The Facts About COVID-19

Since the early days of 2020, COVID-19 has been a pivotal part of our lives. From a few isolated cases to becoming a global pandemic, this infectious disease—caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus—seems to now be a permanent part of the lexicon.

Anyone can catch COVID-19, which can be serious, but many people experience only mild to moderate respiratory illness and do not require any special treatment. This is partly due to improved immunity from multiple vaccinations as well as the introduction of antivirals and better understanding of how to manage COVID, even for people who are hospitalized. However, this knowledge is difficult to reconcile since the disease has killed more than 1 million people in the past couple of years—in the United States alone.

Since its outbreak, the knowledge of the effects of COVID-19 has grown considerably, including how the disease can affect your sexual health.

Many COVID-19 symptoms are similar to those of cold and flu. Symptoms are wide-ranging and can be mild to severe.

The most common symptoms to look out for, as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are:

• Chills
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Loss of smell or taste
• Muscle aches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat

This list is not exhaustive of all symptoms, and some people may experience no symptoms at all.

Whether you suspect COVID-19 or not, you should always seek emergency medical attention if a person is experiencing persistent chest pain, difficulty breathing, new confusion, difficulty staying awake or loss of consciousness.

COVID-19 exhibits a variety of symptoms that may be different for each individual. It's a systemic disease that can affect many organs, including the sex organs.

A 2021 study published in the journal Andrology indicated men who have had the virus might be six times more likely to develop erectile dysfunction (ED). Another 2021 study found viral particles and viral RNA—ribonucleic acid, a polymeric molecule that's essential in the coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes—in the penile tissue of men who previously had COVID-19. It's hypothesized that the lingering viral particles can contribute to ED, but more research is needed. Always talk to your doctor if you notice any changes to your sexual health.

For women, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded studies at five institutions in 2022 to explore possible links between the COVID-19 vaccine and menstrual changes, following anecdotal reports. The studies showed that vaccinated women experienced an increased cycle length of less than one day during the cycle in which they were vaccinated. The increase was not associated with any change in the number of days of menstruation.

There are two aspects to consider when looking at COVID-19 and fertility: fertility after contracting the virus and fertility after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Let's start with fertility post-vaccination. Published in April 2022 in the peer-reviewed journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, a study that researched more than 2,000 patients involved in assisted reproduction found no association between COVID-19 vaccination, fertilization rate and pregnancy outcomes.

A study published in 2021 by the CDC analyzed data from more than 46,000 pregnant women and found no increased risk of premature delivery or smaller birth size following COVID-19 vaccination.

At present, no research links COVID-19 vaccination and fertility problems. However, contracting the disease itself may have an impact on fertility. Research published in 2021 in the journal Reproductive Biology suggested that cells in the reproductive system are targets for the virus due to carrying some of the receptors the coronavirus must bind with to enter cells.

The same study indicated that some men with COVID-19 may experience orchitis (inflammation of the testicles), low sperm quality, oligozoospermia (low sperm count) and priapism (prolonged erections). Infected women may have a miscarriage, preterm delivery and prolonged cycles. However, some of the problems could be caused by treatment or underlying conditions, and more research is needed to establish if and how COVID-19 affects fertility.

It's difficult to quantify a "normal" sex drive because everyone's libido levels are different. However, if you're suffering from the symptoms of long COVID—the long-term effects from the original infection, also known as post-COVID conditions (PCC)—and experiencing low libido, the two may be connected.

A study published in July 2022 in Nature Medicine analyzed data from people with long COVID symptoms from January 2020 to April 2021. Several ongoing problems were noted, such as shortness of breath and hair loss, but two of the noted symptoms were loss of libido and difficulty ejaculating.

Discuss your symptoms with your doctor if you have had COVID-19 and are experiencing persistent sexual dysfunction. It could be connected to the virus, but there may also be another underlying cause.

COVID-19 is still with us in new and evolved forms, but that doesn't mean you have to stop having sex. It's OK if you want to take a break from sexual activity while the world navigates this ever-changing virus, but for those who wish to carry on, there are a few ways to ensure you remain healthy.

Essentially, the more people you have contact with, the higher your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Some people may decide to reduce their social and sexual bubble. Some may even decide to keep their sexual encounters to one person to ensure a healthy sex life.

Whatever you decide, don't be afraid to communicate honestly with your sexual partner. Discuss precautions that both of you feel comfortable taking. Do you wear masks in public and practice social distancing? Do you take a COVID test before meeting up? Although these types of conversations might seem uncomfortable, knowing you're on the same page can make your sexual experiences more enjoyable for both of you.

Taking a COVID-19 test before and after entering a new social or sexual encounter might be a strategy you want to follow. You may even want to make your face mask a fun accessory in the bedroom.

The winter months typically see a rise or peak in viral infections, and COVID rates may also go up for similar reasons as with the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). People may be at higher risk, so more precautions need to be taken.

There is no doubt the pandemic and the continued presence of COVID-19 have made dating more difficult. Navigating lockdowns, social distancing, face masks, vaccinations and concerns about contracting the virus are just a few reasons it's been a challenge. According to Pew Research, 63 percent of single adults say dating is more difficult during the pandemic.

For many people, the pace of dating has changed. A big pandemic dating trend is video first dates, a low-pressure option to see if you connect with someone before meeting up. The pandemic has allowed people to think about what's most important to them in their search for true love.

The result is that 58 percent of daters have moved to intentional dating, a practice that encourages you to slow down when you're swiping left or right, stop bad dating habits and become more intentional in your decisions. Surveys also indicate that 62 percent of people who date are looking for a meaningful relationship.

How long does it take for symptoms of COVID-19 to appear?

It can take two to 14 days for symptoms to appear after being exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Although most people develop symptoms within 14 days of getting the virus, it can take longer for some, and many others may never present signs of the virus at all. Some people may have long-term symptoms with long COVID or rebound COVID. Talk to your doctor for more information on your specific situation.

Can you get reinfected with COVID-19?

A prior infection seems to offer some protection, but yes, you can get COVID-19 again. The Office of National Statistics in the United Kingdom looked at reinfections from the beginning of the pandemic to December 2021. Researchers found the interval between reinfections ranged from 90 to 650 days (an average of 343 days). But other studies have shown reinfections can happen in less than 90 days; even as little as 20 days has been reported.

How long could you test positive on a PCR test after having COVID-19?

The CDC advises you may continue to test positive for some time after a positive COVID-19 test result. If you're using an antigen test, you may continue to test positive for days to weeks after your initial result.

You may also continue to test positive on nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for up to 90 days.