Dr. Dustin Costescu Profile picture
Mar 18, 2020 12 tweets 2 min read Read on X
#Sex and #COVID19: Tips from a Sex Doctor (Thread)
Feelings first: It's normal in times of crisis to have fluctuating levels of desire. Some people may have an elevated drive (especially for those who feel sex makes them feel loved), whereas others may have low drive due to stress. Both are normal responses.
Ok, so what's allowed during a pandemic. TLDR answer: we don't know for sure, but, as mentioned, semen and vaginal fluid doesn't transmit virus. Facial secretions do, hence why kissing with a sore throat or cold is never in fashion. Also, stool may contain virus so watch the bum.
It's important to separate social distancing - strategies to reduce exposure to +++ people in close proximity - from avoidance of human contact, especially in a cohort (house) that is reducing exposure to outside.

Sex in a bathhouse = NO. Sex in a bed with 1 or 2 people = OK.
Isolation is a different story. If you're isolating because of a positive swab, yes, abstaining would be prudent (even though a close contact would be at high risk of getting it anyways)
Ok, let's say you're too stressed to have sex. The next step is to COMMUNICATE. Be honest with one another, but also find ways to show love and affection in other ways. Remember those high drive people? Sex is a form of security. Make them feel secure some other way.
Travel is tricky for non-cohabiting couples (not living together) travel for a date is fine - stick to social distancing rules.
Which brings me to apps and non-monogamous friends. This is tough, but, from an epidemiological lens, it's time to cut back on swiping and hooking up with lots of people. We know from the STI world that these connections form wonderful nodes of transmission of infection.
But don't forget that lots of things count as sex. Sexting, voice, video (with consent and don't save it), emailing or co-creating erotic stories, streaming pornography at the same time, toys, the options are endless. A small amount of thought and creativity go a long way.
For people stuck in a routine, try the basic approach to sexual adventuring: WIN

W. WHEN you did "X"
I. I felt "Y", which made me think that
N. NEXT time maybe we could try "Z"
So, with this painfully long thread, I conclude by saying be safe, limit your # of partners, and communicate!

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More from @BirthControlDoc

Feb 26, 2022
Folks, it's time to leave. I want to thank each and every one of you for being a part of my social media journey.
I have loved having a forum to elevate the sexual and reproductive health needs of the communities that shape us, and loved getting to know many of you in the metaverse.
This past year has been the most challenging one of my professional life, made worse by the fact that I had to face it alone. Content generation takes time and energy, and provides unearned PR for employers who fail to provide the most basic protections or support.
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Tweetatorial:

As a family planning researcher and for no other reason, I have a moral duty to share what we know about Self-Managed Abortion. (SMA)...
Self managed abortion SMA is not the same as self-inflicted abortion. SMA uses safe, evidence based regimens to restore menses or, if pregnancy is confirmed, end a pregnancy. These regimens are over 98% effective with less than 1% chance of admission and less risk than childbirth
The following is information and not medical advice. It is based on published clinical practice guidelines and not my own clinical opinion. This does not replace medical care, nor does this promote illegal activity.
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"Should I be worried about the AZ vaccine and clot risk if I'm pregnant or on the pill?"

The short answer is, no. (Mini-thread)
As a reminder, estrogens increase clotting factors and decrease anti-clotting factors, leading to a small but important risk of leg clots (DVT) and lung clots (PE).

The risk from the pill is 1 in about 3300. These risks are higher in pregnancy (1 in 330) or postpartum (1 in 125)
Vaccine-Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia is a very rare (around maybe 1/Million doses) condition caused by an auto-immune response that affects platelets, then coagulation factors that leads to clots.

covid19-sciencetable.ca/sciencebrief/v…
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Jul 4, 2020
Dear prospective male OBGYNs:

Can we talk?
I know that you know how awesome our specialty is. And it never get old - I swear, 3500 deliveries later, it never. Gets. Old.

And the surgery? And Quality of Life issues we address with our patients? *Chef's Kiss*
I am sure you are an amazing person and care deeply about the lives of women and their families, but it's also important to understand that not everyone is going to be comfortable with a male OBGYN, whether it's your family, a friend, or patient.
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BIRTH CONTROL IS GOOD FOR MOST BODIES . Thread .
So, let's start with the obvious. All contraception is safer than the risks of pregnancy and childbirth. ALL OF THEM. Pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy cause millions of deaths worldwide.
But what about cancer!

Sorry, not your birth control.
Cervical cancer is caused by HPV, but IUD and IUS users are less likely to get cervix cancer.

Endometrial cancer is less for IUD users as well, and contraception protects the uterus from diseases that cause cancer like PCOS.
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Mar 14, 2020
Extended use #contraception and #COVID - some friendly reminders:
1) We know from other examples that sexual activity is likely to increase during periods of isolation, especially youth who are left home unsupervised during school breaks. Talk to your kids about condoms and birth control.
2) Long Acting Contraception (implants and IUDs) are the best ways to prevent pregnancy, and can be used by >98% of women.
Read 14 tweets

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