when can we have stranger sex again?

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new guidelines outline sex practices in a post-pandemic world. don't get too excited — not much has changed.

by nicholas sokic

published may 06, 2020

last updated feb 24, 2025

3 minute read

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3 minute read

join the conversation

as canada reopens, we want to know when we can have sex.

getty images

at least for now, physical distancing rules remain in effect across the country. but as more provinces slowly relax restrictions, the possibility of getting back to some form of normal is so sweet you can almost taste it.

but you still shouldn’t be hanging out at your friend’s house, and you probably shouldn’t go to your partner’s house. and in case you were thinking about sex, although covid-19 isn’t transmissible through semen, it is inherently anti-physical distancing.

there is currently no timeline on when we’ll be in the clear with regards to non-household sex partners. the key, according to dr. jessica wood, a sexual health researcher with the sexual information and education council of canada (sieccan), is a constant re-assessment and conversation on yours and your partner’s daily risk.

“things are changing rapidly as we acquire new information, and conversations about risk may look different in various parts of the country and different communities as we see the number of covid-19 cases change,” says wood.

to that end, sieccan and the society of obstetricians and gynecologists of canada (sogc) have teamed up with condom manufacturer trojan to release new, separate guidelines and advice on maintaining intimacy and sexual health in the pandemic era. that partnership includes providing free condoms to clinics in need across the country.

according to the sogc, while sex with someone who doesn’t live with you is not recommended, if you choose to ignore that advice, the guidelines state you should minimize travel between households and stick to one partner. as well, one should ask partners if they have experienced symptoms of infection or traveled anywhere within the last 14 days.

part of the collaborative guidelines also focus on sti prevention, which is more critical now as access to healthcare may be limited due to the urgency of the coronavirus. if you need tests or treatment, they may simply be harder to get.

“a lot of the time we think of sti transmission as only occurring between ourselves and a new partner, but many people in a relationship already have an sti,” says wood. “whether it’s one they didn’t know about or one that they live with like hiv and hsv. viruses like herpes can flare up when people are stressed and this is a very stressful time for many people.”

birth control is also an important consideration. wood also says that many people probably don’t want to get pregnant right now. while contraception is available, much of it comes from prescriptions, which, like sti testing, may be harder to access given the state of the world. to that end, she says its important for people to think about their birth control strategy and how to access it.

and what about self-love?

for those that live with their partner and those who don’t, “we say that masturbation is low risk, we don’t say that it’s no risk,” says wood. on the one hand, you’re on your own and won’t be getting the virus from another person. on the other hand, you might have used that hand to touch an infected surface prior to masturbating. the key, like with everything else, is to wash your hands as well as any toys you might using.

with the potential for guidelines around physical distancing to begin lifting in the future, wood says its important to think about what this means for the sexual health of every canadian.

“there’s a whole host of issues we’re just beginning to consider, including, what do guidelines mean for people in marginalized communities who may already have barriers to accessing sexual health services — like those who are lgbtq or sex workers,” says wood. “we’re going to need good research and good policy development to ensure that we are considering the needs of different communities.”

nsokic@postmedia.com | @sokic