That's because, in terms of reproductive health, they generally are. With more open reproductive systems, women are more likely to contract an STD from a sexual encounter than a man is, even with men statistically having them more often. That part is new, due to focused efforts on education women on their reproductive health.

In some places, men still widely believe that they can cure their AIDS by having sex with a virgin. So when a 12 or 14 year old girl who's never had sex except that rape after her uncle got AIDS from frequenting the red light district turns up HIV+, where do you think she got that disease? She got it from a man.

Further, when you look at the stats, you see that almost across the board, the percentage of women contracting STDs from having sex exclusively with other women is significantly lower than the percentage of women contracting STDs by having sex with men or men and other women.