If you’re a woman who has sex with women (WSW), looking after your sexual health  is just as vital as it is for anyone else. 

Whether you’re in later life, about to have sex for the first time or somewhere in between, we can help with advice on safer sex  and wellbeing. We also offer free sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing. 

Anyone who is having sex can catch an STI. Some STIs are just as common for women who have sex with women as they are for women who have sex with men. The risk of infection is greater if you or your partner are on their period. 

Many STIs are caught from oral sex. You’re at higher risk if you have cuts or sores in your mouth. To protect yourself and your partner, you can make a dental dam out of a condom. Cut the end off the condom then cut it lengthways to make an oblong. You can then use this as a barrier between your mouth and your partner’s vagina or anus during oral sex. You can get free condoms from us.   

Some infections can be passed on by your fingers. You can protect yourself and your partner by washing your hands before and after sex. Keep your nails short to prevent scratches. You might also want to think about wearing latex gloves. 

You can also get STIs from sharing sex toys. Keep them clean and put a new condom on the toy each time it’s shared.

Many STIs do not cause any symptoms. So, it’s good to get tested for STIs any time you have sex with someone new. Getting an STI test through us is free and simple. You can take your own samples at home and post them back for testing. The results can be sent by text to you, confidentially.

Sex should be enjoyed by everyone involved. This means good communication and enthusiastic consent.

It might take a bit more thought, but safer sex will also make you feel good afterwards. Having good sex means making choices that you are happy with the next day too. 

How you feel about yourself has an impact on your health and your sex life. If you identify as LGBT+, sadly you’re more likely to be living with a mental health condition. 

Derbyshire LGBT+ offers support to anyone who is having issues with their sexuality or gender identity. 

You can also get one-to-one support from one of our sexual health promotion practitioners. You can talk to us about concerns around STIs, sexuality or any sexual health related matter.