Can you get infected with the new coronavirus if you have sex? This question has been on many people’s minds since the coronavirus outbreak but has been left unanswered for a while. Until now.
Given that the new virus is highly contagious and can be passed on through saliva droplets released by an infected person, it is very likely that having sex could spread the coronavirus. At least that’s what a group of researchers from Harvard University in the US concluded in a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
According to the new study, couples can prevent the spread of the coronavirus if they take certain precaution measures in the bedroom, before, during and after having intercourse. The main one would be wearing face masks and avoid kissing each other. This recommendation is especially valid for people from different households, who have not quarantined together.
You can try these cool face masks to surprise your loved one:
More than that, researchers at Harvard University recommend showering before and after sex as the virus can potentially be found in the semen of infected people, avoiding oral sex, as well as ‘cleaning of the physical space with soap or alcohol wipes’.
Sticking to some guidelines when it comes to physical intimacy is far from being romantic, but it could save you a lot of trouble down the road, researchers emphasize. The study also suggests that abstinence is the safest option, being “low risk for infection, though not feasible for many.”
According to Dr. Jack Turban, the study’s lead researcher, “for some patients, complete abstinence from in-person sexual activity is not an achievable goal. In these situations, having sex with persons with whom they are self-quarantining is the safest approach.” So, if you’ve been living with a partner and neither of you has shown any COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath or dry cough, you should be safe enough to do the deed. The risk is still there, though, especially if one person goes outside often, that’s why some of the preventative measures should still be applied.
“If you live with a regular sexual partner and you don’t have any symptoms, or likely exposure, sex might actually be a really great way to have fun, stay connected and relieve anxiety during this potentially stressful time,” Dr. Julia Marcus, an infectious disease epidemiologist and professor in the department of population medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Speaking of sex, what do you think 1 in 4 women think about most? Sex or food? If you’re curious, read this post to find out the surprising truth!
Based on science: Annals of Internal Medicine
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