A Realistic Guide to Safer Sex During COVID-19

 Introduction

Sex is often a taboo subject, and even more so when it comes to safe sex. But it's important to remember that the best way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and infections is by practicing safer sex. It is also important to remember that not everyone who has sex will contract an STD or infection. However, there are still many ways for you to protect yourself from these diseases by using condoms and other barriers during sexual intercourse. In this post, I will discuss how you can use COVID-19 as part of a realistic plan for safer sex while protecting yourself from STDs and infections.

Call Your OB-GYN.

The first step to safer sex is learning about the risks of COVID-19 and what you can do to protect yourself. The best way to do this is by calling your doctor or OB-GYN. They should be able to assess your situation and provide guidance on how to reduce those risks.

Keep in mind, however, that there are no guarantees when it comes to prevention. Your doctor may not be able to determine if you're at risk without some additional blood work done before or after exposure; they may also recommend using condoms even though they aren't completely effective against the virus (depending on when they're used).

If you've been infected with COVID-19 but haven't started showing symptoms yet, ask your doctor about birth control options that could prevent pregnancy until more information about how all this works becomes available!

Take a Timeout (if You Need to).

If you're ever feeling too anxious or overwhelmed to focus on safer sex, then take a break. This can be as simple as checking out for a few minutes to calm your nerves and collect yourself. It's okay if you need to do this—you don't have to feel bad about it!

If you want more time away from the situation, talk with your partner(s) about taking things slower or using other forms of protection until they're ready again. But don't feel pressured into doing something when it doesn't feel right for you; that's important too! And if someone asks why, don't feel like there's any pressure on you to explain yourself further—sometimes people just have different ideas about what helps them relax and enjoy themselves in bed with their partners!

Keep in Touch with Your Partners.

It's a good idea to get tested for STIs (sexually transmitted infections) before you have sex with someone new, and then again after your last sexual encounter with them. This will help you know what sort of risks you're taking and can give you the knowledge that allows you to make informed decisions about how often to test and when not to engage in sex at all. It's also important that both partners talk openly about how they feel throughout the process, so if one person is feeling sick or stressed or otherwise not up for sex, this should be discussed openly rather than ignored or denied. If either of you has any unusual symptoms, such as redness around the genitals or eyes that burn upon waking up in the morning, let each other know right away so they can seek medical attention immediately. Remember: Don't wait until it feels too late!

Even if everything goes smoothly from start to finish—and even if no one contracts COVID-19—it's still important for everyone involved in this situation (including yourself) not just because COVID-19 exists but because we live in an imperfect world where bad things happen all too often despite our best efforts at avoiding them completely."

Wash Your Hands (and Ask Your Partner to Do the Same).

Wash your hands. Wash them before and after sexual contact, with warm water and soap. This is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself from COVID-19.

Don’t share towels, washcloths, or other items that come into contact with bodily fluids. A University of California study found that people who shared towels were more likely to have an STI than those who didn't. Be careful when using shared bathroom facilities too: avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching your genitals (or anyone else's).

Be Realistic About What You Want From Sexual Encounters Right Now.

It’s important to take stock of your feelings and desires, and be realistic about what you want from sexual encounters right now. If you want intimacy, then be honest about it with yourself and your partner. If you don’t want intimacy right now, don't pressure yourself or others into doing something that makes them uncomfortable. It's also important to remember that even if someone has been tested for COVID-19 or they're on Prep, they may have other STIs that can make them contagious during COVID-19 outbreaks (like gonorrhea or chlamydia).

Stay connected and keep your sexual health in check

• If you are sexually active, it's important to get tested for co-infections.

• Treatment for co-infections is also critical, so if you have been diagnosed with a Zika virus or chikungunya infection, talk to your doctor about how to treat them.

• Get vaccinated against the mosquito that transmits Zika and chikungunya: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

• If you have had an STD or STIs in the past, those infections can be reactivated by this new strain of COVID-19. Check with your doctor if you still have symptoms of an STI or STD and make sure they know what kind of treatment options are available for you based on which virus has infected you (i.e., whether it's ZIKV).

Conclusion

Although we can’t control whether or not you get tested for HIV and other STDs, it’s important to stay connected with your sexual partners and take care of your sexual health. If you have questions about what kind of safer sex activities are right for your relationship right now or if you want to explore some new ways to do things that feel good, talk with someone who knows what they're talking about!