"Hi everyone! I’m Dr. Stephanie Camaglia Reznick. I'm a board certified internist and one of the medical directors for Virtual Primary Care here at Oscar.
In today's video, we’ll be talking about sexual health. It’s an important topic that can affect having healthy relationships, ensuring that pregnancies are planned, and avoiding catching any infections.
The importance of communication
Before you engage in sexual activity with a new partner, make sure to talk to them. Discuss past partners, prior STIs, and if you’ve engaged in any drug use, especially intravenous or IV drug use as that’s a risk factor for having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
I also recommend that you and your partner have recent sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing as you might not have symptoms but still be able to pass on an infection.
Preparing for safe sex
I recommend that you use dental dams and condoms with all of your partners. This will decrease your risk of catching an STI.
Remember that drinking alcohol or using drugs will decrease your ability to inhibit your behavior and you might end up in engaging in high-risk sex that you otherwise would not have engaged in.
Make sure to pay attention to your body and that your partner is paying attention to theirs as well, looking for signs of potential infection such as rashes, blisters, sores, or discharge.
Again, many people may be asymptomatic and still pass on infections, and this is why routine STI testing is recommended.
If you identify as a womxn with an intact cervix, remember to get your Pap smears and your regular pelvic exams as recommended by your gynecologist.
If you know you’re likely to engage in high-risk sexual behavior, talk to your primary care provider about PreP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis. PrEP is a medication you can take that will decrease your risk of acquiring HIV if you do participate in high-risk sexual behavior.
Sexual health & COVID-19
I’d also like to talk about sexual health in the setting of coronavirus which adds another layer of risk.
The coronavirus can be passed through saliva — such as through kissing — as well as microscopic fecal particles which you may be exposed to during oral or anal intercourse. For this reason, it’s recommended that you use dental dams or condoms especially right now as it’s an extra layer of protection for COVID-19 in addition to more traditional STIs.
During the pandemic, make sure that both you and your partner feel healthy so you’re less likely to pass on the infection, but keep in mind like with traditional STIs, someone may be asymptomatic but still carrying the coronavirus.
If you have a sexual partner, encourage them to be considered part of your pod or extended household so that you can limit your overall exposure to COVID-19. You’re not just exposed to your partner, but whomever your partner is exposed to as well."
*Virtual providers like Dr. Reznick are employed by Oscar Medical Group and are not employed by Oscar Health, Inc.
This content does not constitute medical advice and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, including diagnosis or treatment. Contact your physician with any questions you may have regarding COVID-19 or your personal health. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 911 for immediate assistance.
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