What is Sexual Health and Why Is It Important?
You may have seen images of wellness wheels that highlight the different components of wellness. These wellness wheels remind us that our health and well-being is more than just our physical health. And yet, even some of the most thorough wellness wheels still forgot to include sexual health as one of the components of wellness. Before, we dive in and define sexual health for you, take a moment to consider what comes to mind when you think about what sexual health entails.
What is Sexual Health?
According to the World Health Organization, sexual health is “…a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled.”
There’s a lot of solid information to take in from this definition, so we want to highlight some of the really important components of this definition. Contrary to what many of us have been taught about sexual health, it is not merely the absence of sexual problems or illnesses. Sexual health also involves pleasure, something that has been excluded from many sex ed conversations at school and home. Sexual health requires consent and respect. It is related to our physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. For this reason, addressing sexual health concerns often requires healthcare providers to look at the biopsychosocio-cultural factors that are in the picture.
When it comes to wellness, when one component of wellness has taken a hit, it often impacts other components of wellness on the wellness wheel. If you’re noticing any sexual health difficulties, be sure to consider other components of wellness that may be impacting you such as your physical health, mental health, occupational health, financial health, etc. As always, be sure to reach out to a qualified and trained healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about your sexual health.
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When we talk about our health, people often think about their physical or mental health. Sexual health, however, is one component of wellness that often gets overlooked. This workshop will help you understand what sexual health is, and it will describe the different dimensions that make up our overall sexual health.
Video Duration: 34 minutes
Concerns about body image can have an impact on one's sexual pleasure. In this workshop, you'll have the opportunity to reflect on factors that have influenced your own beliefs about your body or sexuality. Humorous video clips will help raise awareness of these important topics.
Video Duration: 40 minutes
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Written by: Melissa Wesner, LCPC
Melissa is the Founder of LifeSpring Counseling Services in Maryland, and she is a Certified Brainspotter and Brainspotting Consultant who specializes in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, and sex therapy.
Photo Credit: Thirdman and Ketut Subiyanto
Date of download: 8/4/2022
