Five things sexually active people need to know about monkeypox.
How is monkeypox spread during sex?
Monkeypox can spread to anyone through close
personal, often skin-to-skin contact, including during sex.
This includes oral, anal and vaginal sex
or touching the genitals or butt of a person with monkeypox,
hugging, cuddling, massage, and kissing;
touching fabrics and objects during sex that were used
by a person with monkeypox and that have not been cleaned
such as bedding, towels, fetish gear and sex toys.
How can you lower the chance of getting monkeypox at places
like raves, parties, clubs and festivals?
Consider how much close skin-to-skin contact
is likely to occur at the event you plan to attend.
Lower risk activities include festivals, events and concerts where attendees
are fully clothed and unlikely to share skin-to-skin contact.
Be mindful of activities
like kissing and sharing drinks that might spread monkeypox.
Activities with some risk include raves, parties
or clubs where there is minimal clothing and direct skin-to-skin contact.
Avoid any rashes or sores you see on others and consider
minimizing skin-to-skin contact when possible.
Settings where there is a higher likelihood of spreading monkeypox
include enclosed spaces such as back rooms, saunas or sex clubs
where there is minimal or no clothing and where intimate sexual contact occurs.
If you feel sick or have any rashes or sores,
do not attend any gathering and see a health care provider.
What are some ways you can prevent monkeypox?
Talk to your partner about any recent illnesses and be aware
of new or unexplained sores or rashes on your body or your partner's body,
including the mouth, genitals and butt. If you or your partner have recently
been sick, currently feel sick, or have a new or unexplained rash or sores,
do not touch the rash and see your health care provider.
This is always a good plan.
If your partner has monkeypox,
the best way to protect yourself and others is to not have any kind of sex,
including oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
Do not kiss or touch each other's bodies while you're sick or share food or drinks.
Be especially careful not to touch any rash or sores.
Do not share things like towels, bedding, clothing,
fetish gear, sex, toys and toothbrushes.
How can you lower your risk during sex?
If you or your partner have or think you might have monkeypox
and you decide to have sex
consider the following ways to reduce the chance of spreading the virus.
Have virtual sex with no in-person contact.
Masturbate together at a distance
without touching each other and without touching any rash or sores.
Avoid kissing and sharing saliva.
Consider having sex with your clothes on or covering areas
where rash or sores are present.
Reducing as much skin-to-skin contact as possible.
Remember to wash your hands with soap and water and disinfect fetish gear,
sex toys and any fabrics such as bedding, towels, clothing after having sex.
Limit your number of partners
to avoid opportunities for monkeypox to spread.
What should you do if you have a new or unexplained
rash, sores or other symptoms?
Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone
until you have been checked out by a health care provider.
If you don't have a provider
or health insurance, visit a public health clinic near you.
When you see your health care provider, remind them that monkeypox is circulating.
Avoid gatherings, especially if they involve close,
personal skin-to-skin contact.
Think about the people you have had close, personal or sexual contact with
during the last 21 days, including people you met through dating apps.
You might be asked to share this information
if you are confirmed to have monkeypox so that your partners
can watch their health and seek care if they develop monkeypox symptoms.