COVID-19 is an illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.
While there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be sexually transmitted, it can be passed on through close contact with someone who has the virus.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 you should avoid sexual activity and close contact with others when you have symptoms.
Reduce the risk of COVID-19 during sex
COVID-19 can be passed from person-to-person, who may or may not have symptoms, during close and intimate contact. Being sexually active with another person involves some risk of COVID-19 transmission, especially as you may not know if someone has COVID-19 if they have no symptoms.
If you or your sexual partner is unwell avoid sexual activity and close contact.
Getting vaccinated reduces your chance of becoming seriously unwell with COVID-19.
You can also reduce your risk of COVID-19 by:
- Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after sexual activity.
- Limiting sexual activity to as few partners as possible, preferably one regular partner
- Avoiding sexual activity and close contact if you or your sexual partner is unwell
When to consider avoiding sex
Avoid sexual activity and especially kissing if you or your partner has symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever- including chills, dry cough, fatigue, sore throat, shortness of breath or changes to your sense of smell or taste.
It’s important to be particularly careful if you or your sexual partner has an underlying medical condition, as you are more likely to become very ill if you get COVID-19. These include lung disease, chronic heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, or a weakened immune system. Find out more about at-risk groups.
Safer sex practices
As well as protecting yourself from COVID-19, it is important to take the usual safer sex precautions to protect yourself from unplanned pregnancy, STIs and HIV.
- Always use a condom. Condoms give the best protection against STIs and are 98% effective against pregnancy when you use them correctly and every time you have sex.
- Use hormonal contraception to prevent unplanned pregnancy. Talk to your pharmacist (chemist) or doctor about different methods of hormonal contraception. If your hormonal contraception prescription is due for renewal, your pharmacist may be able to provide you with an emergency supply of a month’s medication if it is safe and appropriate to do so, giving you time to arrange an appointment with your GP. Learn more about contraception here
- The Emergency contraception pill (ECP) can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex to prevent unplanned pregnancy. The sooner you take it, the more effective it is. You can get the ECP without prescription from your local pharmacy. If you need the ECP, phone your pharmacist, who may be able to carry out the consultation over the phone. This will reduce the amount of time you will need to spend in the pharmacy. You must personally collect the ECP from the pharmacist. Learn more about emergency contraception here
- Get tested for STIs if you have symptoms of an STI. While there continue to be some restrictions to public sexual health services, there are services available. Contact your local STI clinic or GP to book an STI test. Find out more about service availability here.
Get tested for STIs if you do not have symptoms of an STI. If you are resident in one of the counties listed here then you can order a free home STI testing kit here.
- PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medication that can help prevent HIV transmission if you are HIV negative and at substantial risk of acquiring HIV. Learn more about PrEP here
- PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) is a course of medication that can help prevent HIV if you have been recently exposed to HIV. This is available through public STI clinics and in Emergency Departments. Find out more about PEP here.
There is no evidence to suggest that people on PrEP or HIV treatment have additional protection against COVID-19.
Sexual consent
Sexual activity should only ever be between consenting adults who have the legal capacity to make the decision.
The legal age of sexual consent in Ireland is 17, but age is only one aspect of what is required if sexual activity can be considered truly consensual. Consent to sexual activity requires communication to make sure you and your partner understand each other and are in agreement about the sexual act. Read more about sexual consent in practice here
Remember: even if you consent to a sexual act, you can change your mind before the act begins or at any time before it ends.
Learn more about sexual consent here and the legal age of consent here.
Before deciding to engage in online sexual activity including sexting, consider the possible risks. There are a number of safety issues you should think through in advance. Read more about this here.
