Sexual Health: 3 Things you need to know

Sexual health plays a crucial role in one’s life. It is influenced and can be affected by other aspects of health such as physical, emotional, mental and social.

If you prioritise your sexual health, it also means that you’re taking care of your body and overall well-being. Aside from that, you’ll enjoy a comfortable and enjoyable sex life. It also means that you are respectful, well-informed and careful with yourself and with others.

To help you understand it better, here is a blog post on the things you need to know about sexual health.

Definition of sexual health

According to the definition given by the World Health Organization, sexual health is a state of emotional, physical, social and mental well-being that is related to one’s sexuality. It also involves the ability to be intimate with your lover, to act intentionally and responsibly, to be sexually functional, and to communicate explicitly about your sexual needs and desires.

Moreover, other people define it as the ability to enjoy and express their sexuality without worrying about the risks of unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, coercion, discrimination and violence.

Common sexual problems

According to studies, around 60% of women in Australia are reported to have one or more sexual problems. These sexual problems or sexual dysfunctions usually prevent a person from experiencing satisfaction during sex. It may also cause them distress.

Various types of sexual problems are often related to the following areas:

Arousal – This is the physical response of a person to sexual thoughts or activities. It can be in the form of lubrication or swelling of the genitals. However, some people are having troubles with their arousal. They can be either having difficulty to become aroused or are unable to maintain arousal during sexual activity.

Libido – This is the desire to take part or participate in any sexual activity whether with yourself or with a partner. When someone has a low libido, their desire or interest in sex is also low.

Orgasm – It is the climax of any erotic act. It is usually characterised by the pleasure that is centred on the genitals. People with orgasmic dysfunction usually experienced a delayed or lack of sexual climax even when they are already aroused.

Frequency – This is how often you take part or engage in any sexual activities. Based on a study, an average adult usually participates in sex about 54 times a year or an average of once a week. But for others, they even have sex for more than once a week.

Pain – There are different kinds of pain an individual may experience during sex. It can be pelvic pain, low abdominal pain, genital pain and many more. These discomforts may happen during intercourse or can occur on their own.

How to achieve good sexual health

Here are some tips and reminders to help you and your partner achieve good sexual health.

Communication

• Talk to your partner about your sexual limits. You also have to respect each other’s boundaries.
• Ask your lover when is their preferred time to have sex and when not to have sex.
• When your partner refuses to have sex, accept it without resentment or feeling insulted.
• Aside from caressing, holding and kissing, talk to your partner about giving cues in expressing their feeling of attraction and desire.

Relationships

• Choose a reliable and responsible partner.
• Avoid having exploitative relationships.
• Practice being sexually intimate without touching your partner physically. You can verbally express sexual attraction or talk about sexual feelings.
• Take personal responsibility for your own sexual boundaries.

Self-worth and self-esteem

• Be sensually aware and stay conscious of your body.
• Appreciate your own body.
• Allow yourself to experience sexual pleasure without the feeling of disgust or shame.
• Be comfortable with your sexual identity and orientation.
• Always be aware of the impact of negative sex acts. These may include sexual abuse, risky sexual behaviour and many more.

Contraception and protection

• Use contraceptives effectively. You can use condoms and practice safe sex. This is to avoid unwanted pregnancy and getting sexually transmitted diseases.
• Do regular check-ups, testicular and breast self-exams, regular testing for STDs and other health-promoting practices.

Conclusion

Taking care of your sexual health involves a lot of effort. Most of the time, it requires a clear and considerate approach to one’s sexuality and sexual relationships. Good thing, this blog post will just give you a quick guide on promoting good sexual health.

If you want see more useful insights about sex, sexuality, relationships and other related topics, feel free to browse through a reliable online sex toy shop. They can provide relevant information regarding these topics. Apart from that, they can supply various adult toys and accessories for all kinds of sexual activity.