Like every other aspect of your physical and mental health, your sexual health should always be a top priority. Unfortunately, for many people, the only time when attention is given to sexual health is when there is a concern about sexual wellness.
This must never be the case, as just like you take precautions to stay in good health, you need to do the same for your sexual health. It doesn’t matter your gender, whether you are single or in a relationship, good sexual health comes from deliberate effort.
In this guide, we’ll look at sexual health, its value, and expert-approved tips to help you take control of your sexual wellness.
Sexual Health and Its Importance
In a nutshell, sexual health is about being in the best state of your sexuality. It’s the physical, mental, and emotional well-being in relation to your sexual wellness.
As the WHO describes it, sexual health is more than just the absence of disease.
Since sexuality is an integral part of your life, you need to be able to experience sexual pleasure and satisfaction while feeling confident and connected with your desires. This means being free from stigma, guilt, sexual violence & other harmful practices, and having the right and access to sexual & reproductive healthcare.
The wide-ranging and far-reaching impacts of sexual health make it foundational to leading a happy life as it impacts much more than how you feel or approach sex. By embracing your sexuality and being truly connected to your intimate life, you will easily lead life feeling more confident and satisfied.
A General Guide to Good Sexual Health
While exploring your sexuality and having good sexual health calls for deliberate action, it mustn’t be complicated. After all, each one of us has a unique need, desire, or liking when it comes to sexual wellness.
Here are some sexual health tips as approved by experts to get you started on the right path:
- There is No Substitute for Safe and healthy Sex
Regardless of your gender, age, or relationship status, practicing safe and healthy sex is a must. Healthy and safe sex practices involve understanding and prioritizing intimacy or sex that you are comfortable with while protecting yourself.
It begins with utilizing your power and right to either accept or say no to acts of sex or interested partners. By doing this you get to own your sexuality as you only engage with people you want, at a time when you are most comfortable or ready, and in a way that you feel valued.
It also involves using protection like condoms, dental dams, and other protection to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies.
As many experts recommend, the first step to achieving this is to trust yourself enough as only you know and understand what is right or acceptable, according to your desires. If you are in a relationship, it’s rooted in respecting each other and accepting the differences each one of you has.
- Never Stop Learning and Communicating About Your Sexuality
In this age where information is easily accessible, there is the assumption that many people fully understand their sexuality. However, access to diverse information and knowing about yourself are two different things.
The secret is to be a curious student when it comes to your sexuality, no matter how young or old you are. You should also be open to exploring but within the confines of your comfort level, ensuring what you are trying offers the satisfaction desired.
Most importantly, master directly expressing your feelings to your partner. Don’t beat around the bush, no matter how awkward or hard the conversation might seem. Remember, if it’s not for you, there’s no two ways about it.
So, take that leap and communicate about boundaries, preferences, and concerns. You’ll be surprised how this makes everything easier as you get to have a mutual understanding of each other’s likings and needs.
- Always Maintain Good Sexual Hygiene
Improving sexual hygiene is a great way to make you feel better about acts of sex while taking the best care of your body. It’s the simple things such as taking a shower before and after intimacy, using gentle, pH-balanced products on areas around your genitals, and wearing dry, clean, and fresh innerwear.
The state of your bedroom and bedding should also be welcoming as these determine the confidence you feel when with a partner.
You should also pay attention to the state and cleanliness of your sex toys as these tools require the best care for satisfactory experiences. Make it a habit to properly clean, dry, and store your sex toys after use and disposing damaged or worn-out toys to avoid any dangers.
Another good friend you’ll always need when using sex toys is a lubricant and just like the good old ad, “One is never enough.” So, have a good stock of that high-quality lubricant as you never know when you’ll need it (wink).
- Have Regular Health Check-Ups
The first line of defense against potential issues with your sexual wellness is regular check-ups. It’s advisable to have an annual checkup with your healthcare provider as this helps catch problems early.
These checkups and screenings can include STI tests, Pap smears, or prostrate exams. Even when you don’t discover any problem, you’ll have the peace of mind that your body is healthy.
You should also make it a habit to keep track of changes to your body. For example, if you notice changes in libido, experience pain or issues during sex, or notice unusual symptoms, you should note this down and inform your doctor.
This will make your checkups better guided and provide your doctor with sufficient information to provide help for better health.
- Your Lifestyle Matters
Your lifestyle and daily habits will ultimately impact your sexual health. Remember, you need to be fit and healthy for good sexual wellness, and to achieve this, you should adopt a better lifestyle.
Here are the top lifestyle tweaks that will support your sexual well-being:
- Natural and Well-balanced Diet. It’s quick, convenient, and definitely feels good to have your favorite fast food. Unfortunately, these don’t offer the nutritional value you need to remain energetic and have good libido. To rectify this, prioritize a diet with natural foods rich in antioxidants, healthy fats & protein, amino acids, iron, and vitamins. Essentially, this means more fresh fruits & vegetables, whole grains, meat, white meat & seafood, and drinking enough water to stay hydrated.
- Regular Workout. With most jobs requiring you to sit at a desk for hours on end, you need sufficient physical activity/exercise to improve blood circulation and stamina. Choosing to walk every day, jog, lift weights, or swim will do you a lot of good and help maintain moderate weight. Also, don’t forget to include some Kegel exercises in your workout routine to strengthen your pelvic muscles.
- Actively Manage Stress. When you are stressed, your entire body feels the impact as it spends too much energy trying to focus on so many issues. This is why chronic stress is dangerous as it kills your confidence, keeps you too mild, and impacts your performance in the bedroom by lowering your libido. You should, therefore, actively work on managing your stress levels by purposefully resolving issues affecting you, seeking professional help early enough, and using relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation.
- Avoid Alcohol and Drugs. Taking alcohol and drugs causes your body to overwork as it breaks down these elements. Over time, these weaken your immunity and can lead to conditions that impair sexual function such as low libido and erectile dysfunction.
- Maintain Intimacy and Emotional Connection with Your Partner
If you are in a relationship, you need to understand that sexual health isn’t just physical, it’s also emotional. The reason why many people talk about the sparks they once had in a relationship dying is because the emotional connection and intimacy with a partner dies over time.
To avoid this, you should focus on things that bring you closer to your partner, including:
- Actively Communicating and Spending Quality Time. A healthy and happy relationship is held together through deliberate, open communication. Through this you get to truly know each other and make meaning of your relationship. You should complement this by finding ways to spend quality time together and pursuing interests you both like. So, yes, those date nights, couple vacations, and weekend getaways are very important.
- Address Challenges Together. One of the best ways to always be in the best mental state when in a relationship is to find ways to address challenges together. Being the listening ear, shoulder to cry on, and trustee who can receive any information, will make you the best of partners.
Conclusion
Maintaining good sexual health requires deliberate action and often consists of small, consistent efforts that ultimately make a huge difference. Don’t forget that you are unique as an individual and your sexuality needs to be embraced and govern the attention it deserves.