a burgundy zine

Should You Wear a Face Mask During Sex Right Now? by Chic Sex Shop

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

By: Chic Sex Shop

Someone holding a traditional med face mask

Source: Envato Elements

Sexperts at Chic Sex Shop explain how COVID-19 can spread through sexual activity.

Is COVID-19 a new type of STD?

Well, not exactly — although the virus could very, very easily be transmitted sexually.

Is COVID-19 Found in Semen?

Yes. A May 2020 Journal of American Medical Association study found traces of COVID-19 in patients with the virus and those recovering.

In a study of 38 participants, 15 (39.5 percent) had traces of COVID-19 in their semen.

  • Four of the participants with COVID-19 in their semen were at the “acute stage of infection.”
  • Two of the participants with COVID-19 in their semen were in recovery.

“Owing to the imperfect blood-testes/deferens/epididymis barriers, SARS-CoV-2 might be seeded to the male reproductive tract, especially in the presence of systemic local inflammation,” the study says. “Even if the virus cannot replicate in the male reproductive system, it may persist, possibly resulting from the privileged immunity of testes.”

Although this was a relatively small study, the results are still striking: semen can carry COVID-19, even in cases of minor infections — and even during recovery.

Is COVID-19 Found in Vaginal Fluid?

No. And the molecules needed to cause a COVID-19 infection aren’t found in placentas, either.

According to an August 2020 Clinical Infectious Disease study, COVID-19 probably doesn’t exist in vaginal fluid.

The study tested the vaginal fluid of 10 women who had “clinical characteristics similar to those in other severe COVID-19 patients,” the study says. None of them tested positive for COVID-19 in their vaginal fluid.

So… I Can Still Eat Some Pussy?

WELL… Before treating yourself to a pussy buffet, contemplate the following questions:

  • Have my partner and I both been abiding by stay-at-home orders as much as possible?
  • Have my partner and I been staying at home together?
  • Have my partner and I potentially been exposed to COVID-19?
  • Have my partner and I displayed any symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14-days?
  • Is there any chance at all that either of us may have an asymptomatic case of COVID-19?

If you answered “yes,” “yes,” “no,” “no,” and “no” to the aforementioned questions, then you SHOULD be okay.

Though, not all experts might agree, as major medical and academic journals have suggested you should wear a face mask during sex.

And, of course, how we forget the following Tweet posted by the official New York City Department of Health Twitter?

Masturbation saves the day, once again. But if you’re getting bored of your own two hands, then it’s time to invest in some sex toys. Go on, treat yourself. You deserve it.

Harvard Says You Should Wear a Face Mask During Sex

Three different protection face masks

Source: Envato Elements

“On the basis of existing data, it appears all forms of in-person sexual contact carry risk for viral transmission, because the virus is readily transmitted by aerosols and fomites. This has resulted in broad guidance regarding physical distancing, with substantial implications for sexual well-being.”

Sexual Health in the SARS-CoV-2 Era | Annals of Internal Medicine

In May, Harvard’s Annals of Internal Medicine Journal outlined the safety of various sexual activities amidst the looming pandemic:

  • Sexual abstinence: “Low risk of infection, though not feasible for many.”
  • Masturbation: “Low risk for infection. Safe masturbation tips.”
  • Sexual activity via digital platforms: “Patients should be counseled on the risk for screenshots of conversations or videos and sexual extortion.”
  • Sex only with those whom one is self-quarantined: “Patient is at risk for infection from sex partner if they have been exposed while outside the home. Patient is at risk for infection from an asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-infected partner.”
  • Sex with persons other than those with whom one is self-quarantined: “Patient should be counseled on the risk for infection from partners, as well as risk reduction techniques that include minimizing the number of sexual partners, avoiding sex partners with symptoms consistent with SARS-CoV-2, avoiding kissing and sexual behaviors with a risk for fecal–oral transmission or that involve semen or urine, wearing a mask, showering.”

Read: Making the Most of Social Distancing in the Bedroom

Chic Sex Shop

“For some patients, complete abstinence from in person sexual activity is not an achievable goal,” the study continues. “In these situations, having sex with persons with whom they are self-quarantining is the safest approach.”

Harvard isn’t the only one advocating for masks during sex. The Terrence Higgins Trust, a non-profit sexual health organization in the United Kingdom, also advises wearing face masks while bumping uglies.

“You can reduce your risk of catching or passing on COVID-19 by sticking with a regular partner or limiting the number of sexual partners,” the organization says. “Not kissing, wearing a face mask during sex and favoring positions where you’re not face-to-face may also help and using condoms or dams for blow jobs and rimming will further reduce the risk.”

How to Make Face Masks Sexy

Although mouths play an intricate role in foreplay and sex, you and your partner could make the face masks a bit less undesirable by incorporating some roleplay.

For example, one of you could wear a sexy nurse or doctor costume and do it doggy style while you both wear masks.

And to make it less-taboo, whoever is playing the “patient” doesn’t have to be a COVID-19 patient. They could be in the hospital for a number of other reasons!

… Still feels weird, though, right? Well, why not go the BDSM-route then?

Read: Locked Up During Lockdown: Is Now the Time For BDSM?

Chic Sex Shop

With some black cloth face masks and bondage, you could tie one another up and take turns alternating roles.

The dom could pound the sub from behind bent over the bed, you could scissor handcuffs, or you could always opt for some reverse-cowgirl.

Who knows? Maybe this is the perfect opportunity to breathe a second wave of life into the bedroom!


Head on over to ChicSexShop for all the tools and supplies you need to make sex as safe and interesting as possible during quarantine!
Visit their blog for more sexual wellness advice and be sure to follow them on Instagram, as well.


Interested in having content featured in an upcoming blog post or issue of The Burgundy Zine? Head on over to the submissions page!

For all other inquiries, please fulfill a contact form.

Guest Content

Guest Content is the user to denote any and all articles submitted to us by fellow writers. More content submitted to us by guest contributors can be found under our "Guest Content" section. If you are interested in submitting content to The Burgundy Zine, please refer to our submissions page.

View more posts from this author