7 Essential STI Prevention Tips Every Lesbian Should Know

STI prevention in sapphic life isn’t about being scared or suspicious (though, we totally get how the word STI strikes anxiety). It’s about care, consent, and looking out for each other. Yes, lesbians and queer women can still pass STIs like HPV, herpes, trichomoniasis, and syphilis through oral sex, hand play, shared toys, and skin-to-skin contact. That reality doesn’t make queer sex more risky. It makes information more powerful.

The good news is that a few consistent habits can dramatically lower risk. Regular testing. Barriers that actually feel good. Clean toys. Vaccines. Honest conversations. Affirming healthcare. Quick action when something sus comes up. Below, we break down seven essential STI prevention tips that fit into real sapphic lives. No shame, no guilt, no lecturing. Just practical care that supports pleasure and connection.

1. Make regular STI testing part of your routine

Many STIs don’t cause noticeable symptoms. According to the CDC, testing is often the only way to know your status. Even if you feel fine, even if you mostly have oral or hand sex, even if you’re in a relationship: screening matters.

• What to ask about: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis (B and C).
• When to test: at least annually if sexually active; sooner with new partners, symptoms, or exposure.
• Advocate for yourself: if your provider doesn’t ask, you can request site-specific tests and openly discuss your sex life. That’s your right.

A quick starting guide (talk with a queer-competent provider to personalize):

STI	Who should consider testing	Suggested frequency
Chlamydia & Gonorrhea	Sexually active people under 25; 25+ with new/multiple partners or symptoms; test sites based on practices (throat, vagina, rectum)	Annually; sooner with partner changes or symptoms
Syphilis	Anyone with new or multiple partners, or symptoms	Annually if at increased risk; sooner if exposed
HIV	Everyone at least once; more often with risk factors	Once in adulthood; annually or more with risk
Hepatitis B	If unvaccinated or at risk (new partners, shared devices)	One-time screen; repeat if ongoing risk
Hepatitis C	All adults at least once; repeat for ongoing risk	Once; periodic if risk continues

Keywords to know while booking appointments: STI screening for lesbians, queer sexual health testing, site specific STI tests.

2. Use barriers and protect shared toys

STIs can spread through oral, vaginal, and anal sex, as well as skin to skin contact. Barriers reduce risk and don’t have to kill the mood. ACOG recommends using a latex or polyurethane condom every time for vaginal, oral, or anal sex to reduce risk. Once they’re a part of your rhythm, they’re just another form of care.

Safer sex supplies that belong in sapphic bedrooms

• Dental dams for oral-vulva or oral-anal contact
• External condoms for shared toys (and internal condoms if using them vaginally/rectally)
• Latex or nitrile gloves for fingering or hand play
• Water-based or silicone lube to prevent microtears

Dental dam basics

• Place the dam flat over the vulva or anus before oral. Add a little lube on the side touching skin to improve sensation. Hold in place; don’t flip or reuse.

Toy hygiene made simple

• Before: wash toy with warm, soapy water; rinse and dry.
• During: use a new condom on the toy when switching partners or body sites.
• Between: if sharing, swap in a fresh condom or fully wash before the next person.
• After: wash per manufacturer instructions; for silicone/stainless steel, warm soapy water usually works.
• Storage: dry completely and store in a clean pouch or container.

This is sapphic STI prevention in practice: simple, effective, and easier once it’s habit.

3. Get vaccinated when you can

Vaccines are one of the most effective STI prevention tools we have. Both the CDC and WHO recommend vaccines for hepatitis B and HPV because they significantly reduce infection and long-term complications, including cancer.

• HPV: Routine vaccination is recommended in adolescence, with catch-up typically through age 26; ages 27–45 can discuss shared decision-making with a provider.
• Hepatitis B: Recommended for all unvaccinated adults at risk; many people can safely catch up.

If you missed shots or aren’t sure of your status, ask a queer-affirming provider about STI vaccines for women, lesbian HPV risk, and queer sexual health immunization. Providers expect, and hopefully encourage, these types of questions and discussions.

4. Talk openly with partners

Honest conversations are a sapphic love language. Sharing testing history, discussing boundaries, and making agreements reduces risk and builds trust. The CDC also notes that fewer concurrent partners lowers STI transmission overall.

Low pressure conversation starters:

• “When were you last tested, and which sites did they swab?”
• “What barriers feel good for you- dams, condoms on toys, gloves?”
• “If we’re monogamous, want to test first and then revisit in three months?”
• “Let’s avoid sex when we’re drunk/high so we can stick to our boundaries.”

Keep the conversation going:

• Revisit agreements after any changes in partners or practices
• Share results proactively and celebrate negative screens together
• Plan testing dates as part of your routine

This is sapphic safe sex communication- collaborative, caring, and grounded in respect.

5. Seek culturally competent care

Culturally competent care means healthcare that respects your orientation, identity, and unique risks, so you get the right screening and follow-up. Many clinics, unfortunately, under-screen queer women. Being ready to describe your sexual practices and request specific tests helps ensure appropriate care.

What helps:

• Find a queer-friendly doctor or LGBTQ+ inclusive sexual health clinic
• Bring a short list of questions and the tests you want
• Mention toys, oral, and hand play so they swab the right sites
• If something feels off, ask for a second opinion or a different provider

You’re not being difficult. You’re making sure your care fits your life.

6. Treat quickly and notify partners if something comes up

If you or a partner tests positive, both need treatment at the same time to prevent reinfection. Don’t wait! Partner notification means letting recent partners know so they can test and get treated, too. It’s an act of care, not drama.

Options include:

• Telling partners directly
• Clinic led anonymous notification
•  Agreed follow ups where the clinic steps in if needed

Partner services, and in some places, expedited partner therapy (giving treatment or prescriptions to partners without an exam), can help stop reinfection and onward transmission. Search local policies and ask your clinic what’s available. HER’s community can also point you toward anonymous notification tools if that feels safer.

7. Use prevention services and community support

Prevention doesn’t live only in exam rooms. Education, counseling, and peer support matter. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reports that behavioral counseling for people at increased STI risk reduces infections by about 30 percent, with stronger effects in group settings.

Where to look:

• LGBTQ+ clinics and community health centers
• Peer-led workshops or STI group counseling
• Online resources and local support groups with inclusive curricula
• Community-based HIV/STD services offering testing, PEP/PrEP info, and safer-sex supplies

If you want a supportive starting point, check out our sexual health content on HER to find affirming resources and next steps.

Where HER fits in

HER is a sapphic dating platform built on safety, identity fluency, and community care. We believe STI prevention and sexual health conversations should feel normal, not awkward or shame-filled. From community spaces to safety guidance, we center real talk so queer women can ask questions, share experiences, and look out for each other. Mainstream dating apps often skip queer-specific details. HER exists to fill that gap with inclusive information and a community that actually gets it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can lesbians get STIs from each other? Which ones?

Yes. STIs like HPV, herpes, trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, syphilis, and HIV can spread through oral sex, shared sex toys, hand play with cuts, and skin-to-skin contact.

What STI testing is recommended for lesbians?

Regular screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis is smart; ask for site-specific swabs based on your practices and test at least annually or with partner changes.

How do lesbians use barriers during sex?

Use dental dams for oral, put condoms on shared toys, consider gloves for hand play, and clean toys before and after use; swap condoms when switching partners or body sites.

Should lesbians get vaccinated against STIs?

Yes—HPV and hepatitis B vaccines are recommended and can prevent serious complications; ask about catch-up if you missed doses.

Does monogamy eliminate STI risk for lesbians?

It lowers risk when both partners test beforehand and stay exclusive, but ongoing screening is still part of caring for each other.