How Lesbians Can Protect Themselves from HIV/AIDS and Other STDs?
Q: I am a 20-year-old lesbian in a relationship with a woman five years older than me. We have been sexually active for about a year now, and neither of us has had sexual relations with anyone else for that time. My concern is: How susceptible are we to AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases? And what are the precautions and measures we can take to avoid health problems?
I am looking forward to your reply.
Thanks,
Delna.
A: Hi, Delna,
First of all, congratulations on your relationship. It is wonderful to find someone to share life and love with.
In answer to your question, in a mutually monogamous relationship, the only sexually transmitted diseases that can occur are ones that existed before the relationship began. To be specific, if one partner had an HIV or herpes infection prior to the relationship, it could be passed on. An HIV antibody test, taken by both partners, would let you know if one of you has an HIV infection. It is an especially important test because a person can have an HIV infection without having any symptoms. But the transmission of an HIV infection also can be prevented by safe sex.
[Editor's Note: For more information about safe sex between women, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's.]
A herpes infection, which can be passed between women, would usually make itself known by open, painful sores. Bacterial infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis, also can be passed between women but are unlikely to last for more than a year without the onset of symptoms.
Finally, it is important to remember that while love may be strong now, many relationships do end - often with one person becoming involved with a new partner prior to the final breakup. That is obviously a painful emotional situation, but it is also a time of potential exposure to infection.
Sincerely,
Donna Futterman, M.D.
Futterman is an Associate professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and director of the Adolescent AIDS program at Montefiore Medical Center.
Nov. 21, 2000
