Think about it, you can go anywhere and get educated on all different things in life, but where can you get educated about sex and safe sex practices? It can be tricky to find schools or even doctors that are able to take the time to educate their patients on being safe, when it involves sex. What if you are part of the LGBT community and want to learn how to protect yourself? This information isn’t always easily accessible, since most of the information and available resources is focused on, or dedicated to, the heterosexual community. I hope to shed some light on proper healthy and safe sex practices, which you can use in your LGBT relationships to stay protected.
There are 3 basic tips for any type of sexual contact, whether you are heterosexual or part of the LGBT community:
- Always keep your hands clean by washing them before touching your partner.
- Do not share toys or objects with your partner that you are using or have used with others, without first properly cleaning them with toy cleaner or antibacterial soap.
- Communicate with your partner about their previous history with partners and if they have any infections to be concerned about. Even if they say they don’t, there are certain infections that can lie dormant and they may not know they are infected, so its important to still protect yourself, by practicing safe sex.
Condom use is the basic and most common safe sex practice for any type of sex that involves insertion. Whether it is for intercourse, anal sex or even a strap-on dildo worn for lesbian sex or pegging, a condom is one of the easiest forms of protection that is affordable and accessible in most drug stores. When a condom is used properly and consistently, not only does it prevent pregnancy, but protects against STI’s (sexually transmitted infections) including HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis, which are spread through contact with bodily fluids. The latex condoms are the best protectors because other condoms, like the natural, lambskin ones do not protect from disease, because they contain tiny pores. Latex condoms are a must when performing anal sex in any type of relationship.
What about when a woman wants to be intimate with another woman? Did you know that women have condoms made for them too? They are a soft, loose-fitting polyurethane or nitrile sheaths and offer protection during vaginal and anal sex as well. This device has two flexible rings to hold it in place. The smaller ring goes inside the vagina and holds it in place and the wider ring remains outside the vagina during vaginal sex or the anus during anal sex. You can find these online if your local drugstore doesn’t carry them. If you are looking for something specific for oral sex, women can protect themselves by using a dental dam to cover the vagina or even by using a condom made for a male and cutting it so it works like the dental dam. What is a dental dam?
A dental dam is very easy to use and is perfect for oral sex. You just open the package, take out the dental dam and place it flat up against the vaginal opening or the anus. That is all there is to it! It’s almost like using a piece of saran wrap, but these are made specifically for sexual protection. If you don’t have a dental dam, take a condom and unroll it from the package, cut the tip off the end, then cut the bottom straight across the other end. Once done, cut straight down the long side of the condom and tada! You now have your own homemade dental dam. You can even use flavored dams or condoms to make it more fun! You might want to stay away from lubricated condoms for this purpose though as you will be tasting whatever is on the condom.
The most important thing to remember is that in order for these products to be successful in keeping you safe from STI’s, they must be used correctly each and every time. There is no guarantee that it will keep you from coming in contact with bodily fluids at all times, but it offers the best protection available if used properly. Also keep in mind that condoms cannot protect you fully from those STI’s that are transmitted skin to skin (like herpes and HPV). Most importantly, do not go from the anus and then to the vagina after without properly cleaning your fingers, toys or any other object the backside comes in contact with. Lastly, have fun, keep it light and communicate!
