A guide to enjoying sex whilst reducing the risk of infection
A guide to enjoying sex whilst reducing the risk of infection
The ‘social distancing’ restrictions we have all got used to in recent months have been key to containing the virus.
We know that those restrictions have been difficult. Everyone has had to make sacrifices around who we can and cannot meet. Of course, this has affected many people’s sex lives and relationships.
From 05 January 2021 London will enter a national lockdown. Make sure you are aware of what is and is not allowed by reading the guidance in full here.
These new restrictions obviously have implications for sex and relationships. Sex is an important part of human life and has many physical and emotional benefits. We’ve received queries on what is allowed, what is safe and where to find additional information.
There is more to be discovered about Covid-19 and how it spreads, but this is what we know so far:
Intimate contact with someone outside your household is against the regulations (this means that the rules do not allow sex with someone outside your household).
Government regulations should be followed, but if you do have sex with people outside your household, the following advice can reduce the risk of infection:
Although there is little evidence of spreading Covid-19 during sex, the general closeness and sharing of bodily fluids will make transmission more likely. Here are some helpful tips to consider before having sex, to reduce the risk of infection during:
The risk of catching an STI, including HIV, is low if national guidance on social distancing is observed. After all, you cannot catch an STI if you are not having sexual contact with another person. For regular partners – whether those are friends, flatmates, lovers or spouses – it is worth having an HIV and STI test to ensure there are no infections that might be passed on without protection. You can order a self-sampling free online HIV and STI kit here.
If you are planning to have sex with someone outside of your household (or bubble) the risk of catching an STI (in addition to Covid-19) is increased and our advice about safer sex in other parts of this website should be followed. Don’t forget:
The latest UK Government guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus