Safer Sex, Social Gatherings, and Monkeypox

In general

Monkeypox can spread through close, intimate contact, and people with more sexual partners have a higher risk of infection, even if they've been fully vaccinated against monkeypox.

The risk of getting monkeypox is higher in settings with close, skin-to-skin contact, such as sex parties or clubs. Reduce your risk by limiting your number of sexual partners, avoiding sexual contact if you're sick or when you have a rash, minimizing skin-to-skin contact, not sharing items with people who have monkeypox, and getting medical care if you are sick with monkeypox or if you may have been exposed to the disease.

And don't forget: there's a vaccine! JYNNEOS is a safe and effective 2-dose vaccine that protects against monkeypox (also known as mpox).

• Getting both doses provides the best protection against monkeypox.
• The second dose should be given 4 weeks after the first dose. However, if it has been longer than 4 weeks since you got the first dose, get the second dose as soon as possible.
• While no vaccine is 100% effective, if people do get monkeypox after they've been vaccinated, they tend to have milder symptoms and do not need to be hospitalized from monkeypox.

Sex or intimate contact

Studies have shown that people who had more sexual partners were more likely to get monkeypox after getting both doses of the vaccine. It may be that more chances to get monkeypox may increase your risk, even if you're fully vaccinated. You may consider limiting your number of sex partners to make it less likely that you'll be exposed to monkeypox.

No vaccine is 100% effective, and there have been cases of monkeypox in people who were fully vaccinated. But even if you get monkeypox after being vaccinated, the vaccine may help protect you against severe infection, hospitalization, and death. The people who have gotten monkeypox after being vaccinated had milder symptoms, and to date, no one who's been vaccinated has been hospitalized from monkeypox.

Keep in mind

• Spaces like back rooms, saunas, sex clubs, or private and public sex parties, where intimate, often anonymous sexual contact with multiple partners occurs—can spread monkeypox.
• Condoms (latex or polyurethane) may protect your anus (butthole), mouth, penis, or vagina from exposure to monkeypox. However, condoms alone may not prevent all exposures to monkeypox since the rash can occur on other parts of the body.
• Gloves (latex, polyurethane, or nitrile) might also reduce the possibility of exposure if inserting fingers or hands into the vagina or the anus. The gloves must cover all exposed skin and be removed carefully to avoid touching the outer surface.
• Be aware that monkeypox can also spread through respiratory secretions with close, face-to-face contact.
• Remember to wash your hands, fetish gear, sex toys, and any fabrics (bedding, towels, clothes) after having sex. Learn more about infection control.
• Make a habit of exchanging contact information with any new partner to allow for sexual health follow-up, if needed.

Raves, parties, clubs, festivals, and similar events

• If you feel sick or have a rash, do not attend any gathering, and see a healthcare provider.
• Get both doses of vaccine before attending any gathering where you may be at higher risk of getting monkeypox.
• Enclosed spaces, such as back rooms, saunas, sex clubs, or private and public sex parties where intimate, often anonymous sexual contact with multiple partners occurs, may have a higher likelihood of spreading monkeypox.
• Consider how much close, personal, skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur at the event you plan to attend:
  • Festivals, events, and concerts where attendees are fully clothed and unlikely to share skin-to-skin contact are safer. However, attendees should be mindful of activities (like kissing) that might spread monkeypox.
  • A rave, party, or club where there is minimal clothing and where there is direct, personal, often skin-to-skin contact has some risk. Avoid any rash you see on others and consider minimizing skin-to-skin contact.

If you've been exposed to monkeypox

Talk with your partner about any possible monkeypox symptoms you have and be aware of any new or unexplained rash or lesion on either of your bodies, including the mouth, genitals (penis, testicles, vulva, or vagina), or anus (butthole).

If you or a partner has monkeypox or think you may have monkeypox, the best way to protect yourself and others is to avoid sex of any kind (oral, anal, vaginal) or kissing or touching each other's bodies while you are sick – be especially careful to avoid any rash you may see. Do not share things like towels, fetish gear, sex toys, and toothbrushes. Get checked out by a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

If you or your partner has monkeypox or may have been exposed, reduce the risk of spreading the disease if you decide to have sex:

• Masturbate together at a distance without touching each other and without touching any rash.
• Have virtual sex with no in-person contact.
• Consider having sex with your clothes on or covering areas where rash is present, reducing as much skin-to-skin contact as possible. Leather or latex gear also provides a barrier to skin-to-skin contact; be sure to change or clean clothes/gear between partners and after use.

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