Sexual Wellness: What is It? The stigma attached to sexual wellness is hardly new. It has always been promoted as a gendered subject. Sexual wellness is a topic that inspires more gasps than sex itself. Sexual wellness is an umbrella term concerned with both the physical and mental health of individuals and rooted in their sexuality. For a more sex-positive world, sexual wellness needs to be a priority for people.
Goals for Sexual Wellness
- Consent is the most important aspect of sex, regardless of gender.
- A sex-positive world where sexual wellness is encouraged.
- Compulsory sex education for all defines sexual wellness.
- Open communication and transparency on the subjects of sexual health.
- Emphasis on the role of mental health in sexual wellness and performance.
- Disassociating sex with reproduction and promotion of sexual pleasure.
- Discussion of the stigma associated with sexual dysfunctions.
- Sexual pleasure for all, regardless of gender.
- Increasing awareness of safe sex practices.
- Removing the stigma around sexual desires.
- Normalizing use of sex toys for pleasure.
- Open discussions about performance pressures and anxiety related to sex.
- Normalizing therapy and counseling related to sex and/ or sexual relationships.
- Destigmatising sexually transmitted diseases.
Ways to Improve Sexual Wellness
- Sexual wellness demands communication and empathy, not stigma.
- Open discussion with partners involved about mutual consent and desires.
- Get to understand the needs of your own body.
- Taking care of both mental and physical health for the body.
- Seek the help of a professional.
- Educating oneself constantly by reading and research.
- Ensuring that people involved are on the same page, to establish a common ground.
Pornography and Sexual Wellness
- An understanding is required that porn does not equate to real sex.
- Porn and fetishes should not be stigmatized.
- A safer approach to digital sex is required.
- Misconceptions can be bred due to the unrealistic expectations set by pornography.
- No gender should be barred from porn because of policing or cultural gatekeeping.
- Porn does not address intimacy.
Sex and Ableism
- Sexual wellbeing is also concerned with sex and ableism.
- Ableism concerning sex is hardly discussed.
- The sexual wellness of disabled people needs to be a part of the conversation.
- Privilege in sex needs to be realised.
- Disability need not hinder sexual pleasure.
- Representations of disability required to spread awareness of ableism in sex.
Sexuality and Sexual Wellness
- Sexual wellness and sexuality need more discussions and awareness.
- Bodily autonomy is the most important aspect of sexual wellness as well as conversation.
- The need to distinguish between the tropes promoted by popular culture and the individuality of people is necessary for sexual wellness.
- Preferences and it is important to establish common ground before engaging in sexual practice.
Safe Sex Practices as Sexual Wellness
- Promotion of safe sex and use of protection.
- Inculcating the idea that sexual wellbeing is related to the overall wellbeing of individuals.
- Monogamy need not be idealised as the only sexual practice.
- Use of sex toys and other products as natural, if done to increase mutual pleasure.
- Masturbation to be viewed as natural and healthy, even when in a sexual relationship.
- Kinks should not be stigmatized.
- More conversations about trauma in sex and how to enable a person to let go of trauma.
- The distinction between sexual misconduct and sexual kinks needs to be understood.
Discussion of Trauma for Sexual Wellness
- Seeking professional help for trauma to improve sexual wellness needs to be normalised.
- Trauma and experience need to be included in the discussion of sexual wellness.
- Taking slow, baby steps for sexual pleasure after trauma is important.
- The subject of trauma needs to be discussed with partners for a more intimate, mutual experience of pleasure.
Destigmatising Casual Sex
- Casual sex needs to be destigmatised.
- With safe sex practices, casual sex can be mutually convenient for parties involved.
- Boundaries need to be established to encourage safe sex.
- Communication is key, especially when meeting with an “online hookup.”
Busting myths of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- STDs are a taboo subject that demands more conversation in popular culture.
- Stereotypes and popular tropes, along with ostracism faced by people with STDs needs to be addressed.
- A stronger sense of empathy required to destigmatize sexually transmitted diseases.
- Safe sex practices are a must, to further prevent the transmission of STDs.
- Testing for STDs needs to be normalised to diagnose and treat patients more effectively.
- Regular testing for STDs is an important part of sexual wellness.
- Regular testing prevents the further spread of the diseases.
Capitalising on sexual wellness
- Capitalising on sexual wellness needs more discrepancy and stringent guidelines to prevent serious harm.
- The sexual wellness market needs to be regulated as it can have serious consequences on individuals.
- False advertisements that further spread the taboo and stigma of sexual dysfunctions need to be addressed.
- The sexual wellness market needs to be more accessible for the masses.
- More inclusivity in terms of sexuality and ableism need to be addressed in the sexual wellness market.
Accessible Sexual Healthcare for Sexual Wellness
- Accessibility to sexual healthcare is necessary for sexual wellness.
- Sexual healthcare needs to be a part of the healthcare conversation.
- It can be related to anything related to sexual pleasures or protection.
- Educating the unprivileged and providing means for sexual healthcare is key for overall sexual wellness.
- Safe contraceptives need to be popularised and made available to the masses.
- Permanent contraception practices such as vasectomy and tubectomy need to be viable option for individuals.
- Stigma regarding stimulants needs to be addressed as stigma can potentially harm the people involved.
Autonomy in sexual wellness
- Adhering to unhealthy stereotypes in sexual wellness only increases stigma.
- Bodily autonomy in terms of choice of partner and pleasure should rest solely on individuals.
- Insecurities related to sex, sexual health and body must become a part of the conversation.
Mental health and sexual wellness
- Sexual wellness is interconnected with mental health.
- Issues of insecurity, performance anxiety, and bad experiences can often hinder sexual performance.
- Individuals have a right to change their minds about sexual boundaries.
- Intimacy can exist beyond sex and sexual wellness is not limited to sex.