Sex During COVID-19

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, so direct contact with saliva—through kissing, for example—can easily pass the virus. While COVID-19 has not yet been found in vaginal fluid, it has been found in feces of people who are infected. So this means that rimming (oral/anal contact) and anal sex may spread COVID-19 as well. Remember that condoms and dental dams reduce contact with saliva and feces during anal and oral sex or oral/anal contact.

Safest partner is yourself, next safest people you live with or in your close pod, people who are consistently practicing social distancing, wearing a mask in public, washing hands, safest to avoid sexual activity with people outside your household/pod, and safest to avoid sex with new or casual partners can reduce risk by limiting the number of partners, important to have conversations with all sex partners about their hygiene, mask, and social distance practices.

Masturbation is the safest sex option —there’s no risk of pregnancy or STDs and no risk of spreading.  Masturbation can also help you relax if you’re feeling anxious or stressed. Remember to wash your hands & sex toys with soap & water for 20 seconds before & after.

Physical partnered sex will never be risk-free, but acknowledge that it can be a huge positive impact on well being so they highlight ways to make it safer or reduce risks → having one sexual partner who you live with, generally limit physical contact to a low number, discuss hygiene/risk with any potential partners before meeting up with them in person, ask partners about their social distancing and mask-wearing practices, have you and partner get tested and get results before in-person meet-ups, wear a mask during sex, don’t kiss, avoid contact with bodily fluids by using condoms, dental dams, wash hands and sex toys before and after.

 Communicating about covid precautions is a form of informed consent, talk about what both parties are comfortable with, what precautions you will take, agree beforehand,  important to communicate both with sexual partners and with any people you are frequently in contact with (roommates, pod etc). Remember consent fries?

I think or know I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms

You can be around others after:

• 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
• 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
• Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving*

*Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation​

Most people do not require testing to decide when they can be around others; however, if your healthcare provider recommends testing, they will let you know when you can resume being around others based on your test results.

Note that these recommendations do not apply to persons with severe COVID-19 or with severely weakened immune systems (immunocompromised). These persons should follow the guidance below for “I was severely ill with COVID-19 or have a severely weakened immune system (immunocompromised) due to a health condition or medication. When can I be around others?”

CDC

St. Olaf Wellness Center offered internal and external condoms. You can stop by during office hours or request them online (they will be put in your campus PO box).