Sex In The Time Of Covid

Keep it virtual and carry on

- Swapna C

Should you wear a mask during sex?” read the WhatsApp message from a friend who was ranting about how the pandemic made it tougher for singles to date safely. Before dismissing it as a joke, I decided to google it, and to my surprise, I found that some Harvard researchers do recommend using a face mask while having sex.

However, not all couples or singles use virtual sex as an alternative because physical sex is not an option. There are those who feel that virtual sex is enjoyable regardless of whether one is single, in a long-distance relationship or living with a partner who needs to self-quarantine as a precaution.

A few such men and women shared their pre-Covid virtual sex experiences, which include sexting or exchanging nude pics or talking dirty over a voice call or a video call. None of their experiences started out of a need to stay safe and most of them did not even see it as an alternative to physical intimacy. It is just an extension of the pleasure to many.

THE SAFEST SEX IS SEX WITH YOURSELF…

...and the best too, if Tanvi Aggarwal is to be believed. This 31-year-old yoga teacher from Kolkata enjoys virtual sex so much that she feels it compares favourably with the real deal.

According to Tanvi, “Phone sex takes time. It is almost like someone is reading an erotic novel to you. Your imagination runs wild and you reach a state which you may not be able to achieve during physical sex. It is, in fact, better than the real deal because you have someone stimulating you with erotic words on the phone. Plus, you are touching yourself in all the right spots leading to the big O!”