Beyond World Sexual Health Day, your sexual health matters all year long. It’s vital to overall wellbeing, spanning physical, emotional, and mental health. It includes health, education, identity, pleasure, satisfaction, and access to vital resources and services. If sexual health feels unfamiliar or overwhelming, you’re not alone. Let’s explore three key areas to help you feel safer, more informed, and more empowered in your body and relationships.
Physical health is perhaps one of the most talked about aspects of sexual health. Taking care of your physical health means using protection, such as condoms, and being tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI) regularly. If you’re sexually active, getting tested is one of the most important things you can do for your health and the health of your partner(s). Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be experiencing symptoms to get tested. In fact, some of the most common STIs, such as chlamydia, are largely asymptomatic. According to Stony Brook Medicine, individuals with one partner should be tested annually while those with multiple partners should be tested every 3-6 months. Testing can be done via physical exam, blood, urine, or swab and can be completed at your doctor’s office, urgent care, or at home.
What’s talked about less frequently, and is equally important, is mental health. Mental health covers self-esteem and body image, which can impact your comfort with intimacy, your ability to voice your needs, mental health conditions that can interfere with sexual libido or performance, trauma history, which can change the way you navigate sexual activity, and relationship dynamics, which are ultimately responsible for a healthy sex life. Managing your mental health will not only improve your sexual health but also life in general.
A few practical ways you can manage your mental health include:
- Managing stress
- Building your self-esteem
- Practicing open communication
- Addressing past trauma
- Seeking help for mental health conditions
- Prioritizing pleasure over performance
Arguably one of the most important aspects of sexual health is understanding consent. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, also known as RAINN, describes consent as a clear and freely communicated agreement between participants to engage in a sexual activity. Consent is all about communication and can be revoked at any time. It’s not a blanket agreement either. For example, agreeing to kiss someone does not mean you also agree to engage in sexual activity with them. Consent is required for each individual interaction. RAINN also discusses enthusiastic consent which is “a newer model for understanding consent that focuses on a positive expression of consent.” This means looking for an enthusiastic “yes,” rather than the absence of a “no.” Enthusiastic consent can be expressed in words and body language, though you should always seek verbal confirmation from your partner.
Physical health, mental health, and consent are just three small facets that make up sexual health. It encompasses so much more than what we’ve touched on here. Sexual health is a lifelong journey of education, self-awareness, and respect, both for yourself and others. When you practice consent and prioritize your health, you start building a foundation for safe, fulfilling, and empowered sexual experiences. To learn more about sexual health and how you can empower yourself, check out Mass General Hospital or Planned Parenthood.
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