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→‎Research: Comparisons with hetero couples are not needed in an article devoted to homosexual couples, especially if the sources linked are biased. You can find plenty of sources that say the opposite. No more bias! Use talk page if you disagree.
→‎Research: Removing more comparisons to hetero couples, again the biased ones that claim a hetero relationship is somehow inferior, and males are poorer lovers. Seriously, who comes up with this?
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In 1953, [[Alfred Kinsey]]'s ''[[Kinsey Reports|Sexual Behavior in the Human Female]]'' showed that, over the previous five years of sexual activity, 78% of women had [[orgasm]]s in 60% to 100% of [[human sexual behavior|sexual encounters]] with other women.<ref>[[Alfred Kinsey|Kinsey, A.]]; [[Wardell Pomeroy|Pomeroy, W.]]; [[Clyde Martin|Martin, C.]], & [[Paul Gebhard|Gebhard, P.]] ''Sexual Behavior in the Human Female'', Philadelphia: Saunders (1953), ISBN 978-0-253-33411-4.</ref>
In 1953, [[Alfred Kinsey]]'s ''[[Kinsey Reports|Sexual Behavior in the Human Female]]'' showed that, over the previous five years of sexual activity, 78% of women had [[orgasm]]s in 60% to 100% of [[human sexual behavior|sexual encounters]] with other women.<ref>[[Alfred Kinsey|Kinsey, A.]]; [[Wardell Pomeroy|Pomeroy, W.]]; [[Clyde Martin|Martin, C.]], & [[Paul Gebhard|Gebhard, P.]] ''Sexual Behavior in the Human Female'', Philadelphia: Saunders (1953), ISBN 978-0-253-33411-4.</ref>


With regard to the easiness or difficulty of achieving orgasm, Hite's research (while subject to methodological limitations) showed that most women need [[Clitoris|clitoral]] or exterior stimulation for orgasm, which can be "easy and strong, given the right stimulation" and that the need for clitoral stimulation in addition to knowing one's own body is the reason that most women reach orgasm more easily by masturbation.<ref name="Hite reports"/><ref name="The Hite Report">{{cite book|last=Hite|first=Shere|author=[[Shere Hite]]|title=The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female Sexuality |publisher=[[Seven Stories Press]]|year=2004|location=New York, NY|pages=512 pages|isbn=1-58322-569-2, 9781583225691|accessdate=March 2, 2012|url=http://books.google.com/?id=s3OZaVn2wfkC&lpg=PP1&dq=The%20Hite%20Report%3A%20a%20Nationwide%20Study%20of%20Female%20Sexuality&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false}}</ref> Replicating Kinsey's findings, scholars such as Peplau, Fingerhut and Beals (2004) and Diamond (2006) found that lesbians have orgasms more often and more easily in sexual interactions than heterosexual women do,<ref name="Weiten">{{cite book|authors=Wayne Weiten, Dana S. Dunn, Elizabeth Yost Hammer|title=Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21st Century|isbn =1-111-18663-4, 9781111186630|publisher=Cengage Learning|year=2011|pages=688 pages|accessdate=January 5, 2012|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CGu96TeAZo0C&pg=PT423&dq=&hl=en&sa=X&ei=MwIGT-jxEojU2AWzv5ylCg&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=false}}</ref> and that female partners are more likely to emphasize the emotional aspects of lovemaking.<ref name="Weiten"/>
With regard to the easiness or difficulty of achieving orgasm, Hite's research (while subject to methodological limitations) showed that most women need [[Clitoris|clitoral]] or exterior stimulation for orgasm, which can be "easy and strong, given the right stimulation" and that the need for clitoral stimulation in addition to knowing one's own body is the reason that most women reach orgasm more easily by masturbation.<ref name="Hite reports"/><ref name="The Hite Report">{{cite book|last=Hite|first=Shere|author=[[Shere Hite]]|title=The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female Sexuality |publisher=[[Seven Stories Press]]|year=2004|location=New York, NY|pages=512 pages|isbn=1-58322-569-2, 9781583225691|accessdate=March 2, 2012|url=http://books.google.com/?id=s3OZaVn2wfkC&lpg=PP1&dq=The%20Hite%20Report%3A%20a%20Nationwide%20Study%20of%20Female%20Sexuality&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false}}</ref>
[[File:Wiki-analoral.png|thumb|left|A woman performing [[anilingus]] on another woman]]
[[File:Wiki-analoral.png|thumb|left|A woman performing [[anilingus]] on another woman]]


Revision as of 05:33, 10 December 2012

A 1866 Gustave Courbet painting of two women naked in bed

Lesbian sexual practices are sexual activities involving women who have sex with women (WSW), irrespective of their sexual orientation. A woman who has sex with another woman may identify as a lesbian if she is exclusively sexually attracted to women, or bisexual if she is not exclusively sexually attracted to women, or dispense with sexual identification altogether. The term may also be applied to a heterosexual woman who is unsure of or is exploring her sexuality. Romantic or sexual interpersonal relationships are often subject to sexual desire and arousal, which then leads to sexual activity for sexual release. A physical expression of intimacy between women depends on the context of the relationship along with social, cultural and other influences.[1]

Behaviors

A woman orally stimulating the nipples of her sexual partner
Woman performing cunnilingus on her sex partner
Two women engaged in tribadism in the missionary position

It is common for women to engage in displays of affection, such as kissing on the cheek or hugging. However, such acts of intimacy are generally regarded as forms of greeting and not regarded as sexual, not being intended to generate erotic sensations or sexual excitement. A kiss on the lips or a prolonged kiss or hug or other forms of touching may be regarded as sexual.

Performing acts of physical intimacy, such as the touching of a partner's erogenous zones by the use of the tongue or rest of the mouth, or hands, may be regarded as an indicator of the partner's desire for sexual activity. It also acts as an erotic stimuli or turn-on, which generates erotic sensations or sexual excitement in both partners. Allowing such acts of physical intimacy, especially the stimulation of a partner's breasts and nipples, is an indication of either reciprocal interest in a sexual activity or, if unwelcome, of submission. It is the general practice to begin sexual activity with a kiss on the lips, which is usually associated with an indication of emotional attachment. The failure or refusal to give or accept a kiss is commonly taken as an indicator of desire to avoid an emotional attachment, and to dispel such an implication may require an explanation, such as the person having a contagious disease such as a cold.

A woman's mouth, lips and tongue are sensitive erogenous zones which are very commonly used by both partners during the preliminary stages and throughout a sexual activity. They are used for kissing, sucking, licking besides other acts. The stimulation of a partner's breasts is very common as a form of foreplay and throughout a sexual activity. The oral or manual stimulation of nipples is commonly performed on women by a partner, either for itself or as part of other sexual activity. Breast and nipple stimulation of women is a near-universal aspect of sexual activity where the woman is the recipient of sexual attention.[2] The stimulation of a woman's nipples promotes the production and release of oxytocin and prolactin.[3] During the stimulation of the nipples, large amounts of oxytocin are released, which would normally prepare the breast for breastfeeding. Besides creating maternal feelings in a woman, it also decreases her anxiety, increases human bonding and trust.[4][5]

Oral stimulation of the vulva, clitoris, vagina or anus is commonly practiced between women and, like oral stimulation of the nipples, can include the use of teeth in addition to use of the lips or tongue. Oral sex that involves the stimulation of the woman's vulva, clitoris or vagina is called cunnilingus. The oral stimulation of the anus, called anilingus, is more rarely practiced.[6]

Tribadism is a common non-penetrative sexual act between women.[7][8][9][10] The practice is often known by its "scissoring" position, and is also referred to as frottage or in popular slang as dry humping. It involves a woman rubbing her vulva against her partner's vulva, thigh, stomach, buttocks, arm, or another body part, or the partner doing the rubbing.[11] This may be achieved in a number of sex positions, including a missionary, a woman on top, doggy style, scissoring or other position.[12][13] It may be accompanied by fingering or penetration with a dildo.[7][10][14]

Late 19th century painting by Édouard-Henri Avril showing the use of a strap-on dildo

Fingering involves the use of the fingers to massage a woman's vulva, clitoris, vagina or anus. Massage of the vulva, and in particular the clitoris, is the most common way for a woman to reach and achieve an orgasm. Fingering may be self-fingering, one-sided, mutual, penetrative or non-penetrative. It can be performed in most positions, and massaging inside the vagina may stimulate a woman's G-Spot, which may lead to female ejaculation. For some women, stimulating the G-Spot area creates a more intense orgasm than direct clitoral stimulation.[15] For deeper vaginal, anal or oral penetration, a dildo, strap-on dildo or other sex toys may be used.

On occasion, for variety, or on a more regular or routine basis, a partner may assume a passive role during a sexual activity and leave it to their partner to provide their sexual satisfaction. For example, a partner in a doggy stye position is passive and open to a variety of sex acts, generally at the choice of the active partner, such as fingering from behind, massage or stimulation of erogenous zones, such as the genitals, nipples, or buttocks, or receive a playful spank to the buttocks.[16] The active partner can also introduce a sex toy, such as a dildo or vibrator, into the vagina or anus. To ensure passivity and to enhance the feeling of or actual submission, a partner may also take part in bondage or in other BDSM activities.[7][17] During sexual bondage, the restrained partner is generally open to a variety of sex acts and is unable to interfere in the ensuing sexual activity. She is dependent for her sexual satisfaction on the actions of her partner, who can chose the type and pace of the sexual activity and can introduce sex toys. For example, a pecker gag can be used to gag the restrained partner as well as to require her to suck during sexual activity in a similar manner to an adult pacifier. The active partner has the role of treating the restrained partner as a sex object to be used for her own sexual satisfaction. In fact the active partner may derive sexual satisfaction from providing her sex partner with sexual satisfaction and bringing her to orgasm.

Orgasm in women is often associated with other involuntary actions, including muscular spasms in multiple areas of the body, a general euphoric sensation and, frequently, body movements and vocalizations. The period after orgasm (known as a refractory period) is often a relaxing experience, attributed to the release of the neurohormones oxytocin and prolactin.[18]

Sex educator and feminist Shere Hite noted that one of her female research subjects had written, "Sex with a woman includes: touching, kissing, smiling, looking serious, embracing, talking, digital intercourse, caressing, looking, cunnilingus, undressing, remembering later, making sounds, sometimes gently biting, sometimes crying, and breathing and sighing together."[19]

Research

In 1953, Alfred Kinsey's Sexual Behavior in the Human Female showed that, over the previous five years of sexual activity, 78% of women had orgasms in 60% to 100% of sexual encounters with other women.[20]

With regard to the easiness or difficulty of achieving orgasm, Hite's research (while subject to methodological limitations) showed that most women need clitoral or exterior stimulation for orgasm, which can be "easy and strong, given the right stimulation" and that the need for clitoral stimulation in addition to knowing one's own body is the reason that most women reach orgasm more easily by masturbation.[1][21]

A woman performing anilingus on another woman

Preferences for specific sexual practices among female same-sex relationships have also been studied. Despite common misconception, not all women who have sex with women engage in oral sex (i.e., cunnilingus). Some dislike it due to not liking the experience or due to psychological or social factors, such as finding it unclean.[22][23][24][25] Others believe that it is a necessity or largely defines lesbian sexual activity, attributing lesbian women who dislike oral sex as a problem.[24][25] Often, lesbian couples are likely to define a woman's dislike of oral sex as a problem more than heterosexual couples are, and commonly seek therapy to overcome an oral sex inhibition.[24] Similarly, there are lesbians who like anal sex and others "who cannot bear the thought of it".[26] In 1987, a non-scientific study (Munson) was conducted of more than 100 members of a lesbian social organization in Colorado. When asked what techniques they used in their last 10 sexual encounters, 100% reported kissing, sucking on breasts, and manual stimulation of the clitoris; more than 90% reported French kissing, oral sex, and fingers inserted into the vagina; and 80% reported tribadism. Lesbians in their 30s were twice as likely as other age groups to engage in anal stimulation (with a finger or dildo).[7]

In 2003, Bailey et al. published data based on a sample from the United Kingdom of 803 lesbian and bisexual women attending two London lesbian sexual health clinics and 415 women who have sex with women (WSW) from a community sample; the study reported that the most commonly cited sexual practices between women "were oral sex, digital vaginal penetration, mutual masturbation, and tribadism (frottage with genital-to-genital contact or rubbing of the genitals against another part of the partner's body), each of which occurred in 85% of [women who have sex with women]". Like older studies, the data also showed that vaginal penetration with dildos or such penetration with other sex toys among women who have sex with women are rare.[8]

Health risks

These safer sex recommendations
are generally agreed upon by
public health officials for
women who have sex with women
to avoid sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs):
  • Avoid contact with a partner’s menstrual blood and with any visible genital lesions.
  • Cover sex toys that penetrate more than one person’s vagina or anus with a new condom for each person; consider using different toys for each person.
  • Use a barrier (e.g., latex sheet, dental dam, cut-open condom, plastic wrap) during oral sex.
  • Use latex or vinyl gloves and lubricant for any manual sex that might cause bleeding.[27]

    • Like most sexual activity, lesbian sexual activities can carry risks of sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs), such as HIV or other pathogenic diseases.[28] When lesbian sexual activity is of a non-penetrative nature, the risk of exchange of bodily fluids is generally lower than for heterosexual sexual intercourse, and the incidence of transmission of such diseases is relatively low, though not eliminated. The use of the same sex toys by more than one person increases the risk of transmitting such diseases.

    The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported there is little data available regarding the risk of spreading sexually transmitted diseases between women.[29] However, the CDC notes that pathogens such as metronidazole-resistant trichomoniasis, genotype-concordant HIV, human papilloma virus (HPV, which has been linked to nearly all cases of cervical cancer) and syphilis can be spread through sexual contact between women.[29] While the rates of these pathologies is unknown, one study showed 30% of lesbians and bisexual women had medical histories with sexually transmitted diseases.[30] This does not mean sexually active lesbians are exposed to higher health risks than the general population. Health Canada noted "the prevalence of all types of HPV (cancer and non-cancer-causing) in different groups of Canadian women ranges from 20%–33%" and an American university study found 60% of sexually active females were infected with HPV at some time within a three-year period.[31]

    The CDC did not recognize female-to-female transmission as a possible method of HIV infection until 1995. It is possible, though less likely, for transmission to occur in female-to-female sexual activity.[29] Although the risk is not as high as for male-to-male and male-to-female transmission, the risk is still present. HIV can be spread through body fluids, such as blood (including menstrual blood), vaginal fluid and breast milk. Transmission can also take place through oral sex if a woman has cuts or sores in her mouth, or poor oral hygiene, especially if her partner is menstruating. HIV can also be spread through the sharing of penetrative sex toys if their use results in broken skin within the vagina or anus.[32]

    There "is no good evidence" that using a dental dam reduces STI transmission risks; studies show that using a dental dam as a protection barrier is rarely practiced, and that, among WSW, this may be because the individuals have "limited knowledge about the possibilities of STI transmission or [feel] less vulnerable to STIs [such as HIV]".[8]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ a b "The Hite Reports: What do they say?". hite-research.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
    2. ^ Levin, Roy J. "The breast/nipple/areola complex and human sexuality". Sexual & Relationship Therapy. Vol.21, Issue 2 (May 2006). p.237–249
    3. ^ Levin R, Meston C (2006). "Nipple/Breast stimulation and sexual arousal in young men and women". The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 3 (3): 450–4. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2006.00230.x. PMID 16681470. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
    4. ^ "Physiologic Mechanism of Nipple Stimulation". Medscape Today from WebMD. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
    5. ^ Lee HJ, Macbeth AH, Pagani JH, Young WS (2009). "Oxytocin: the Great Facilitator of Life". Progress in Neurobiology. 88 (2): 127–51. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.04.001. PMC 2689929. PMID 19482229. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    6. ^ Diamant AL, Lever J, Schuster M (2000). "Lesbians' Sexual Activities and Efforts to Reduce Risks for Sexually Transmitted Diseases". J Gay Lesbian Med Assoc. 4 (2): 41–8. doi:10.1023/A:1009513623365. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    7. ^ a b c d Janell L. Carroll (2009). Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity. Cengage Learning. p. 272. ISBN 0-495-60274-4, 9780495602743. Retrieved 2010-12-19. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
    8. ^ a b c Sexually Transmitted Infections: Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. 2011. pp. 329–330. ISBN 0495812943, 9780495812944. Retrieved November 4, 2012. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Cite uses deprecated parameter |authors= (help)
    9. ^ Jerrold S. Greenberg, Clint E. Bruess, Sarah C. Conklin (2007). Exploring the dimensions of human sexuality. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 884. ISBN 0-7637-4148-5,. 9780763741488. Retrieved 2010-12-19. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    10. ^ a b Douglas C. Kimmel, Tara Rose, Steven David (2006). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender aging: research and clinical perspectives. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 303. ISBN 0-231-13618-8,. 9780231136181. Retrieved 2010-12-19. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    11. ^ Kathy Belge What is Tribadism?, accessed December 19, 2010.
    12. ^ Hite, Shere (2003). The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female Sexuality. New York, NY: Seven Stories Press. p. 322. ISBN 1583225692, 9781583225691. Retrieved 2 March 2012. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
    13. ^ Jude Schell (2008). Lesbian Sex: 101 Lovemaking Positions. Random House Digital. pp. 224 pages. ISBN 0-495-60274-4,. Retrieved November 4, 2012. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
    14. ^ Judith Halberstam (1998). Female Masculinity. Duke University Press. p. 329. ISBN 0-8223-2243-9,. 9780822322436. Retrieved 2010-12-19. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
    15. ^ Kotecha, Sima (2008-04-14). "BBC - Newsbeat - Health - G Shot 'helps women in search of orgasm'". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
    16. ^ Rogiere, Jean, "The Little Book of Sex". Ulysses Press. 2001. ISBN 1-56975-305-9, 96 pages.
    17. ^ Douglas C. Kimmel, Tara Rose, Steven David (2006). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender aging: research and clinical perspectives. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 303. ISBN 0-231-13618-8, 9780231136181. Retrieved 2010-12-19. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    18. ^ Exton MS, Krüger TH, Koch M; et al. (2001). "Coitus-induced orgasm stimulates prolactin secretion in healthy subjects". Psychoneuroendocrinology. 26 (3): 287–94. doi:10.1016/S0306-4530(00)00053-6. PMID 11166491. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    19. ^ "Lesbianism: Women's Sexual Expression Together". hite-research.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
    20. ^ Kinsey, A.; Pomeroy, W.; Martin, C., & Gebhard, P. Sexual Behavior in the Human Female, Philadelphia: Saunders (1953), ISBN 978-0-253-33411-4.
    21. ^ Hite, Shere (2004). The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female Sexuality. New York, NY: Seven Stories Press. pp. 512 pages. ISBN 1-58322-569-2, 9781583225691. Retrieved March 2, 2012. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
    22. ^ Belge, Kathy. "Do All Lesbians Like Oral Sex?". About.com. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
    23. ^ Naomi B. McCormick (1994). Sexual Salvation: Affirming Women's Sexual Rights and Pleasures. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 284 pages. ISBN 0275943593, 9780275943592. Retrieved April 18, 2012. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
    24. ^ a b c The New Our Right to Love: A Lesbian Resource Book. Simon and Schuster. 1996. pp. 317 pages. ISBN 0684806827, 9780684806822. Retrieved April 18, 2012. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Cite uses deprecated parameter |authors= (help)
    25. ^ a b Handbook of LGBT-Affirmative Couple and Family Therapy. Routledge. 2012. pp. 507 pages. ISBN 1136340327, 9781136340321. Retrieved April 18, 2012. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Cite uses deprecated parameter |authors= (help)
    26. ^ Kat Harding (2006). The Lesbian Kama Sutra. Macmillan. p. 144. ISBN 0-312-33585-7, 9780312335854. Retrieved 2011-02-03. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
    27. ^ Chivers, Meredith L.; Wiedermana, Michael W. (2006). "Primary Care for Lesbians and Bisexual Women". American Family Physician. 74 (2): 279–286. doi:10.1080/00224490709336797.
    28. ^ LesbianSTD.com, retrieved 27 November 2007
    29. ^ a b c Centers for Disease Control, "Women Who Have Sex with Women (WSW)"., retrieved 27 November 2007
    30. ^ Lee R (2000). "Health care problems of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients". West J Med. 172 (6): 403–8. doi:10.1136/ewjm.172.6.403. PMC 1070935. PMID 10854396. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
    31. ^ Stephen J. Genuis, Managing the sexually transmitted disease pandemic: A time for reevaluation, Teach2Wait, retrieved 27 November 2007
    32. ^ Osborn B (2003). "Rare Case of Lesbian HIV Transmission Reported". Lesbian News. 28 (8): 15. {{cite journal}}: External link in |journal= (help)
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