Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Men Who Have Sex With Men That Practice Chemsex in France: Results From the National ERAS Web Survey.

Chemsex-the use of drugs in a sexual context-has been associated with more at-risk sexual practices and substance-related complications in men who have sex with men (MSM). To date, no study has focused on the impact of France's first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related lockdown on the mental health and drug/alcohol use of MSM who practice chemsex. We implemented a web-based survey of 9,488 MSM living in France in June 2020 (after the country's first COVID-19 lockdown). Specifically, we first compared the subpopulation of MSM who self-reported practicing chemsex during their most recent sexual intercourse (defined as "chemsexers") with other MSM, using five outcomes: increased 1/tobacco use, 2/alcohol use, and 3/other psychoactive drug use. 4/using psychotropic medication during the lockdown, and finally 5/psychological distress. We then analyzed the outcomes' associations with the main explanatory variable "chemsexer," after adjusting for all relevant variables. Among 7,195 MSM who had sexual intercourse with a man during the previous 6 months, 359 participants (5%) were identified as "chemsexers." Multivariable analyses showed that during the first lockdown period, chemsexers were significantly more likely than non-chemsexers to have increased their use of tobacco, alcohol, and other psychoactive substances. Chemsexers were also more likely to have used psychotropic medication and to have experienced psychological distress during the previous month. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in France and worldwide, this finding highlights the need to develop psychosocial interventions and harm reduction services for MSM chemsexers, potentially via mobile health.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Quarantine on Sexual Life in Italy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate how individual and couple's sexuality had changed during the COVID-19 pandemic-related quarantine. METHODS: A quantitative correlational research study was conducted, using a web-based survey. RESULTS: About 1576 participants were involved: 1018 women (64.6%) and 558 men (35.4%). A significant decline in the mean well-being scores during the quarantine, compared to before, was reported. A positive correlation between the well-being scores and the number of sexual intercourse (SI) before and during the quarantine was found. The mean number of SI decreased significantly during the quarantine. The main reasons were: poor privacy (43.2%) and lack of psychological stimuli (40.9%). About 1124 respondents (71.3%) did not report sexual desire (SD) reduction. A positive association between SD and SI during the quarantine was found. About 61.2% did not report autoerotism reduction. In those who reported decreased masturbation activity, the main causes were poor privacy (46.4%) and lack of desire (34.7%). We found that men presented lower SD during the quarantine, than women (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Potentially, the more time available might lead couples to reconnect at an intimate level and to improve their sexuality. However, the majority of quarantined participants experienced reduced number of SI per week, with poor household privacy and lack of psychological stimuli as cited causes, even as a majority did not report reduced autoeroticism.

Can a health care worker have sex in the time of COVID-19?

Covid-19 is not transmitted by sex but close proximity during the act could aide in spread of the disease. Health care workers by virtue of the nature of their work have higher chances of exposure to the virus and them indulging in sex needs risk reduction strategies.