I know it’s a little cliched, but February really does seem like the appropriate month to talk about sexual health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines sexual health as a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It 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.
It’s a comprehensive definition and entails a number of important themes surrounding the topic of sexual health.
If we focus on our 2017 quest – to be kind to ourselves – sexual health encompasses knowing, respecting and loving our bodies.
This means making S.T.I. and HIV testing part of your annual wellness screening, especially if you are sexually active. It means disclosing your status to your sexual partners, and ensuring they disclose theirs to you.
It means taking responsibility and accountability for safe sex. Educating yourself on the risks of different kind of contraceptives, and being aware of those situations where you may throw caution to the wind.
Be kind to yourself – by not becoming another unnecessary statistic.
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