As complicated as this coronavirus pandemic is with maintaining social distancing, wearing a mask, keeping hand sanitizer on you 24/7, staying away from large gatherings, and not seeing your loved ones...all of that can take a toll on you.
But it's also taking a toll on your love and sex life. Doctors are now sharing how the virus can spread through saliva, mucus or the breath of those who have it, which comes with a new recommendation when you have sex: wearing a mask while you get it on.
"If you are going to touch each other's genitals it's likely that you will potentially be kissing at the same time - and we know the virus is passed through saliva," Dr. Alex George, an Accident & Emergency doctor in the UK, said.
In a paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Harvard researchers said people should wear masks and avoid kissing if they get together with somebody they’re not quarantining with.
They said that every form of “in-person sexual contact” carries a risk because the virus is “readily transmitted by aerosols.”
The researchers ranked sexual behaviors in ascending risk: Abstinence, masturbation, sex using digital platforms, sex with someone you’re quarantined with, and sex with somebody you’re not quarantined with.
The Mayo Clinic also said people should wear masks and avoid kissing when they have sex with someone from outside their household. It’s also a good idea to wash sex toys, wear condoms, and minimize your number of sex partners.
So what can we do?
The Terrence Higgins Trust published advice in August suggesting people avoid kissing, wear a face covering and choose positions that aren't face-to-face during sex (No, really).
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They say their advice hasn't changed much since then.
"Your best sexual partner during the Covid-19 pandemic is yourself or someone within your household and you should follow the government guidelines about social distancing, hand washing and face coverings.
"However, it's unrealistic to ask everyone to abstain from sex indefinitely," the trust says.
They have published an overall ranking system of the riskiest sexual behaviors:
Abstinence - low risk, but not feasible for many
Masturbation - low risk for infection
Digital sexual activity - This includes cybersex and phone sex, but researchers caution about the risk of screenshots and sexual extortion.
Sex with someone you are quarantined with
Risk of infection if your partner is exposed outside the home; risk of infection from an asymptomatic partner.
Sex with someone you are NOT quarantined with
Risk reduction includes limiting the number of partners, avoiding sex with partners who have evident symptoms consistent with Covid-19, avoiding kissing and behaviors with risk of fecal-oral transmission, wearing face masks, showering before and after sex, and cleaning the physical space with soap or alcohol wipes.
And given we're supposed to be doing it after most things - washing your hands for more than 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer before and after sex is recommended.
Like with all parts of life at the moment, be aware of any Covid-19 symptoms you or your partner might have - and isolate if you have them.
If you are meeting someone new, the charity says to ask if they or anyone in their household have had symptoms or tested positive.
