The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidelines instructing the public on how to mitigate the risk of transmitting monkeypox while engaging sexually with a partner.
While touting the monkeypox vaccine, CDC recommends anyone with monkeypox abstain from sex.
“Vaccination is an important tool in preventing the spread of monkeypox. But given the current limited supply of vaccine, consider temporarily changing some behaviors that may increase your risk of being exposed. These temporary changes will help slow the spread of monkeypox until vaccine supply is adequate,” the federal agency states in its Aug. 5guidance.”If you or a partner has monkeypox, the best way to protect yourself and others is to avoid sex of any kind (oral, anal, vaginal) and do not kiss or touch each other’s bodies while you are sick, especially any rash. Do not share things like towels, fetish gear, sex toys, and toothbrushes.”
The CDC goes on to outline various ways to prevent transmission of the virus during sex.
“Masturbate together at a distance of at least 6 feet, without touching each other and without touching any rash,” the CDC continues. “Consider having sex with your clothes on or covering areas where rash is present, reducing as much skin-to-skin contact as possible. If the rash is confined to the genitals or anus, condoms may help; however, condoms alone are likely not enough to prevent monkeypox.”
Approximately 6,617 people in the United States, primarily gay and bisexual men, have been diagnosed with monkeypox to date, according to the CDC.
