Sixty percent of the respondents in a recent survey about sexual
health among lesbians said they never practice safe sex, compared
with 13 percent of those who said they do.
The recent survey by the Women's Coalition Hong Kong (WCHK), a
prominent lesbian group, has revealed a lack of awareness of sexual
health among local lesbians.
Most of the respondents - 459 of the 694 - said they had never
been screened for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or had a
cervical smear.
It is a common misconception that there are few health risks
involved with lesbian sex. However, it is possible to transmit many
STDs, including HIV, through means other than sexual intercourse,
such as the exchange of bodily fluids.
"You could contract a virus by giving oral sex if there is a
wound in your mouth," said Connie Chan, a spokesperson for WCHK.
"Viruses such as HPV (human papilloma virus) can be found on human
skin, which could be transmitted between fingers and a vagina."
The sharing of sex toys also poses high risks if the users do
not use or change a condom for each insertion.
While the issue is pressing for the lesbian community, Wai-wai,
another WCHK official, noted that most lesbians do not understand
what constitutes protected sex, as there are few resources or
information available in public.
"Many people haven't heard of condoms for oral sex, which aren't
readily available in drug stores," said Wai-wai. "The items needed
for protected lesbian sex are for sale at sex shops, but some
aren't exactly cheap."
To promote protected sex in the lesbian community, the WCHK has
produced a guidebook explaining the health risks involved in
different sexual activities and methods of protection. It also
provides contact information for sexual health service
providers.
The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong (FPA) has also
joined forces with the WCHK to launch a lesbian-friendly medical
checkup at the end of this month.
"Many lesbians pay little attention to protected sex since they
don't have the need to practice birth control," said Helen Wong,
FPA's press officer.
Family doctor Betty Kwan pinpointed an urgent need for
strengthened sexual health education among lesbians, many of whom
skip regular medical checkups and shy away from the thought of
STDs.
"Many of my lesbian clients only get a checkup when they're
unwell and find out they have contracted a virus," said Kwan.
"The education on sexual health should go beyond the usual
emphasis of heterosexual sex."
(China Daily August 23, 2007)