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Your Sexual Health
According to the World Health Organization, sexual health “is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being related 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.” Sexual health encompasses everything from abortion to virginity and it is very important that everyone be in tune with their own sexual health in order to properly maintain it.
Aspects of Sexual Health
Desire and pleasure, although seemingly basic concepts, are key to maintaing sexual health. Desire, assuming it is present, can usually be taken at face value. When we have a strong desire for something, we pursue it until we obtain it and that is that. Although important, we don’t generally think of desire in terms of sexual health until there is a lack of it. Low sexual desire can be attributed to chronic illness, lack of self-esteem, stress, and many other physical and psychological issues.
Pleasure is a key player because it is also a basic instinct. We instinctively want to satisfy our desires by engaging in activities that make our endorphin levels skyrocket, such as eating fatty foods, taking a risk, or having sex. Sexual pleasure is a mighty force. Our bodies react to sexual pleasure in stimulating and exciting ways. When the pleasure derived from sex sends feelings of euphoria shooting through the entire body, who wouldn’t want to indulge in it as often as possible?
The ultimate feeling of pleasure is the orgasm. This body shaking, fist clenching, tantric sensation is the body’s release of sexual tension and arousal. As heavy breathing ensues, the heart rate increases and sweating occurs. When having an orgasm, some experience a relaxing sense of euphoria while others feel as if they’ve surrendered all sense of control.
Masturbation is also vital in maintaining sexual health. Not only is the act of masturbation pleasureful, it helps us to learn about our bodies. By exploring ourselves sexually, we not only learn what feels good, we give ourselves an anatomy lesson of sorts. We learn how things feel and, in the future, are able to recognize when things don’t feel right. We learn how our bodies function and how they react to certain stimuli. Being familiar with our bodies is the best way to be able to recognize potential disease, infection, or dysfunction.
Maintaining sexual health also includes safe sex practices. With so many contraceptives on the market today, there really is no good excuse for not practicing safe sex. Options ranging from birth control pills and patches to diaphragms and condoms are at our fingertips (most health departments even offer free condoms and birth control) it is important to what purpose each alternative serves. Proper sexual education is necessary in understanding how to engage in safe sex and use contraceptives. It is always a good idea to consult a physician before having sex for the first time. Sex is an amazing experience but it is never worth risking quality of life over.
The topic of sexual health is more than obviously a broad one. The above mentioned are barely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the subject. When it comes to your sexual health, don’t take anything with a grain of salt and always consult your physician if you have questions or concerns.
Sexual Health Supplements
As mentioned in the Birth Control and Low Libido article posted on 20-forty a couple days ago, there are items available on the market that will both increase sexual desire and arousal as well as sexual health. Below is a news clip linking sexual enhancement products, such as those from Pure Romance, to improving sexual health.
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Brian December 5th, 2008, 2:08 pm
Good article Kira. I agree that sexual education and health are very important. It is not only important to understand one’s self in this respect, but I think it is also important to understand the sexual health and desires of your partner. Romance, affection, passion, and pleasure are things that make sex more than just sex. When done the right way and with the right mind set it is something unlike anything else. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who think sex is good, but they don’t know how great it can really be especially when done with someone you deeply care about.