HPV Risk in Lesbian Relationships

It is a common myth that HPV is a "heterosexual" virus and can only be transmitted during heterosexual intercourse. While some people falsely believe that the risk of sexually transmitted infections among lesbian women is relatively low, it is important to note that HPV (like other STDs) does not discriminate against gender or sexual orientation. Men and women, homosexual or heterosexual, are all at risk of contracting HPV if they have sexual contact with an infected person.

The Facts About HPV

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, with an estimated 20 million people infected in the United States. The virus is transmitted through sexual, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. No penile penetration is needed to contract the virus. Lesbians can contract the virus from an infected partner through:

• genital-to-genital contact
• touching the genitals of a partner and then your own
• sharing sex toys without cleaning them properly first

Reducing Your Risk of HPV

HPV cannot be 100% prevented, even among heterosexual couples. Abstinence from all sexual activity is the only real method of prevention, although that's unrealistic for most adults. There are several ways lesbians can reduce their risk of transmitting HPV:

• getting the HPV vaccine (Gardasil)
• using condoms on sex toys, if they are being shared
• using gloves when touching genitals
• limiting the number of sexual partners and practicing safe sex
• staying in a monogamous relationship

Sources:

"Lesbian Health." WomenHealth.gov. Jan 2005. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
[ink url=http://www.4woman.gov/faq/lesbian.htm]http://www.4woman.gov/faq/lesbian.htm[/link]

Marrazzo JM. Barriers to infectious disease care among lesbians. Emerging Infectious Diseases. Nov 2004. CDC.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no11/04-0467.htm

Marazzo JM, Koutsky LA, Stine KL, Kuypers JM, Grubert TA, Galloway DA, et al. Genital human papillomavirus infection in women who have sex with women. J Infect Dis. 1998;178:1604–9.