Sex between vulvas: find out how to protect yourself from STIs – 11/28/2023 – Balance

“There is no reason why there isn’t a method of preventing STIs focused on sex between vulvas, other than invisibilization”, highlights Gisele Palma, sex educator and content creator. All sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be passed during sex between women. However, condoms were designed for the penis, and prevention methods for sex between people with vulvas are improvised.

“It’s not practical or pretty to take a glove to cut in half and hold it to rub the vulvas. It’s not attractive to people”, says Palma.

Bárbara dos Santos, gynecologist and specialist in diversity care, explains that the transmission of STIs happens through friction. “Whether it’s vulva-vulva friction, finger-vulva friction, or oral sex, in any of them, there is friction and microcracks not visible to the naked eye, through which viruses can be transmitted,” she says.

However, exposure may be lower in sex between vulvas, due to the area of ​​contact. “In penis-vagina penetration, the penis has a larger contact area because it is inside the vagina,” she says.

Santos explains that the best protection against STIs is a condom and, as it was designed for the penis, options are limited when it comes to sex between vulvas. Among the barrier protection methods, the gynecologist advises using cling film or cutting a condom, so that it becomes a sheet, and placing it over the vulva for oral sex. A latex sheet, called dental dam, which is normally used in dental procedures, can also be used.

For finger-vulva sex, there are finger condoms that are sold in sex shops, and gloves can also be used. As for vulva-vulva sex, Palma says that barrier protection “is practically impossible.” “The scissors, for many people, are already difficult to fit, even more so holding a condom between the two,” she says.

For these cases, the sex educator cites the Vulvarnés initiative, which produces panties into which the condom can be fitted using press buttons. “Although we have these beginnings of movements designed for sex between vulvas, they are still very specific and inaccessible for most people, they are still things that we have to pay for”, she says.

In addition to the price, some barrier methods, such as finger condoms, are not found in pharmacies, for example.

The sex educator highlights, however, that there are other forms of prevention, available in the SUS (Unified Health System), such as testing for STIs, vaccination against hepatitis, against cervical cancer (HPV) and Prep (prophylaxis pre-exposure), protection against HIV.

“There are some precautions that we should also take, which are not sharing intimate objects, razors, menstrual cups, using condoms when sharing vibrators”, says Palma. “Some precautions before sex are: not brushing your teeth as soon as you are going to have sex, because this can hurt your gums and cause wounds, and not removing the cuticle, as this can also cause injuries to the nail.”

Self-knowledge and going to the gynecologist also help prevention. “You need to observe your body, your fluids, not be disgusted and shy about touching your own vulva. If you know how healthy you are, you will be able to identify when there is any change”, explains Palma.

However, gynecological consultations are still embarrassing for a large part of the LGBTQIA+ population. “When you go to the gynecologist, the first thing she asks is what method you use and if you say you don’t use it, she asks if you are trying to get pregnant, when you say no, it creates confusion. This is a form of violence against our bodies. It’s as if what we experience is not legitimized, not even by doctors”, highlights Palma.

Santos understands that this gynecological interview script is problematic. “Depending on the way the person is received at the office, they won’t even talk about their sexual orientation. They’ll lie, they’ll say that they’re menstruating and that they don’t want to be examined. It all depends on the intonation, the speech”, he says.

The gynecologist says that, to make the LGBTQIA+ population comfortable and safe, she implemented decorative elements, such as the pride flag, and changed the approach to consultations.

“I will always ask if I can examine, if the person feels comfortable. During the gynecological examination, I will show the speculum, take the smallest one possible. If the person wants, they can insert the speculum and I will examine it later”, says Santos .

Some offices may not have the smaller speculum for examining people who have not had penetration, as this depends on purchasing specific instruments for these cases, notes the gynecologist.

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