Fresh guidance on sex during coronavirus says no kissing, no face-to-face positions – and condoms for oral
The Terrence Higgins Trust recommends wearing face masks, no kissing and avoiding face-to-face positions to avoid catching COVID-19 during sex. (Envato/bernardbodo)
People should avoid kissing and face-to-face sexual positions to lower the risk of catching coronavirus during sex, says leading sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust.
Masks should also be worn during sexual encounters, the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) said, following research it carried out in partnership with sexual health clinic 56 Dean Street.
And condoms or dental dams should be used for rimming or oral sex to minimise the chances of transmission, as well as regular handwashing.
The research follows on from a study in June that found that 84 per cent of people hadn’t had sex with someone outside of their immediate household since lockdown began.
As lockdown restrictions enter their sixth month amid increasing concern over a “second wave”, the THT said that the best way to balance the need for sex and intimacy with the risks of spreading COVID-19 were to have sex with yourself or someone you live with.
If having sex with people outside your household, THT recommended you keep this to as few sexual partners as possible.
“Sex is a very important part of life and asking people to avoid sex indefinitely isn’t realistic,” said Dr Michael Brady, medical director at Terrence Higgins Trust.
“That’s why, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we all need to find ways to balance our need for sex and intimacy with the risks of the spread of COVID-19.
“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 THT added that before having sex with someone new it’s now important to talk to them about COVID-19 and managing the risk together. This could include checking if either of you have experience any symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath and loss of sense of smell or taste, in the previous two weeks.
