What are the chances of getting HIV between two cis women? What other STI should i have in mind?
HIV passing between two cis women is small, but it exists. The virus doesn’t reside in saliva, and you’d have to swallow a lot of vaginal fluid to get it orally. There is a slightly larger risk with tribbing, specifically scissoring and vaginal fluids get mixed. There is also a higher risk with anal play as the rectum easily ruptures and blood is highly contagious.
The risk for chlamydia is also small, as it spreads through sexual fluids (so here that would be lubrication) and mucus membranes. The mucus membrane in the throat is so deep down you’d have to literally gulp vaginal fluid or swallow someone’s fountain orgasm to get enough down there to be contagious. But the entire vulva is a mucus membrane so again, scissoring is more contagious. You also have a mucus membrane in your rectum, and the eyes are semi-mucus membranes.
I don’t know the exact way gonorrhea spreads but I would err on the side of caution on that one as it’s becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
Syphilis, herpes, HPV, and crabs are the most commonly spread between cis-women having sex as they are contagious by skin contact. Syphilis is only contagious via skin-to-skin touch during the two first phases of the infection. Herpes can spread even when there are no active sores, and some carry the virus without ever developing sores.
Always get tested before and after you’ve had sex with a new partner.
Because there is a risk, even if it’s small, with HIV (and hepatitis too) and chlamydia I would use protection if you don’t know your or your partner(s)’s status. Latex cloves or a condom on fingers and toys. Switch condom/glove if you are switching from vaginal to anal, or between all of you. Dental dams or non-microwavable plastic wrap can be used as a barrier while scissoring or oral. Don’t turn the protection over to use again.
-mod liz
