After countless stay-at-home orders, lockdowns and travel restrictions, we are currently close to two years into a pandemic that appears to be nearing its end. As I look back at the various stages of this crisis, I think about a multitude of questions about how the pandemic, as well as the infection itself, has affected sexuality and personal relationships. How has the pandemic affected relationship dynamics between couples? How have couples’ sexual behaviors been affected? How have individual sexual activities changed? What are the worrying long-term effects of the COVID-19 infection on sexuality? To answer these questions, I will approach them with a biopsychosocial lens to show a full picture of their implications.
Has the pandemic brought couples closer or further apart?
The good
Lockdowns and stay-at-home orders enforce isolation, meaning couples who live together may only have each other to socialize with. In turn, they have nothing but time for sex and romance, at any time of the day (Döring, 2020). This undisturbed opportunity for proximity may lead to a “coronavirus outbreak” in the near future (Döring, 2020). Panzeri et al. (2020) conducted a study that examined the effects of lockdown on cohabiting couples and found that 12.1% of men and 18.7% of women experienced an increase in sexual desire and that 15.2% of men and 20.9% of women perceived an increase in arousal. These effects are thought to be attributed to more free time, more time with each other, reduced stress and boredom. Addi et al. (2020) found that couples in stable sexual relationships, especially those who were married, developed an increased desire for intercourse, which could contribute to an increase in global fertility. However, it is hypothesized that if prolonged, these periods can become stressful and worrying, thus having the opposite effect on the birth rate (Döring, 2020). Fortunately, other theories have hypothesized that fear caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as a global pandemic, positively affects fertility and companionship. Terror management theory hypothesizes that concerns about death caused by disasters may cause people to value family, thereby motivating them to marry and reproduce (Döring, 2020). Attachment theory explains that threats bring individuals, especially couples, closer as they seek comfort and protection (Döring, 2020). Finally, replacement theory predicts that people tend to conceive more children in times of crisis to compensate for the loss of life (Döring, 2020). It will be interesting to see if these fertility effects hold true in this unique emergency, as they are complex and influenced by various external factors.
The bad
There’s no doubt that the pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns have allowed couples and families to spend more time together, but is that necessarily a good thing? Döring (2020) found that the limited space resulting from homeschooling and both partners working from home led to higher relationship stress and the exacerbation of pre-existing conflicts. The inability to seemingly escape each other made couples bored and annoyed with each other and in turn had less sex. This may contribute to increasing separation and divorce rates in the near future (Döring & Walter, 2020, as cited in Döring, 2020). Panzeri et al. (2020) determined that 18.2% of men and 26.4% of women experienced a decrease in sexual desire and that 12.1% of men and 20.9% of women noticed a decrease in arousal during lockdown periods. This negative change in sexual habits may have been caused by a lack of privacy and time apart, as well as feelings of imprisonment. For women, the anxiety and worry created by the lack of privacy significantly reduced the quality of their sex life by reducing their pleasure and satisfaction (Panzeri et al., 2020; Yuksel & Ozgor, 2020). In addition, fear of acquiring a COVID-19 infection reduced physical intimacy between couples (Hensel et al., 2020, as cited in Panzeri et al., 2020). Not only have relationship problems worsened, but also mental and physical ones (Döring, 2020). This shows the need for effective and accessible psychosocial care, even in a pandemic. Isolation can escalate sexual domestic violence, as well as make it difficult for victims to get help (Döring, 2020). It is of utmost importance that alternative violence reporting measures are put in place and that mental support and physical care are readily available. Sexual and reproductive health should be prioritized in emergency situations because these issues are often sensitive and closely related to quality of life.
What are the individual effects of COVID-19 on sexuality and solo sex?
Solo sex
Autoerotic sexuality in the form of masturbation has increased during home confinement (Döring, 2020). Not only do individuals have more time and opportunities to masturbate, but it also provides much-needed relief from stress and anxiety (Döring, 2020). In addition, the use of pornography has also expanded, with Pornhub seeing a global increase in the use of its services (Pornhub Insights, n.d., as cited in Panzeri et al., 2020). Porn about the coronavirus has even become an emerging genre of porn, as sexual fantasies often reflect current events (Döring, 2020). The use of sex toys has also increased, as more opportunities have prompted individuals to seek highly pleasurable masturbation with the help of mechanical aids (Döring, 2020). The lack of capacity for casual sex has been replaced with more phone and internet sex (Döring, 2020).
Sexual effects of infection
Choosing to have single sex over sex with a partner in order to avoid contracting the COVID-19 virus can be a wise choice for both physical and sexual health. Women report significantly lower Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) scores after contracting the virus, indicating that the infection has severely affected their sexual performance (Nawaz et al., 2021). Men, on the other hand, are six times more likely to develop short- or long-term erectile dysfunction (ED) after exposure to the virus (Guynup, 2021). The virus leaves the body in a state of hyperinflammation, which can have consequences for cardiovascular and pulmonary function, in turn contributing to DM as a surrogate for health in these areas (Sansone et al., 2020). This is of particular concern because the transmission rate is higher among older men, who are already vulnerable to ED.
The positive and negative aspects of the pandemic regarding sexuality are at odds with each other. It is inevitable that some couples will grow closer and others will break up. Many variables affect intimacy, and more research will be required to determine exactly how these work together to influence sexuality. Although relationships and sex with partners have changed, solo sex seems to be thriving, which will hopefully allow for personal exploration and pleasurable sexual experiences. People should be wary of the virus because of its long-term effects on sexual health, but luckily vaccination can help reverse these risks.
Rachel Portelance
BScH – Life Sciences and Psychology, 5th year
bibliographical references
Addi, RA, Benksim, A., & Cherkaoui, M. (2020). Sexuality and fertility in the age of COVID-19. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations, 11(4), article em00741. https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei/8211
Döring, N. (2020). How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting our sexuality? An overview of current media narratives and research hypotheses. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(8), 2765-2778. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01790-z
Guynup, S. (2021, September 22). COVID-19 can impair men’s sexual performance. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/covid-19-may-impair-mens-sexual-performance
Nawaz, M, U., Rivera, E., Vinayak, S., Elahi, K., Kumar, M., Chand, M., Ezae, S., Khalid, D., Naz, S., & Shaukat, F. (2021). Comparison of sexual function before and after infection with COVID-19 in female patients. Cureus, 13(9), article e18156. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.18156
Panzeri, M., Ferrucci, R., Cozza, A., & Fontanesi, L. (2020). Changes in couple sexuality and relationship quality during the COVID-19 lockdown. Frontiers in Psychology, 11article 565823. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.565823
Sansone, A., Mollaioli, D., Ciocca, G., Limoncin, E., Colonnello, E., Vena, W., & Jannini, EA (2020). Addressing men’s sexual and reproductive health in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, 44223-231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-020-01350-1
Yuksel, B., & Ozgor, F. (2020). Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s sexual behavior. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 150(1), 98-102.
