sex?

Thank you so much for asking! This really isn’t discussed all that much, but there are a few things you should know. First, and quite obviously, there is no pregnancy risk when there is no sperm involved. However, there is risk of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). Whether you are engaging in oral sex (mouth to private parts) or vagina-to-vagina sex, there is a possibility that STIs can transfer between a couple. These are the same STIs that exist for all humans, but protection is tricky. When performing oral sex, the best form of protection is a dental dam (basically a flat piece of latex or polyurethane, like a condom). Unfortunately, when it comes to vagina-to-vagina sex, there isn’t a very effective form of barrier protection. So what to do? Get tested for STIs. All parties. Knowing your status beforehand (and treating any infections) is the best option at this point in time.