The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has some baffling advice on how to have sex if you've got monkeypox. Yep, really.
The virus can cause a high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, shivering and exhaustion before a rash appears around one to five days after the first symptoms start to show in the body.
The rash, which is sometimes confused with chickenpox, begins to appear as raised spots before turning into small fluid-filled blisters. The blisters will eventually scab before falling off.
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The virus can be passed on through coughs and sneezes of a person with the rash, sharing clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the infection or by touching the monkeypox blisters or scabs - including during sex.
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In a bid to eliminate exposure to the virus, the CDC has released some rather strange guidance on how to continue having sex safely if you are infected - including masturbating two metres apart. Fair.
The CDC has stated that anyone who is infectious must not have sex, with the infection usually lasting a few weeks according to the NHS.
However, the centre has provided an alternative list of sex advice for those who choose to ignore the recommendation.
Among the advice was the recommendation to avoid undressing when getting down and dirty, instead, having sex while fully clothed to ensure the rashes are fully covered.
The healthcare experts also recommend avoiding kissing, while being careful to wash hands, sex toys and clothes straight away after sex.
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Elsewhere, couples could opt to remove the risk of physical contact altogether and have sex virtually, either over the phone, via video call or by sexting.
Previously, the organisation published its advice on having sex with monkeypox earlier this month on its page on 'social gatherings, safer sex, and monkeypox'.
The statement said: “If you or a partner has monkeypox, the best way to protect yourself and others is to not have sex of any kind (oral, anal, vaginal) and not to kiss or touch each other's bodies while you are sick, especially any rashes or sores.”
“[But] if you or your partner have (or think you might have monkeypox) and you decide to have sex, consider the following to reduce the chance of spreading the virus.”
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Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Public Health Scotland (PHS), Public Health Wales (PHW) and Public Health Agency Northern Ireland (PHA), have all previously released sex-related guidance around the virus, agreeing that those who previously had the virus should use condoms for eight weeks after infection.
Robert Davies, relationship expert at Condoms.uk, said of the advice: “Monkeypox is spread through physical contact, so to manage the transmission of the disease patients are advised to abstain from sex during the period of early symptom onset and avoid contact with any lesions.
“In the eight weeks following infection, people are also being advised, as a precaution, to use condoms during any sexual activity. Condoms block infections by stopping contact between the wearer’s penis and their partner’s genital secretions, skin, and mucosa. However, if you do not use your condom correctly, the protective properties may be reduced.”
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: News, US News, Health, Sex and Relationships