Ask the Sexpert: Oct. 1, 2009

Dear Sexpert,

Does having swine flu make you more susceptible to a sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

- Sneezy

Dear Sneezy,

I'm going to assume that you are asking this purely out of curiosity, because if you believe that you have swine flu, you should self-isolate. And in case there was any confusion about what it means to self-isolate, it means you should be alone in your room, not in your room with a significant other having sex because you have nothing else to do while sick with swine flu.

But, in the interest of spreading information, you have presented me with an interesting conundrum. The act of getting a STI while sick with swine flu would be difficult, because you should be in self-isolation and because, well, who really wants to have sexual relations with someone sneezing, coughing and running a high fever? (If you've ever had any sort of flu, you know it does not lend itself to being a sexual turn-on.)

Leaving that aside for now, let's assume that you contracted either the STI or swine flu before realizing you were sick with the one and then somehow got the other: You went out to the Street without realizing how sick you were and had sexual relations with someone who may have had an STI, for example. In this situation, you may indeed have been more susceptible to the second as a result of the first, because your immune system had been compromised. So, the short answer to your question: possibly yes.

Just remember to please take care of yourself and others when dealing with any disease. No one wants swine flu or an STI, much less both.

- The Sexpert

‘Sexpert' is written by a team of peer sexual health educators and fact-checked by University health professionals. You can submit questions to sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com. Don't be shy!