‘Masturbation will not spread COVID-19’: Solo sex is best option for pleasure during quarantine, especially if you live alone
Quarantining is hard as it is, but chances are it’s a bit tougher if you live alone.
For single people, who may have spent time searching for love pre-pandemic by going on dates, swiping on dating apps, or engaging in the occasional hook up, the stay-at-home order likely has ended their love and sex lives as they know it.
But that doesn’t mean sexual pleasure is over — it just looks different, like engaging in more masturbation.
At the end of March, the New York Health Department issued a guide to its residents about physical intimacy during the stay-at-home order, answering the ever-popular question, “Can you still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic?
The guide gave residents “some tips for how to enjoy sex and to avoid spreading COVID-19,” essentially telling residents to either have sex with themselves or someone they live with.
“You are your safest sex partner,” the guide said. “Masturbation will not spread COVID-19, especially if you wash your hands (and any sex toys) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after sex.”
There has been between a 30% to 100% increase in sex toy sales, according to reports from the Los Angeles Times, and as much as a 263% increase for one brand, based on reports from AdWeek.
Searah Deysach, owner of Early to Bed, a feminist sex shop in Andersonville, said her business has “definitely seen an increase in (the purchase of) masturbation toys” since the stay-at-home order was put in place.
“I think a lot of people are stuck home alone, and there’s people who normally would be having sex with dates, or people who they are not sheltered at home with,” said Deysach. “So a lot of people are — for stress relief and sexual pleasure and all the other reasons why anyone would masturbate — are finding themselves doing it more on their own, and looking for creative ways to make it a little more fun, more interesting, and take a little strain off our hands and wrists as well.”
There has been between a 30% to 100% increase in sex toy sales, according to reports from the Los Angeles Times, and as much as a 263% increase for one brand, based on reports from AdWeek.
Searah Deysach, owner of Early to Bed, a feminist sex shop in Andersonville, said her business has “definitely seen an increase in (the purchase of) masturbation toys” since the stay-at-home order was put in place.
“I think a lot of people are stuck home alone, and there’s people who normally would be having sex with dates, or people who they are not sheltered at home with,” said Deysach. “So a lot of people are — for stress relief and sexual pleasure and all the other reasons why anyone would masturbate — are finding themselves doing it more on their own, and looking for creative ways to make it a little more fun, more interesting, and take a little strain off our hands and wrists as well.”
Deysach said she’s also been fielding a lot more questions about the topic too.
“Our social media person has been taking a lot of questions via Instagram and we’re doing a lot of helping folks via email,” said Deysach. “We’re definitely getting questions about specific toys, and masturbation toys seem to be very, very popular right now, so we’re definitely answering lots of specific questions about those.”
But even with the increase in sales, she doesn’t think masturbation is becoming destigmatized.
“I think during this quarantine, masturbation is seen as, ‘Well, you don’t have any other choice,” said Deysach. “I think masturbation should be more celebrated, that it’s a wonderful way to express your sexuality, and have it just be about you, and it’s good for you and it’s healthy and makes you happy.”
