Gay Sex and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Everyone should stay safe and minimize sexual contact with others to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Everyone is asking us can we still have sex during this period of time? Here are some tips to know about (gay) sex and to avoid spreading COVID-19.
1. Know how COVID-19 spreads.
• You can get COVID-19 from a person who has it.
o The virus can spread to people who are within about 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 when that person coughs or sneezes.
o The virus can spread through direct contact with their saliva or mucus.
• We still have a lot to learn about COVID-19 and sex especially gay sex.
o COVID-19 has been found in feces of people who are infected with the virus.
o COVID-19 has not yet been found in semen or vaginal fluid.
o We know that other coronaviruses do not efficiently transmit through sex.
2.If you have sex, have sex with people close to you that you know.
• You are your safest sex partner. Masturbation will not spread COVID-19, especially if you wash your hands (and any sex toys) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after sex.
• The next safest partner is someone you live with. Having close contact — including sex — with only a small circle of people helps prevent spreading COVID-19.
• You should avoid close contact — including sex — with anyone outside your household.
If you do have sex with others, have as few partners as possible.
• If you usually meet your sex partners online via apps like Grindr and Scruff or with escorts, consider taking a break from in-person dates. Video dates, sexting or chat rooms may be options for you.
3. Take care during sex.
• Kissing can easily pass COVID-19. Avoid kissing anyone who is not part of your small circle of close contacts.
• Ass Rimming (mouth on anus) might spread COVID-19. The corona virus may enter your mouth via rimming.
• Condoms and dental dams can reduce contact with saliva or feces, especially during oral or anal sex.
• Washing up before and after sex is more important than ever.
o Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
The NYC Health Department may change recommendations as the situation evolves.
o Thoroughly wash sex toys with soap and warm water.
o Disinfect keyboards and touch screens that you share with others (for video chat, for watching pornography or for anything else).
4. Skip sex if you or your partner is not feeling well.
• If you or a partner may have COVID-19, avoid sex and especially kissing.
• If you start to feel unwell, you may be about to develop symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.
• If you or your partner has a medical condition that can lead to more severe COVID-19, you may also want to skip sex.
o Medical conditions include lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system (for example, having unsuppressed HIV and a low CD4 count).
5. Prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• HIV: Condoms, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and having an undetectable viral load all help prevent HIV. For more information, visit nyc.gov/health and search HIV.
• Other STIs: Condoms help prevent other STIs. Visit nyc.gov/health and search STIs.
Credit and for more information about COVID-19, visit nyc.gov/coronavirus. See our companion story about the attitudes and reaction of the gay community to corona virus here.
