Sexual health is a significant part of your life. It can affect your physical, mental, and emotional well-being but also as well as your attitude toward others.
What is sexual health?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines sexual health as “a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. A good sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships.” Good sexual health should involve sex without coercion, discrimination, or violence.
Sexual health includes all those factors that affect the sexual and reproductive function of a person. These factors include physical, mental, and emotional conditions.
It is also important to remember that sexual health is not restricted to the knowledge of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). It is more about knowing your body, how to take care of it, your overall well-being, and respecting the sexuality and sexual needs of your partner.
Why should you take care of your sexual health?
There are many reasons why you should take care of your sexual health.
It is part of your overall health.
Your overall health connects directly to your sexual health. Your body develops aches and pains when you are stressed, and these aches and pains can affect your sexual health. For example, when you are stressed, you tend to eat food containing a lot of sugar. Eating a lot of sugar can trigger a vaginal yeast infection.
Thus, whenever you feel that you are not physically or mentally well, you should consult a primary care clinic for adults who will diagnose your problem and treat you. This can eventually lead to your sexual well-being.
You can make informed choices in the future.
Having a good knowledge of your sexual health will help you make informed decisions in the future like using condom and family planning. You understand the risk involved in certain sexual behavior and take all precautions to avoid it.
You will feel empowered while in bed.
Not having a good knowledge of sex and your body can put you at risk while in bed. Having a good understanding of sexual health will help you to take care of your body. It can also improve your confidence, making you feel empowered.
When you know what is right and what is not, you will be able to make correct decisions. Good knowledge of your sexual health will also make it easy for you to communicate your sexual needs with your partner.
What are the factors that affect your sexual health?
Many factors can affect your sexual health. These include disorders in the reproductive system like the absence of a certain organ or diseases, gynecological factors like premenstrual syndrome and endometriosis, problems with the urinary system like a urinary tract infection (UTI), and sexual problems like erectile dysfunction and painful intercourse.
How to ensure good sexual health?
Educate yourself.
You should educate yourself about all aspects of sexual health including basic sex and reproductive issues. You should also have a good knowledge of the physical factors that affect sexual health like vaginal dryness and erectile dysfunction.
Having a good sexual knowledge ensures that you will be able to take necessary medical guidance to overcome your problem.
Stay safe.
It is essential that you stay safe from sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and HIV, because these can negatively affect your overall health. Use a condom to ensure that you and your partner do not contract an STD or HIV and also to avoid unwanted pregnancy. Understand the signs and symptoms of these diseases and get the proper treatment at the right time.
There are different STD and HIV treatment options, and identifying the symptoms at the right time ensures that you get the proper treatment. Also, make sure to restrict the number of sexual partners to one.
Get help at the right time.
In case you have any concern with your sexual health, it is essential that you get help at the right time. In case you figure out an issue with your sexual health, you should consult a doctor or family medicine in Kentucky who would refer you to the right specialist like a gynecologist, urologist, or physical therapist.
You should have an open conversation with your health care provider about your sexual health, and seek advice about maintaining your sexual health. Get a wellness check-up, and share your concerns and doubts with your healthcare provider. HIV testing and a cervical screening can help protect you from unwanted illnesses.
Proper communication
Communicating openly with your partner helps set boundaries. Talk to them about your expectations. Respect each other’s feelings. You should indulge only in those acts with which your partner is comfortable. Similarly, do not try things that make you uncomfortable. You should also be ready to say no when things go beyond your control.
Respecting each other and making decisions together helps build a positive relationship. Getting to know yourself and your partner is the first step towards maintaining good sexual health. Understand your bodies as well as the needs and desires of both the partners. All this will help in ensuring good sexual health.
For more information
Do not ignore this important part of your life. For more information on sexual health, contact KentuckyCare today at 866-810-7602.
