The more people stay home, the easier it will be to stop the spread of COVID-19, which will save lives. The best thing you can do is stay home and avoid being physically close to other people as much as you can — especially if your city, town, or county is telling people to self-isolate, practice social distancing, or shelter in place. You’ll not only protect yourself, you’ll help your family, friends, and community stay healthy and safe, too.
It’s an uncertain time for everyone. But when it comes to learning about sexual health, we’re here with you, no matter what — even if you can’t go outside. If you want to learn more about sexual health, are spending extra time with your kids (who have lots of questions!), or just want something to do during your couch time, we’ve got tons of fun and educational videos, apps, and other digital resources for people of all ages.
For young people (or anyone wanting to brush up on their sexual health info):
Roo — Our totally free, private sexual health chatbot that answers all your questions about sex, relationships, puberty, and more. No question is too awkward or embarrassing for Roo, so ask away! You can also check out our Roo High School video series.
Chat/Text — For those times you need to talk with a real person, chat or text in real-time with trained health educators about pregnancy, STDs, birth control, and more. It’s free and confidential.
Consent 101 videos— This four-video series is all about consent — what it is, how to know if someone wants to have sex with you, and what to do if they don’t.
Talking about safer sex, testing, and STDs — These three live-action videos show you how to have those sometimes awkward (but always necessary) conversations with your sexual partners without blaming, shaming, or ruining the mood.
Spot On— Our gender-neutral app helps you track your period, fertility, and birth control method. It’s free and available for download in your phone’s app store. You’ll also get period facts and tips from the experts at Planned Parenthood — and keep an eye out for Cycleosaurus, the friendly dinosaur! Download the Spot On app and start your own 30 Night Challenge at home.
PlannedParenthood.org/teens— We’ve got tons of great info on our site about puberty, relationships, staying safe online, and more.
Ours to Tell— A short film that shares the stories of four people from diverse backgrounds and the empowerment that comes from being able to access abortion and live full, healthy lives.
How to respond to a story of sexual assault— A video with tips for responding in a supportive and compassionate way if someone shares their experience of sexual assault, without adding to the shame and guilt that many survivors feel.
Sexual health videos — Quick, animated videos that give you the basics on birth control, how pregnancy happens (you might be surprised at the timeline!), STDs, PrEP and PEP, and abortion. (También en español.)
Videos for parents — From talking to your kids about where babies come from to gender, porn, and more, we’ve got the tips to help you tackle the tough topics and keep your kids healthy, from preschool to middle school. (También en español.)
The Talk Show — You might be watching a little more TV than usual right now. This TV watching guide helps you use storylines from TV and movies to have easy, honest conversations with your kids about sex, relationships, social media, body image, and more. (También en español.)
PlannedParenthood.org/Parents— From preschool through high school, our parents’ guide gives you great advice on how to have honest, age-appropriate conversations with your kids about bodies, relationships, sexuality, safety, and more. (También en español.)
Use Roo together — Our sexual health chatbot can help guide conversations with your kids about those topics that can sometimes feel awkward to talk about. You can let your kid lead the way, or take turns asking Roo questions and discussing the answers.
PlannedParenthood.org/Teens — You and your kid can click around the site together and talk about topics you come across. Or send it to your teen and leave them to browse on their own, letting them know they can come to you with any questions. (También en español.)
should I worry about COVID 19 affecting my sex life? I’m in the beginning of a newer relationship and I didn’t know whether I should put anything on hold. any advice?
It’s a question that lots of people have right now: when we’re all supposed to be steering clear of each other in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, what does that mean for your sex life? These are uncertain times, but we’re here with you. And we’re going to be here in every way we can with health care and information you need. We’ve got some tips on how to keep your sex life afloat while we all wait this out.
The best way to prevent getting COVID-19 is to avoid your exposure to the virus in the first place. That means avoiding close contact with people who may be ill, especially if you’re at higher risk of getting sick. The CDC recommends social distancing at this time, because someone can have COVID-19 right now without knowing it or showing any signs. That means we should all stay away from large gatherings and keep 6 feet between you and all other people when possible. In certain cities, people might need to stay inside except when it’s absolutely necessary for them to leave their home — like to go to the pharmacy or grocery store.
Obviously these rules don’t line up with the way we usually think about getting sexy with someone else — like being close, holding hands, hugging, making out, and having sex. Taking care of your sexual health and your overall health go hand-in-hand. So you might have to make some changes to your romantic life at this time, if possible.
This can be a very isolating and lonely time if you’re hitting “pause” on sex and relationships or can’t be with your sexual partners. But that doesn’t mean you can’t connect in other ways — people in long distance relationships do it all the time! There are things you can do to stay intimate and *ahem* busy, alone or with a partner:
Masturbate — solo sex can relax you in times of high anxiety or stress.
Read a romantic novel or steamy short story (or write your own!).
Go old school and write a letter or postcard to your boo.
Put on your favorite outfit, glam yourself up, and do a photoshoot (this one’s great if you’re feeling a little lazy from spending days in your PJs).
Video chat — go on a date via video and talk over some coffee or a meal.
Swap playlists of your favorite sexy songs.
Go on a virtual date — watch a movie together over video, play a video game or virtual board game, or listen to an album or playlist together.
If you have more sexy social distancing-friendly suggestions, drop ‘em when you reblog.
We also know that your sexual and reproductive health care can’t wait. We don’t want you to worry about getting your birth control, learning your pregnancy options, accessing STI tests, or receiving cancer screenings. We’re doing everything we can to get you the information and care you need. Whether we provide services online, by phone, in person or chat/text – we’re here with you.
Thanks for doing your best to keep yourself and your community healthy and safe. We’re in this together.