Frisky business

SDr Michael Brady, medical director at the Terrence Higgins Trust,

gives some advice for safe sex during the pandemic

ex is an important part of life and, even during the challenges of the current pandemic, it should, as much as possible, stay that way. With COVID-19 unlikely to vanish from our lives any time soon, we all have to find ways that balance our need for intimacy with actions that could further spread the virus.

Our core advice that we’ve issued from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic is to follow government guidance and that your safest sexual partner is yourself or another consenting adult within your household.

Expecting people to abstain from sex indefinitely is not realistic. This approach to sex and sexual health promotion has never worked, and the recent confusion about what counts as an ‘established relationship’ and what doesn’t certainly hasn’t helped matters. It’s also left people who are not in an ‘established relationship’ without much support or advice and feeling overlooked.

As a nation, we still don’t always feel comfortable talking about sex, but now, perhaps more than ever, clear information and advice to support this is needed. That’s why Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is unambiguous that everyone – regardless of relationship status – should be having honest and open conversations ahead of having sex.

This is an important approach to ensuring good sexual health for all and we’ve been issuing this kind of advice, as a way to reduce the risk of HIV or other STIs, for nearly 40 years. The starting point is being aware of the risks and being able to make informed decisions on

how to reduce them. It’s about being able to have discussions about STI and HIV testing, PrEP and contraception use, your HIV status and knowing the fact that effective HIV treatment means people living with HIV can’t pass it on. The only difference to our messaging now is this approach to informed decisionmaking is also being used to address the risk of the spread of COVID-19.

We are all continuing to learn how to live with COVID-19, the guidance is changing at a rapid pace and differs depending on where you live. As infection rates continue to climb, it is even more essential that steps to reduce your exposure to the virus should be factored into decision-making around sex.

The THT publishes a simple guide that provides practical advice about having sex during the pandemic. There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can be passed on sexually, but certainly the close physical contact of sex will increase the risk of contracting or passing on the virus.

The most important thing is to have a conversation with your sexual partner – regardless of whether they are a new one or not – about whether they, or anyone else in their household, has had symptoms of COVID-19, has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been advised to isolate. If the answer is

“yes” to any of these questions, for either of you, then don’t meet for sex.

We also recommend that you limit your number of sexual partners and make sure you wash your hands or use hand sanitiser before and after sex.

It’s also important to stress that if you’ve had COVID-19 before, it doesn’t mean that you are protected from being infected again.

You may be extra vigilant about your general health at the moment, but don’t forget the sexual aspect. Help and support is still available for those who want to access

STI and HIV testing and contraception.

Sexual health clinics are open, although they are working differently to maintain social distancing and reduce the risk of COVID-19, so check the website of your local clinic or give them a call to find out how to use their services. There is also the option of postal HIV and STI testing in most parts of the country.

Throughout the past nine months of the pandemic, there has not been enough recognition about the impact COVID-19 is having on our relationships and sex lives and, arguably, for the sake of our mental health, sex and intimacy is even more important now to help relieve anxiety and stress.

Sex should still be fun, but our approach to it has to change to reflect the times we’re living through. Being aware of how to reduce or avoid risks and having open and honest conversations is one way we can better support each other and get back to more normal times as soon as possible.

tht.org.uk

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