Changes in sexual behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: Patterns and recommendations

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has upended lifestyles, routines, and relationships with significant physical and mental health implications. Sexual health, behavior, and functioning have been affected but have received comparatively little attention. In this article, we do not provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of the pandemic on sexual functioning; instead, we examine fundamental changes in sexual behavior during the ongoing pandemic and provide some recommendations for enhancing the sexual health of individuals as well as couples. There is a distinct need to reinvent intimacy and relationships to enable a more fulfilling sexual experience