How safe is casual sex after quarantine?
SOCIAL GRACES
Q: With stay-at-home orders lifting in some areas, how can you have safe sex with someone outside of your home during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: If you are thinking of having sex with someone you know, and you trust that this person has practiced social distancing and hand-washing, then great. Go for it.
If it’s someone you don’t know, such as someone you’ve met on a dating app, I don’t think so. The days of the one-night stand are over because of the coronavirus. I think now is the time to get to really know someone before you go home together. Again, this is a huge leap of trust you are making with someone you barely know.
Any healthy relationship needs safety, trust and emotional intimacy before physical intimacy. Emotional intimacy is talking and sharing, which you can still practice virtually or from a distance. Try talking on the phone or sitting outside together 6 feet apart.
— Michele Day, licensed clinical social worker, certified sex addiction therapist and executive director of Chicago Center for Sexual Wellbeing
A: This time offers an invitation for people to think deeper about why they are having sex and what they are getting from it. There is always a risk when we have sex, especially when we do so casually and with multiple partners, so now is a good time to bring thoughtfulness and intention to your sexual decisions.
Let’s say you meet a Tinder date for a hookup. Is a one-night stand really worth the risk of exposure?
If you decide the risk of a casual encounter is worth the benefit to you, then be sure to inquire about your date’s travel, health and job.
— Dr. Laura Berman, sex therapist, host of “Uncovered
Radio with Dr Laura Berman” and author of “For Women Only, Revised Edition: A Revolutionary Guide to Reclaiming Your Sex Life”
hgreenspan@chicago tribune.com