Do you really...? (questions for lez or bi ladies)

[AZLovelyLady]

When having strictly oral sex with another female, do you really use a dental dam or some other barrier method? Is that at all sexy and enticing for you or the person receiving? Any ideas on how to make it sexy and enticing? Is it necessary?
My sex info might be a bit dated, so PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong, but is it still true that there is not much risk in contracting STDs from oral sex among women? And if you can contract STDs, which ones would they be? Can you get HPV from oral sex?
Gosh, I feel like a freshman in high school taking sex ed for the first time

 

[neonflux]

The health educator in me....

The health educator in me... will out, LOL.

The big STI risk for someone performing oral sex on a woman is Herpes Simplex 1, which likes all parts of the body. Herpes Simplex II, the kind often called "genital herpes" tends in most cases to only like the genitals, but there is a slight chance of transmitting it through oral sex. If you are young enough to get the HPV vaccine - do so, even though the risk is purely theoretical!

BTW, herpes, HPV and in San Francisco, Trich, seem to be the biggies for woman-to-woman transmission. Most important to preventing their spread - latex gloves (which I DO think can be sexy, but then I'm also into BDSM) and washing your hands a lot - Herpes I & II and HPV are most easily passed through skin-to-skin contact.

To see a great chart on breakdown of risk, here's a link to a chart on the San Francisco City Clinic website, the SF Health Department's STI clinic - they were among the folks who first put 2+2 together to identify "GRID" (AIDS):

http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/sfcityclinic/stdbasics/stdchart.asp

You can cut a hole in the dental dam to fit directly over the clitoris, thus minimizing the possibility of contracting either HPV or herpes orally. I tend not to use dental dams when going down on a woman - some women educators I know make the claim that you can use their ability to create suction as a physical turn-on - honestly, would rather not perform oral sex than do so using one. I know, not a PC statement, but I'm talking now as myself rather than a health educator.

However, I have Herpes II, a recent infection (gotten from a woman, I suspect while using a feeldo), so am certain I am still shedding a fair amount, even though I am on meds. I gave it to my primary before I knew that I had it and will not ever give it to anyone else, so for the present, I will not allow anyone who doesn't have herpes go down on me, even though the risk is almost nil...

Neon

 

[AZLovelyLady]

You rock Neon!

That was fantabulous Neon!
Really appreciate the info you provided--most people from the Bay area are so much more sexually educated in my experience....gotta love those San Franciscans
I myself believe as you--I would rather not go down on a woman using a dental dam...which is quite the opposite with men cuz I am a total paranoid freak when it comes to having safe sex with men! Hmmm...I'll have to look into that double standard some more.
But that is the reason I posted this thread with that question to see how many women REALLY use barrier methods during oral sex with other women...I'm not a gambling woman but I just might gamble on this one and say not many! But could you blame them....

 

[MsWet]

I'll share my info.

When having strictly oral sex with another female, do you really use a dental dam or some other barrier method? Is that at all sexy and enticing for you or the person receiving? Any ideas on how to make it sexy and enticing? Is it necessary?
My sex info might be a bit dated, so PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong, but is it still true that there is not much risk in contracting STDs from oral sex among women? And if you can contract STDs, which ones would they be? Can you get HPV from oral sex?
Gosh, I feel like a freshman in high school taking sex ed for the first time

I couldn't tell you how to make oral sexy & enticing with a dental dam, not that I'm saying I'm against it. We all need to be careful n todays world.

Glad that Neon is so knowledgeable, smart lady!

 

[neonflux]

That was fantabulous Neon!
Really appreciate the info you provided--most people from the Bay area are so much more sexually educated in my experience....gotta love those San Franciscans
I myself believe as you--I would rather not go down on a woman using a dental dam...which is quite the opposite with men cuz I am a total paranoid freak when it comes to having safe sex with men! Hmmm...I'll have to look into that double standard some more.
But that is the reason I posted this thread with that question to see how many women REALLY use barrier methods during oral sex with other women...I'm not a gambling woman but I just might gamble on this one and say not many! But could you blame them....

*blush* Have you thought of including a poll with the thread? That might be interesting... I'd certainly like to know, too. Neon

 

[xxCrystal4314xx]

I've never given oral to a woman (unfortunately ) so I can't answer from experience.

Whether I would use one, I really don't know. I know it makes sense, but I don't know if I'd be likely to.

 

[curiouslez84]

Sorry you got herpes, neon. Comfort rose?

I've been lucky enough not to get an STD. I've only been with two women myself...the first one's unimportant, but the second one's my g/f and she's lucky enough not to have gotten an STD before we got together, too. That's the one thing I really hate about being a lesbian: it's always been my impression that there seems to be a greater chance for gays to get STDs than there is for straights to get them. Fortunately, like I said, I've been lucky enough not to get one from either of the two women I've been with...

 

[denalirayne]

saran wrap is MUCH cheaper & easier to find than a dental dam when you are really horny RIGHT NOW.

I do NOT recommend the colored saran wrap - it tastes awful!

it is also a bit thinner than a dental dam, so your partner can experience more of the tactile sensation of your mouth and tongue - - plus, if you put a bit of lube on the receiving side (if she isn't already wet) it increases the friction sensation measurably.

be creative & go check out any kitchen or restaurant supply store - - they are FULL of sensual toys if you just look at them from a different perspective.

good luck & enjoy!

 

[curiouslez84]

LOL Sounds like you do a lot of shopping.

 

[neonflux]

Sorry you got herpes, neon. Comfort rose?

I've been lucky enough not to get an STD. I've only been with two women myself...the first one's unimportant, but the second one's my g/f and she's lucky enough not to have gotten an STD before we got together, too. That's the one thing I really hate about being a lesbian: it's always been my impression that there seems to be a greater chance for gays to get STDs than there is for straights to get them. Fortunately, like I said, I've been lucky enough not to get one from either of the two women I've been with...

Risks are actually lower for women who have sex with ONLY women than pretty much every other group with the exception of those infections that are spread through skin-to-skin contact - herpes (about 10% of lesbian women have it), genital warts/HPV (a higher proportion of lesbian than straight-identified women have HPV - what the new vaccine is for - all of us under age 27 should get one), and syphilis. See my first post for the details on woman-to-woman transmission of STDs and safer sex for women. Neon

 

[neonflux]

saran wrap is MUCH cheaper & easier to find than a dental dam when you are really horny RIGHT NOW.

I do NOT recommend the colored saran wrap - it tastes awful!

it is also a bit thinner than a dental dam, so your partner can experience more of the tactile sensation of your mouth and tongue - - plus, if you put a bit of lube on the receiving side (if she isn't already wet) it increases the friction sensation measurably.

be creative & go check out any kitchen or restaurant supply store - - they are FULL of sensual toys if you just look at them from a different perspective.

good luck & enjoy!

saran wrap *nods* Neon

 

[curiouslez84]

So...I don't know, maybe I missed it. What, exactly, is HPV? Is that like Herpes? You said there was a new vaccine for it, which everyone should get if they're under 27. And what about Brianna, my g/f? She's 27.

 

[neonflux]

So...I don't know, maybe I missed it. What, exactly, is HPV? Is that like Herpes? You said there was a new vaccine for it, which everyone should get if they're under 27. And what about Brianna, my g/f? She's 27.

HPV is the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer. it is more prevalent among lesbian-identified women than among straight or bi women, partially because lesbian women are, for a variety of reasons (mistaken beliefs, homophobia in the medical profession, etc.) less likely to get pap smears. They will not give the vaccine to anyone over age 26 because they figure that by that time, most women have been exposed. Here is more info on HPV:

http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/sfcityclinic/stdbasics/hpv.asp

(I tried to get the vaccine - at age 50, they wouldn't even consider me, although I was willing to pay out of pocket for it. They might still give it to your gf - insurance companies are beginning to cover it, as are some state medical programs, but not all do yet. I believe it costs between $150 - $200 for the full series. But that's a lot less expensive than getting cancer.)

Good luck!

Neon