does-novel-coronavirus-spread-during-sex
5
Does Novel Coronavirus spread during sex?
Does Novel Coronavirus spread during sex?
Last Reviewed : 12/17/2020
Novel Coronavirus is extensively studied in the last few months. Common routes of transmission include droplet spread by coughing or sneezing and touching fomites where infected material has settled down. Other less common routes of transmission include fecal-oral route and by airborne transmission. Based on the studies published so far, Coronavirus was isolated from respiratory secretions, saliva, sputum, tears, conjunctival secretions, blood, urine and feces. Contact with any of these body fluids from an infected person may spread the disease. However, there are no published studies demonstrating the isolation of Novel Coronavirus from semen or vaginal fluids.
Sex is more intimate than just exchanging reproductive fluids. It involves touching each other at several physical locations and kissing each other. It involves being close to the partner for a long time. Although there are no published studies indicating presence of Novel Coronavirus in reproductive fluids, during sex, there is a very high likelihood of spread of Coronavirus infection from the infected partner just from being so close and being intimate. It is highly recommended not to have sex with the infected partner until they come out of quarantine and Coronavirus infection completely resolves.
References:
- Evaluation of coronavirus in tears and conjunctival secretions of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Xia J et al. J Med Virol. 2020 Feb 26. doi: 10.1002/jmv.25725.
- Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China. Wei-jie Guan et al. New England Journal of Medicine. February 28, 2020. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2002032
- The origin, transmission and clinical therapies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak – an update on the status. Guo, Y., Cao, Q., Hong, Z. et al. Military Med Res 7, 11 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-020-00240-0
