Safe sex tips for women who sleep with women

Reader: I’m in a committed lesbian relationship with my partner and we’ve been receiving conflicting advice about how often we should visit our obstetrician-gynecologist, if at all. What’s your advice?

Jade: I recently attended a workshop for women who have sex with other women. The feedback was that most public clinics, and even some private health practitioners, were of the belief that the women have low sexual concerns about risk. Some health practitioners went as far as deeming pap smears unnecessary for these women. Not only is this disappointing and discriminatory, but it places women at risk.

Aside from their sexual orientation, there are hereditary health issues to take into consideration. Not only that, sharing of penetrating toys between partners can result in the transmission of infections.