What to Consider Before Having Sex in a Pandemic
Like so much else, sex is more complicated than ever. Here’s what to know.
It’s unreasonable to expect people will remain celibate until there’s a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. At this point, many are likely weighing the risks of Covid-19 against the adverse effects of loneliness and social isolation on mental and physical health. That goes for both creating potential “quaranteams” with family and friends and having sex with outside partners. Given what we know — and everything we don’t — about transmission of the coronavirus and the measures necessary to control its spread, can people resume their sex lives in a way that isn’t reckless to personal and public health?
Because Covid-19 is primarily spread through respiratory droplets from the nose and mouth, the bottom line is any in-person interaction could lead to exposure. “If you’re going to be in any kind of close contact, including sex, kissing,” holding hands, or even standing close to people whose infection status you don’t know, “then there’s always a risk of transmission,” says Stacey A. Rizza, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic. Since many Covid-19 infections are asymptomatic, it’s especially tough to know for certain whether you, a potential partner, or anyone you come into casual contact with might be…
