Sharp decline in sexual activity during lockdown will soon be a big problem for the government

You don’t need to be a prophet to see how, as restrictions ease, sexual activity will surge at the same time as sexual health services are in decline, writes Ian Hamilton

All types of sexual activity declined during lockdown (Getty)

One of the least talked about aspects of this pandemic is the impact it has had on sexual activity. It would be remarkable, given the intrusive nature of the restrictions, if this part of our lives hadn’t been affected. A glimpse into this is provided by new research exploring what happened to young people aged between 18 and 32 following the first lockdown in May last year.

The researchers asked 565 young people about sexual activity including masturbation, intercourse and watching pornography prior to and during this lockdown period. They found all types of sexual activity declined during lockdown but it was intercourse with a partner that saw the greatest fall, with over a quarter reporting this change.

Underlying this overall decline in sex, there were notable gender differences. Men and LGBT+ individuals reported increasing sexual desire, whereas women reported the opposite. Desire was measured using an assessment that explores how much a person has thought about sex, both with another person and by themselves.