COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus. To help stop the spread of coronavirus everyone has been asked to follow the health advice on hse.ie also in other languages.

While there is no evidence that coronavirus can be sexually transmitted, it can be passed on through close contact with someone who has the virus.

COVID-19 vaccine

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine will allow you to be safer when engaging in relationships and sexual activity.

People who are fully vaccinated and are well can meet other people without face coverings and do not need to stay 2 metres apart. See here for more information.

If you have had COVID-19 (a positive diagnostic test) is unlikely you will get it again within nine months after being infected.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 you should get tested, even if you are vaccinated or have had it before. Avoid sexual activity and close contact with others when you have symptoms.

There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination affects fertility

 

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.

Remember: you can reduce your risk of COVID-19 by:

  • Getting the COVID-19 vaccine if you have not been vaccinated.
  • 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 and kissing

  • 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. Anyone with any symptoms of COVID-19 should self-isolate (stay in your room) and get a COVID-19 PCR test. You can do this by phoning a GP or you can book a test online.
  • If you have been identified as a close contact of COVID-19 you should follow the advice you have been given by contact tracing or public health.
  • If you test positive for COVID-19 avoid sexual activity and close contact until your self-isolation period is over and you are well. If your results are reported as ‘not detected’ keep in mind a ‘not detected’ result means that the virus was not found in that sample, someone may have been exposed after their test was taken or have had very low levels of virus that weren’t picked up. You can read more about this here.
  • 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 coronavirus. These include lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, or a weakened immune system. Find out more about at-risk groups.
  • If you don’t have consent. Learn more.

Get ‘A guide to navigating healthy relationships during the COVID-19 outbreak’.

 

Safer sex practices

As well as protecting yourself from coronavirus, 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 or GP about different methods of hormonal contraception. If your hormonal contraception prescription is due for renewal, your pharmacist may be able to provide you with additional supplies if it is safe and appropriate to do so.
  • Emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) 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 EHC without prescription from your local pharmacy. If you need EHC, 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.
  • Get tested for STIs if you have symptoms of an STI. There have been restrictions to many public STI services during the coronavirus outbreak. Contact your local STI clinic or GP to check their testing service availability. 
  • PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medication that can help prevent HIV transmission if you are HIV negative and at substantial risk of acquiring HIV. There is no evidence to suggest that people on PrEP or HIV treatment have additional protection against COVID-19.There is no evidence to suggest that people on PrEP or HIV treatment have additional protection against COVID-19. There is no evidence to suggest that people on PrEP or HIV treatment have additional protection against COVID-19.
  • PEP – If you have been recently exposed to HIV PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) is a course of HIV medication that can help to prevent HIV infection. This is available through public STI clinics and in Emergency Departments.

Learn more about sexual health services during coronavirus pandemic.