You should wear masks and avoid kissing during sex to stop spread of coronavirus, experts say

A sexual health charity has published advice on sex in a pandemic, and it includes avoiding kissing, wearing face masks and not using face to face positions.

Terrence Higgins Trust has said that 84% of people have abstained from having sex with a partner they don’t live with throughout the lockdown, but the charity urges officials that this is no longer realistic.

Asking people to refrain from sex completely is no longer realistic now there has been easing of the lockdown measures. 

The charity said we need to find a way ‘to balance our need for sex and intimacy with the risks of the spread of Covid-19’. 

The charity’s advice is simple, the best sexual partner during a pandemic is either yourself or a partner you already live with. 

The advice explains that masturbation, sex toys, phone sex or online sex are all great and safe alternatives. 

If you are having sex with someone you don’t live with, the charity suggests limiting the number of sexual partners. It also provides a list of other precautions you should take, and some might seem a bit unusual at first.

First up, like anything these days, before and after sex you need to wash your hands for 20 seconds. Nothing gets you in the mood quite like lathering up your hands as you hum Happy Birthday twice over!

Next, the advice states to avoid kissing, to wear a face mask during intercourse and to pick positions that are not face to face – get creative! 

The charity also warns that the virus can be found in some bodily fluids, so ensure you are wearing condoms and dams for oral sex. 

Other advice has even gone one step further, and suggested using physical barriers like glory holes that prevent face-to-face contact but allow sexual contact. 

Dr Michael Brady, the charity’s medical director, said: “We’re clear that abstaining from sex is the best way to protect yourself from coronavirus, but we hope by issuing this advice we will help people to manage the risks of Covid-19 while also being able to have and enjoy sex.”

The charity also stresses the importance of practising good sexual health beyond the pandemic, including getting tested before becoming sexually active again.

Find out more about how to minimise the risk of Covid-19 while having sex here, including how to get tested for STIs and HIV.