Sapphic Sluttery 101: Why STI Testing Matters for Lesbians (Yes, Even in a Committed Relationship)

Brittany Glasscock
5 days ago
3 min read

A doctor talks to a patient in an office with a scenic mountain view. The doctor holds a tablet; an eye chart is on the wall. Calm mood.

Let’s Get One Thing Straight: Lesbians Need STI Testing Too

There’s a weird cultural myth that lesbians and women who have sex with women (WSW) are somehow “low risk” for sexually transmitted infections. That myth has done real harm. It’s caused too many sapphics to skip screenings, misunderstand their bodies, and assume that if we’re only with women, we’re somehow immune.

We’re not.

HPV, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, herpes, and even HIV can, and do, show up in lesbian and queer communities. Not because we’re reckless, but because that’s how biology works. Being sexually active means you’re exposed to the same microscopic realities as anyone else.

This blog is here to normalize what should have always been normal: STI testing is regular health care. Not a moral judgement. Not a trust issue. Not a panic button. Just maintenance.

How Common Is HPV in the Lesbian Community?

Let’s talk numbers, because numbers shut down stigma fast:

Among lesbians, HPV has been found in 14%–36% of women depending on behavior history and study size.
In some studies, lesbian HPV prevalence was almost identical to heterosexual women (36% vs 41%).
HPV DNA has been detected in 13%–30% of lesbians who reported no history of sex with men.
Globally, HPV is so common that around 80% of all women will have it at some point in their lives.

Bottom line ? Lesbians absolutely get HPV. And we get it at comparable rates to straight women.

This is why screenings matter. Not because you did anything wrong, but because that's how the human body works.

Men, HPV, and Why This Still Affects Us

Even if you’ve been exclusively with women for years, you (or your partners) may have had male partners earlier in life. That matters because:

In the U.S., 45% of men ages 18–59 carry genital HPV.
25% of men carry high-risk types (the ones linked to cancer).
Globally, about 1 in 3 men has some form of genital HPV.

HPV doesn’t care about sexual orientation. It cares about skin-to-skin contact.

My Experience: What Testing Actually Taught Me

I caught HPV early: first on a routine cervical screening, then later as external bumps after being with a partner who had HPV as well. If I hadn’t been getting tested regularly, I would have spiraled into fear and mistrust: “Did they cheat? Did I miss something? Did I do something wrong?”

But the truth is simpler:

This is normal. This is common. And this is manageable.

How Often Should Lesbians Get STI Tested?

Here are the best-practice guidelines for sapphics:

1. Annually

A full sexual health screening once a year, even in monogamous relationships.

2. New Partners

Anytime you have a new partner or your partner has a new partner (for non-monogamous folks).

3. New Symptoms

If you notice new bumps, discharge, irritation, abnormal bleeding, or pelvic pain.

4. After Potential Exposure

If you share toys with a partner, especially without barriers or proper cleaning.

This isn’t about distrust. This is the sapphic version of getting your oil changed. Biology doesn’t care about relationship status.

Why STIs Need to Be Treated Like the Flu — Not a Sin

STIs are not punishments. They are not failures. They are not shameful.

They’re infections, just like the cold, the flu, strep throat, and everything else humans pass around because we’re warm-blooded mammals who touch each other.

The only reason STIs feel “heavy” is because society wrapped them in shame, purity culture, and misinformation, especially for queer women.

If you take nothing else from this blog:

Sexually active sapphics deserve factual, shame-free care. Not assumptions. Not stigma. Not silence.

How to Ask a Partner About Testing (Without Making It Awkward)

This can help:

“Hey, when was your last STI screening? I get tested annually, and I’m due soon.”
“Do you want to go together? I like making it part of regular wellness.”
“I’d rather have clarity than assumptions — want to compare testing schedules?”

Normalize the conversation. Normalize honesty. Normalize care.