When it comes to things were excited about returning post-COVID, there’s indoor sports without a mask, high fives and hugs without fear, not having to get COVID tested every time we have a cold, and of course, SEX PARTIES.

What? Well, maybe it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but many singles (and couples) were excited this summer for the return of Chemistry, a sex party in NYC. After a year and a half of barely making eye contact, people were ready to bang.

Interesting, though, is that researchers have found the pandemic may have had some benefits when it comes to sex and our sexual adventures.

Via VICE:

“Sex and Relationships in the Time of COVID-19,” surveyed 1,559 adults between March 21 and April 14, 2020, and confirmed these struggles. The reasons were unsurprising: depression and stress, which squash libido; and, of course, social distancing, which made meeting new partners almost impossible. But it wasn’t all bad. One in five participants in the study claimed to be experimenting more. They tried new positions, toys, porn, role play, sexting, and acting on fantasies. For a minority, sex and relationships improved. 

If anything, real life became more like sex parties as a result of COVID: conversations around consent—are you comfortable with handshakes, touching, masks on or off—became normalized and frequent; communication around boundaries and disclosures—who you’ve seen, how many people would be present, how recently you traveled—did too. Even testing became an ongoing habit, something people in the sex-positive community do frequently. 

“Sex clubs and parties make that communication explicit and necessary, and that’s a really good thing,” said Frank. “If COVID had any upside for sex, maybe it would be better, more intelligent, and less panicked conversation about STDs,” she added. “People can talk about it without blaming or shaming, you know.”