The Importance of Sexual Health: Why it Matters
Sexual health is an important part of who we are, yet it’s not always a topic that’s talked about openly. Whilst conversations about sexuality and sexual health are becoming more open and inclusive, there’s still a lot of confusion and misinformation out there. Sexual health goes beyond preventing sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, it’s also about sexual identity, consent, making informed choices, having healthy relationships and understanding how sexual health plays a part in our mental health.
With this in mind, let’s explore what sexual health is, how sexual health impacts both our physical health and mental health and find out why setting sexual boundaries is important.
What is Sexual Health?
Sexual health is an important part of our wellbeing, influencing our mental, physical and social health whilst shaping how we relate to relationships and sexuality. Often, when we think about sexual health, we focus on using condoms for safe-sex and protecting ourselves from sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. Whilst this is an important aspect of sexual health, it’s only one part of this important topic.
Sexual health also means having the freedom to explore and express our sexual identity without fear of judgement or harm. It’s about understanding and accepting who we are and recognising that enjoying a healthy sex-life is normal and helps us thrive. Regardless of our sexual orientation or whether we prefer to indulge in casual sex or with a long-term partner, we all have the right to choose how we experience sex, free from coercion, discrimination or violence. Therefore, not only does sexual health impact on our physical health, it can also significantly influence our mental health.
Sexual Health and Physical Health
When we hear about sexual health, we’re always reminded about sexually transmitted infections and preventing unintended pregnancy - let’s find out why these are both important for our physical health.
Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections are infections that are spread through sexual contact, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV. STIs can be transmitted through vaginal, oral, anal, foreplay, sex toys or through skin-to-skin contact. Many sexually transmitted infections don’t show any symptoms, so you might not even realise you have one. If left untreated, they can lead to serious health conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease, fertility issues, chronic pain, reduced sperm quality and cause sexual dysfunction.
To reduce the risk of catching a sexually transmitted infection, it’s important to always wear a condom and to have regular sexual health check-ups - either after every new partner or at least once a year. Knowing your own STI status and being able to discuss it openly with your sexual partners can also reduce the risk of transmission and help to protect your physical health.
Find out more about the symptoms and treatment for these sexually transmitted infections;
Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV)
Preventing pregnancy
Another important aspect of maintaining good sexual health is preventing unintended pregnancies - therefore, knowing your options for contraception is important in being able to make informed choices about your sexual health.
Barrier methods: Condoms, both male and female, are the most common barrier methods. Not only do they protect you from unintended pregnancy, but they also reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
Hormonal: Hormonal contraceptives include the contraceptive pill, patches, injections and implants. Although they prevent the risk of pregnancy, they do not protect against sexually transmitted infections - therefore you still need to wear a condom.
Non-hormonal: Non hormonal contraceptives do not contain hormones, for those that are sensitive to hormones, for example; the copper coil and the progestogen only pill. Whilst non-hormonal contraceptives protect against pregnancy, they don’t protect against sexually transmitted infections, so you’ll need to wear a condom too.
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs): IUD’s can either be hormonal or non-hormonal and are inserted into the uterus, lasting between 3-10 years, depending on the type. You’ll also need to wear a condom with an IUD too.
Emergency contraception: If you have unprotected sex, or a condom breaks, you’ll need emergency contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy. It can either be taken up to 72 hours or up to 120 hours, but the quicker you take it, the more effective it is.
Sexual Health and Mental Health
Sexual health is also strongly linked to our mental and emotional health. Many issues can affect our mental health, such as anxiety about sex, worrying about body image or being confused about our sexual identity. Growing up in a world where social media promotes unrealistic expectations and false relationship standards can make us feel insecure about our own lives or relationships. We’re constantly exposed to images and messages that can impact how we view ourselves sexually - leading to feelings of shame, confusion or inadequacy.
Adolescence is often when we start to explore our sexual identities and preferences which can bring many challenges. The pressure to conform to what is ‘normal’ can be overwhelming, and traditional roles around sexual behaviour can impact on both our sexual and mental health. It’s important to recognise that social media is just a snapshot, showing only the best moments and not the entire picture. Everyone’s sexual journey is different, and it’s okay if your sexual lifestyle doesn’t fit the ‘norm’.
Being curious is a normal part of this journey. It’s natural to want to ask questions and to explore different aspects of your sexuality. If you identify as LGTBTQ+, your sexual health may have more of an impact on your mental health. Coming out can be both exciting and challenging, as it also comes with fears of rejection, discrimination and being misunderstood by those closest to you. It’s not uncommon to feel lonely and overwhelmed during this time, so it’s important to surround yourself with supportive people and find resources and communities that can help you manage these challenges and provide you with a sense of belonging and validation.
Healthy sexual relationships are also important for your mental and emotional health. This means having a sexual partner who respects your boundaries, communicates openly and is considerate. Learning to set boundaries and having the confidence to say no when something doesn’t feel right is an important aspect of maintaining good mental health. Positive sexual experiences can boost your mental and emotional health, while negative ones can lead to feelings of anxiety, guilt and depression which can negatively impact your mental health.
Setting boundaries
Learning to set boundaries is an important skill in any relationship. This means knowing what you feel comfortable with and being able to communicate that to your partner. This may involve reflecting on your own desires and limits, or exploring what you like and dislike through masturbation. Thinking about what you enjoy, what you don’t enjoy and what makes you feel uncomfortable is an important aspect of maintaining positive sexual health.
Sexual health also means having the confidence to say no, when there’s something you’re not happy with. Consent is another important part of sexual health for both positive mental and physical health - knowing and feeling safe that you can stop sexual activity at any time can make your sexual experience feel satisfying and more enjoyable. Therefore, respecting both your own and your partner's boundaries is an important part in maintaining good sexual health.
