You may have noticed that we are in a pandemic, and it has been going on for some time now.
COVID-19 is a very stressful situation and, for some people, sex and/or orgasm are major coping mechanisms for managing stress. Holidays typically bring their own stressors in a normal year, and this being the farthest thing from a normal year, holidays are bringing new and different stressors.
So we thought it might be a good time to have a little sex talk.
First off, although sex and orgasm are important coping mechanisms for some people, we are all beautifully different, and some folks are not interested in sex at all right now (and some folks are never interested in sexual intimacy — we see and love you, our asexual friends! — but that’s content for another day). That’s totally normal and you should not ever feel coerced into sexual activity, including by a partner.
That being said, if you are wicked horny (we are in Maine, so that seems like the appropriate term), then here are some ideas for you to consider:
SOLO(ISH) SEX
The absolute safest sex is sex with yourself. Masturbation can be a great stress reliever. Get intimate with yourself and show yourself some love! If you’re using toys, make sure to clean your toys before and after with gentle soap and water or according to the manufacturer’s directions. And for the love of everything, please find a lubrication that works for you! Lube is the best. 🙌
Mutual masturbation where partners masturbate with each other (but, in this scenario, separately, as opposed to stimulating each other physically) is also a great option, and especially so for new partners who want to maintain physical distance during the pandemic but explore new levels of intimacy. Mutual masturbation can happen in both the physical and digital realms. If you are exploring digital intimacy, make sure that you are protecting yourself to the greatest extent possible from unwanted recording or other digital privacy issues.
PARTNERING UP SAFELY
Consensual sex with a partner in your immediate household is a fairly safe option, too, depending on your lifestyles and exposure risk levels.
Current science indicates that COVID-19 is not spread through semen or vaginal fluid, so if you are out there trying to have physical sexual relationships during the pandemic, with folks outside of your household, here are a few tips.
- Communicate with partners about risk levels so that everyone is operating from a place of shared understanding.
- Consider limiting the number of partners with whom you are sexually active at one time.
- Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth.
- Avoid kissing and other facially intimate activities.
- Avoid activities that could present fecal-oral transmission.
- As always, use condoms or other protective barriers with partners. (For safer sex supplies and/or birth control, call your local MFP clinic (207-922-3222) or visit our Virtual Visits Hub.)
- As above, make sure to clean sex toys before and after sex play.
- Clean contact areas after sex play, for example wash bedding, wipe down surface areas, etc.
We can all agree that COVID sucks, but we have survived pandemics (and holidays!) before, and we can do so again.
Stay safe out there folks, and try to have some fun. 😉
