What are the risks associated with privacy during the coronavirus pandemic? Three experts weigh in.
It's possible that the coronavirus isn't transmitted through penetration, but as we all know, sex is often much more than just that picture: Rawpixel / Getty Images / iStockphoto
With countries under lockdown and millions forced to stay home, it's no surprise that many couples and singles are wondering what coronavirus means for their sex lives. With this in mind, we asked three experts five of the most pressing questions about intimacy during the pandemic.
Is Covid -19 sexually transmissible?
Dr. Jessica Justman: We're not seeing patterns that indicate sexual transmission. It's primarily spread through respiratory droplets. And touching contaminated surfaces is considered a secondary mode of transmission.
Dr. Carlos Rodríguez-Díaz: There is no evidence that Covid-19 can be transmitted vaginally or anally. However, kissing is a very common practice during sexual relations, and the virus can be transmitted through saliva. Therefore, the virus can be transmitted through kissing. There is also evidence of fecal-oral transmission of Covid-19, which implies that analingus may pose a risk of infection.
So, is it okay to have sex?
Justman: If you or your partner are a case of Covid-19, the advice is to stay as far away from each other as possible.
Dr. Julia Marcus: But for people who don't have symptoms and don't have a recent likely exposure and have been staying home, I think if they're inside their own home, it's a different story. If you live with a regular sexual partner and you don't have any symptoms or likely exposure, sex could actually be a great way to have fun, stay connected, and relieve anxiety during this potentially stressful time.
What about new couples?
Marcus: The recommendation right now is that we try to stay home as much as possible and really only interact with people for things that are essential, like groceries. And even when we do that, try to maintain a physical distance of about six feet from other people. That would definitely make sex a challenge.
Rodríguez-Díaz: Sexual relations may decrease during the next few weeks, but other ways of expressing eroticism, such as sexting, video calls, erotic reading and masturbation will continue to be options.
How can someone keep sex toys clean?
Rodríguez-Díaz: Just use soap and water.
We don't know how long this pandemic will last. What do you say to someone who's single and doesn't want to wait months before being able to have an intimate relationship with someone?
Rodríguez-Díaz: If you're worried about practicing social distancing for too long, make sure you and the people you know practice social distancing now. The sooner we do, the sooner we'll see a decrease in new infections, and the sooner we can change our socializing habits. Instead of focusing on the future, we need to focus on the present.
Use these two weeks to channel your energy, explore yourself, and perhaps think about what you're looking for. And you can do it on your own. It can be a great opportunity to explore other ways of connecting with new sexual partners you might meet online through texting or video calls.
Experts:
- Dr. Jessica Justman is a professor and assistant physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
- Dr. Carlos E. Rodríguez-Díaz is a professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University.
- Dr. Julia Marcus is an infectious disease epidemiologist and professor in the Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School.