Lesbians, Bisexual Women, Queer Women and Other Women Who Have Sex with Women

Stay safe while you have sex by following the below tips.

• Talk about sexual consent.


• Use latex barriers, such as dental dams, gloves and finger cots, to prevent transmission of STIs, other bacteria and fungi. Decide with your partner(s) which options work best for you.


• Use condoms on penetrative sex toys and penises as often as possible during genital and anal sex.


• Use lubrication when having genital and anal sex to prevent discomfort and injury. Silicone- and water-based lubes are safe to use with latex condoms. Oil-based lube, such as Vaseline®, can break down condoms and stop them from working.


• Use birth control to prevent unintended pregnancy.


• Use a tampon or menstrual cup while having sex during your or your partner’s period to lower the risk of transmitting HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.


• Limit alcohol and drug use before sex to reduce your chances of getting HIV or other STIs.


• Do not vaginal douche or clean the inside of your vagina with water or other fluids. Some people douche before or after sex. Vaginal douching can increase your chance of getting infections and pelvic inflammatory disease.

To reduce the chance of injury and infection when fingering:

• Wash your hands before and after play.
• Use different fingers or hands for different partners and locations on the body.
• Keep your fingernails short.
• Remove jewelry.
• Use latex gloves or finger cots. Use lube with latex gloves and finger cots to increase comfort and avoid injury, such as cuts from fingernails.

To reduce the chance of transmitting STIs, use dental dams as often as possible during oral sex.

Oral and genital herpes can be transmitted during oral sex. Try to avoid oral sex if there are cuts or sores on your or your partner’s mouth or genitals.

When you find a toy that is right for you, follow the manufacture’s instructions for storage, use and cleaning. You can avoid injuries by checking for any damage before and after use.

You can also use condoms on toys. Be sure to change condoms when changing partners or locations on the body.

Studies have found WSW are at higher risk for being overweight or obese. This can lead to discrimination, sizeism and social stigma in everyday life and medical treatment. You have the right to be treated by doctors and medical professionals who will not mistreat or misdiagnose you based on your weight.

WSW are also more likely to smoke and have heart disease.

Learn what you can do to avoid the health risks linked to obesity and heart disease through physical activity and nutrition.

Routine cancer screening is the best way to prevent cancer. Talk to your health care provider about which screening tests are right for your body.

• Schedule a pap test if you have a cervix. Pap tests, or pap smears, can detect cervical cancer. If you are between the ages of 21 and 65, get a pap test every three years.


• Schedule a pelvic exam if you have a cervix, uterus or vagina and notice anything different from normal. This could include pain, vaginal discomfort or abnormal discharge or periods. Pelvic exams can help diagnose cancers such as ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancer.


• Schedule a prostate exam with your provider if you are a transgender woman with a prostate, especially if you are 50 years or older.

If you are thinking about growing your family, you have several options, including adoption, pregnancy and surrogacy.

If you are considering having a baby, talk to your health care provider about your fertility options. This might include having a doula — a trained professional who can provide educational, emotional and physical support before, during and after childbirth.

There are a variety of ways you can have a baby or become pregnant, including:

• Intrauterine Insemination: Also called artificial insemination, this option involves putting sperm directly into the uterus.


• In Vitro Fertilization: This complex process involves taking eggs from the body, fertilizing them with sperm to grow an embryo and placing the embryo back in the uterus.


• Reciprocal IVF: In this process, eggs are taken from one partner and fertilized with sperm to grown an embryo. The embryo is then placed in the uterus of another partner.


• Fertility Preservation: You can remove and freeze eggs, sperm or embryos for future use. This option allows you to plan for a future family and can be helpful for transgender people to consider before medically transitioning.