Women's Health

Sex + Drugs

Some lesbians and same-sex attracted women use alcohol and drugs before and during sex for a variety of reasons. These substances may include:

Alcohol and other drugs can make you more relaxed and self-confident, especially when you’re having sex. Some drugs can give you extra energy, enhance sexual pleasure and increase desire.

Having sex when you’re out of it can make the need to ‘get off’ even more urgent than usual. This sense of urgency can sometimes make us forget our usual boundaries and can lead us to make decisions that we would otherwise not be comfortable with.

You can still have safe sex when you’re ‘out of it’

Being ‘out of it’ on alcohol or other drugs can affect the decisions we make and the risks we take when we’re having sex.

Some drugs can numb us to feelings of physical pain that we may not usually be able to cope with. This might cause damage to our bodies without us realising it at the time.

If you’re penetrated by fingering, sex toys or fisting, be careful about cuts or tears.
If you're having sex with someone and you realise that she's too ‘out of it’ to make her own decisions, take responsibility for both of you and make sure that the sex you have is consensual and safe.
Being ‘out of it’ on drugs or alcohol can affect your decisions but being ‘out of it’ isn’t an excuse to have unconsensual or unsafe sex.
If you’re planning a big night, and know you’re going to be drinking or taking drugs, be prepared. Keep a supply of gloves, condoms for sex toys and lube at home and if you’re going to a sex-on-premises venue, make sure you use the gloves, dams, condoms and lube supplied.

Lots of women have safe sex when they’re ‘out of it’. So can you.