Are lesbians at risk of getting HPV?
Yes. In addition to intercourse, HPV can be spread through genital-genital, finger-vaginal or finger-anal contact. (The role of sex toys inserted into the vagina is unknown, but there is some speculation that the spread of HPV can be facilitated if a device is used by one person and then another, or is not cleansed between partners.) If either woman in the relationship has ever had sex or other intimate contact with a man, she may have HPV and pass the virus to her partner. This is still possible even if it has been many years since the contact with a male. There also have been some reports of HPV-related cervical disease in women who report no previous sexual relationships with men. However, it is less common than among lesbians who reported previous sexual relationships with men.
Yes. In addition to intercourse, HPV can be spread through genital-genital, finger-vaginal or finger-anal contact. (The role of sex toys inserted into the vagina is unknown, but there is some speculation that the spread of HPV can be facilitated if a device is used by one person and then another, or is not cleansed between partners.) If either woman in the relationship has ever had sex or other intimate contact with a man, she may have HPV and pass the virus to her partner. This is still possible even if it has been many years since the contact with a male. There also have been some reports of HPV-related cervical disease in women who report no previous sexual relationships with men. However, it is less common than among lesbians who reported previous sexual relationships with men. Despite these facts, a recent study by the University of Washington found that many lesbians are not getting screened for cervical cancer risk as regularly as heterosexual women. The Centers for Disease Cont
