Hi and thanks for your question. It's great that you are asking and looking for more information to help you make wise decisions in the future.

There is a myth out there that a girl can't get a sexually transmissible infection (STI) or disease (STD) from another girl. This is not true. Anyone who is sexually active is at risk of getting an STI. If you and your girlfriend are both virgins (not had sexual contact with anyone before), the risk of getting an STI is extremely low but still possible.

Girls can get a STIs from other girls through sharing sex toys, such as dildos or vibrators, with an infected person. Cleaning sex toys between use, or using clean condoms on sex toys is a good way of reducing the risk of passing on STIs.

Girls can also get skin-to-skin infections from each other, such as genital warts or herpes. Herpes is commonly passed on through oral sex. This can happen if your partner has ever had a cold sore virus (a type of herpes) on their mouth or face. If the virus is active (they have a cold sore at the time), it can be passed on to the other person's genitals through skin-to-skin contact during oral sex.

A good way to prevent passing on infections through oral sex is to use a dental dam. A dental dam is a thin layer of latex (same material that condoms are made out of). To use a dam, put it over the other person's genital area before giving them oral sex. This creates a barrier between the skin of the mouth and the skin of the genitals. Dams can be difficult to buy (try a sexual health clinic), but a condom cut in half does the same job.

Did you know that the legal age to consent (say yes) to sex in Victoria is 16? This is for guys and girls; for opposite sex and same sex attracted couples. Have a look at the Lawstuff link below for more info. Regardless of how old you are, you should never feel forced into doing anything sexual that you don't feel comfortable with. If this happens, it's considered sexual assault and you should tell someone about it who you trust. Being sexual with someone else is a very personal and often emotional thing so you want to make sure it feels right before doing anything.

You might like to ask around and see if there is a same sex attracted youth group in your area. Try the links below for some ideas. You may find a group useful for support (in how to tell your parents, if you decide to), and to meet up with other young people.

All the best.