key: cord-0807703-zug0x23h authors: Cipriano, Massimiliano; Giacalone, Andrea; Ruberti, Enzo title: Sexual Behaviors During COVID-19: The Potential Risk of Transmission date: 2020-06-05 journal: Arch Sex Behav DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01757-0 sha: 9fa4a18c88db30fdd12293413a349e9752e09152 doc_id: 807703 cord_uid: zug0x23h nan Several studies have demonstrated the presence of viral RNA in the feces of patients affected by COVID-19, suggesting the possibility of viral transmission through the oral-fecal route (Nouri-Vaskeh & Alizadeh, 2020; Zhang et al., 2020) . Furthermore, there is evidence proving that fecal tests continue to be positive even after the respiratory specimens become negative (Tian, Rong, Nian, & He, 2020) . Studies aimed at investigating the potential mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 transmission and infection at the level of the oral cavity have shown that ACE2 is expressed by the mucosal epithelial cells. The expression of this molecule is higher at the tongue level than in gingival and buccal tissues, indicating it as a possible route of infection (Xu et al., 2020) . Moreover, live viruses were detected in the saliva of infected individuals . In order to explore the possibility of sexual transmission, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 was tested in vaginal fluid and semen of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. In one study (Pan et al., 2020) , Sars-CoV-2 was detected in semen samples of 34 Chinese men recovering from COVID-19 with milder symptoms. In two other studies, one in which 35 female COVID-19 patients were recruited and who came from different geographical areas of Wuhan (Cui et al., 2020) and another in which were 10 postmenopausal woman with severe COVID-19 were recruited (Qiu et al., 2020) , Sars-CoV-2 was detected in vaginal fluids. In these studies, SARS-CoV-2 was not found either in semen or in vaginal fluids of positive cases. This does not exclude the possibility of viral transmission through sexual behavior (e.g., oral/anal contacts). Indeed, viral particles may be transmitted through oral sex and use of saliva as a lubricant. This is supported, as previously described, by the shedding of viral particles through the saliva and the feces and the presence of ACE2 receptors on the epithelium lining the oral cavity and the rectum. Physicians should inform their patients about these risk behaviors in order to avoid further spreading of the virus. The importance of increasing awareness on less common transmission routes stems from the high number of contagious persons, including asymptomatic individuals and patients Clinical characteristics and intrauterine vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in nine pregnant women: A retrospective review of medical records Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: A descriptive study Clinical features and sexual transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2 infected female patients: A descriptive study in Wuhan, China. medRxiv. Epidemiology for Public Health-Istituto Superiore di Sanità Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan Chest CT findings in 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infections from Wuhan, China: Key points for the radiologist Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is a functional receptor for the SARS coronavirus 2019-nCoV transmission through the ocular surface must not be ignored Fecal transmission in COVID-19: A potential shedding route No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen of males recovering from COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 is not detectable in the vaginal fluid of women with severe COVID-19 infection Review article: Gastrointestinal features in COVID-19 and the possibility of faecal transmission Consistent detection of 2019 novel coronavirus in saliva Evidence for gastrointestinal infection of SARS-CoV-2 High expression of ACE2 receptor of 2019-nCoV on the epithelial cells of oral mucosa Molecular and serological investigation of 2019-nCoV infected patients: Implications of multiple shedding routes A pneumonia outbreak associated with a new coronavirus of probable bat origin