Lesbian and bisexual sexual diseases you should watch out for

When AIDS broke into the scene in the early ‘80s, it took the attention away from other lesbian and bisexual sexual diseases. The impact of AIDS and HIV has been so huge that we remember the people we’ve lost and support those still suffering from it with World AIDS Day.

However, AIDS also overshadowed the fact that we’re supposed to deal with these sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well. For example, lesbians and bisexuals would do preventive care or get tested for HIV– but not for other sexual diseases.

Sadly, women in relationships with other women can be careless when it comes to these sexual diseases.

Easy to catch lesbian and bisexual sexual diseases

What most women don’t know is that they can catch lesbian and bisexual sexual diseases whether they’re monogamous or polygamous, not to mention in ways they can’t imagine.

These infections– which women can get from exchanging bodily fluids– include herpes, genital warts, and Chlamydia.

“Any one-on-one contact, such as oral sex or using the same hand when touching yourself and then your partner, can put you at risk,” said Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of the leading UK-based lesbian, gay and bisexual equality organisation Stonewall, the largest gay equality body in Europe.

“Two women that are both menstruating are at a higher risk, too,” Hunt added.

Different types of lesbian and bisexual sexual diseases

That’s why it’s best to know what you should watch out for.

Here are some of them:

1. Chlamydia– While it is the most rampant, it’s usually rare for lesbians. It can be passed on through penetration such as toys, fingers and hands. It’s a very quiet disease, no symptoms and stays with you for a long time. But it’s treatable by antibiotics.

2. Genital herpes – You usually acquire this when you go down on someone while you have a cold sore in your mouth. It goes away on its own but it can come back again and again as it is incurable.

3. Gonorrhea – A sister of Chlamydia, you can also catch it by penetration, whether toys, fingers or hands. It can also affect the throat through oral sex and the urethra. It’s treatable with antibiotics.

4. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease – It’s caused on a cocktail of bacteria, including gonorrhea and Chlamydia. The symptoms are abdominal and back pain, nausea, spotting, vaginal discharge, and fever. For some women, no symptoms can be observed. It shows up a few days after sex or months later.

5. Trichomonas – while this is treatable with antibiotics, it can only occur in the female organ. It would be itchy, frothy and there’s a smelly discharge. It’s well-known for women to women intercourse.

Sex is the ultimate expression of love, but do remember to take care against these lesbian and bisexual sexual diseases.