Coronavirus and sex: Here's all you need to know before getting frisky while in isolation
The coronavirus pandemic has crippled the world in many ways. Economically and politically, it has wreaked more havoc than imaginable. And it has also disrupted social lives to an unprecedented degree.
But one question that most people have been aching to ask concerns their sex lives during the quarantine.
Is it really safe to have sex?
“Coronavirus doesn’t appear to be sexually transmitted,” said Dr. Eric Mizuno, MD, Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago to Healthline. However, he cannot affirm as to what sexual acts exactly contribute to the spread of the disease.
“The intercourse itself isn’t what’s spreading the virus. It’s the fact that your bodies are so close together.” Dr Felice Gersh, MD, author of 'PCOS SOS: A Gynecologist’s Lifeline to Naturally Restore Your Rhythms, Hormones, and Happiness, told Healthline.
“If you had the flu — which is widely known not to be a sexually transmitted infection — and had sex with someone, they’d probably get the flu, too,” Dr. Mizuno added.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that people maintain a safe distance of at least six feet from each other no matter if they are not showing symptoms or otherwise. But the reality is also that no one can have sex when six feet away from each other.
So, while sex is not completely out of question, it can be a bit complicated. Dr. Gersh said that making love to your live-in partner is a relatively safer than someone new. “It’s different to have sex with a live-in partner or someone you’re self-quarantining with than it is to have sex with someone who you don’t know very well and who has to travel to get to you."
“These couples need to determine whether the additional transfer risk that comes with having sex is worth it for them,” she added.
She also advised to not engage in anal play because research shows that the virus can spread through fecal matter.
“The less face-to-face contact, the better,” Gersh added, drawing attention to what sort of sexual positions to assume when getting some.
The internet thinks when the lockdown and mandatory isolation guideline is lifted, there might as well be a baby boom. They've also proposed for all babies born during the pandemic to be christened 'Coronials'.
Either way, social media has been trying to soften the blow of the coronavirus on social lives by trying to turn the frown that everyone perpetually has painted on their faces into chuckle and belly-aching laughter.
#SafeSexTipsDuringQuarantine has been trending on Twitter over the past couple days and it pertains to safe sex during the lockdown. The dedicated tweets have us in knots. It has also popularised the 'Coronasutra', a rip-off version of the Kamasutra, only now a guide to having safe sex during the coronavirus pandemic.
"#SafeSexTipsDuringQuarantine Don’t need to worry, I can’t give it to myself. Coronavirus that is", one user is straight-up spitting facts.
Sweet Home Alabama! made a valid point with his tweet: "#SafeSexTipsDuringQuarantine if y’all in lockdown with your family, who y’all messin around with?"
"#SafeSexTipsDuringQuarantine Remember, you're better off catching viruses than catching feelings", said a user who's clearly learned the lesson before.
Here's a theory on why people were swarming grocery stores and panic buying toilet paper in bulk: "#SafeSexTipsDuringQuarantine Have sex in a toilet paper fort. I'm pretty sure you'll be immune if you're anywhere near large quantities of toilet paper."
"#SafeSexTipsDuringQuarantine Be extra careful with your kink as we need the hospital beds for COVID patients", no kink-shaming but there is some truth to this tweet.
Governments have restricted large gatherings and this person is well aware of it. His advice is "Keep orgys to 10 people or less #SafeSexTipsDuringQuarantine".
"Drink hot tea prior, then lube up with Vick’s vapor rub or Tiger Balm ultra strength all over each other. #SafeSexTipsDuringQuarantine *Asian parents would be proud of you", said a user tapping into his roots and eliciting a 'so relatable' from many.
It looks this one knows what's at stake and that's why his tip is foolproof. "#SafeSexTipsDuringQuarantine Get married." Plain and simple.