Sexual Fluid From Women With Severe COVID-19 Tests Negative For The Virus

Postmenopausal women suffering from severe coronavirus infection do not carry the virus in their vaginal fluid, a new study demonstrated. About ten COVID-19 patients admitted to an intensive care unit all tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 in their vaginal fluid.

“This finding suggests that the likelihood of transmitting SARS-Cov-2 to sexual partners through a virus in vaginal fluids may be low," Medscape Medical News quoted the study authors.

The study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases analyzed the vaginal fluid samples from 10 women in the age group 52-80 admitted to Tongji Zhongfa Hospital's ICU for severe pneumonia due caused by the deadly novel coronavirus. Vaginal swabs were collected from 17 to 40 days after the symptoms appeared. Their findings reported that all the samples tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.

Another study also reported that the virus wasn’t detected in amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, or throat swabs of neonates. It suggested that the risk of coronavirus transmission from a mother to her child might be very low.

“Findings from this small group of cases suggest that no SARS-CoV-2 virus existing in the vaginal fluids of severe COVID-19 patients,” concluded the study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

However, to understand this better, there is a need for further research about possible differences in the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 in the female genital tract of premenopausal women.

People have also been wondering what the virus outbreak means for their sex lives in general. Although the virus is known to be spreading via respiratory droplets and touching contaminated surfaces, there have been no patterns indicating sexual transmission. However, experts recommend that couples avoid each other as much as possible if either of them has tested positive for COVID-19. For those who are single, they are recommended to stay home as much as possible and maintain physical distance from other people.

“There is no evidence that the COVID-19 can be transmitted via either vaginal or anal intercourse. However, kissing is a very common practice during sexual intercourse, and the virus can be transmitted via saliva. Therefore, the virus can be transmitted by kissing. There is also evidence of oral-fecal transmission of the COVID-19 and that implies that analingus may represent a risk for infection,” The Guardian quoted Dr. Carlos E Rodríguez-Díaz, professor at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health.