Establishing Intimacy and Sexual Health: The Guide Every Couple Needs
Sexual wellness, including addressing potential sexual health issues, is a simple fact of life that everyone should understand. Not only is it essential for the individual person to have a deeper connection to their own body (and thus, a greater love for their body), but understanding how it ties into intimacy and a relationship with a sexual partner. In fact, it can even help you to have a better relationship.
So, what is sexual health, exactly, and why is sexual health important? In short, it refers to the physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects of a person’s sex life and sexuality, all of which contribute to a healthier relationship with themselves and those around them — including the experience of sexual pleasure, learning the significance of consent, and even of the interactions between mental health and love.
Physical sexual health
Perhaps the most common thing people think about when it comes to sexual health, is the physical side of things. This can include anything from sexually transmitted infections and STI testing, erectile dysfunction and vaginal dryness, the health benefits of sex, and anything in-between. So, while there are health checks for folks with penises and health checks for folks with vaginas alike, for any number of physical ailments that may arise, one should also be aware of preventing STIs and getting regularly tested for them.
Other ways one can take care of their physical sexual health include choosing a birth control option that works best for your needs, learning how to have sex with an STI (whether you have one yourself or your sex partner does), and understanding the cues your body gives you when something — anything — seems off.
Emotional sexual health
Your emotions are often deeply intertwined with their personality and views on human sexuality; thus, taking care of these feelings is critical to maintaining your overall sexual health. How are you feeling in a given moment, and how is it influencing your perspective on your body, your sexuality, your sex drive, and sexual attraction to other people?
The things you face in your day-to-day life can affect your emotions, too. Even physical experiences, such as painful sex, can take an emotional toll on a person. In situations like these, people can focus on building intimacy without sex and get to the root of their emotional hardships through avenues such as therapy. Any partner that is unsupportive of this is giving off signs you’re in an abusive relationship.
Mental sexual health
Mental sexual health varies from the emotional side, as it refers to your ability to mentally process and understand the stimuli around you (including internal and external sexual motivations). In contrast, the emotional side involved managing and expressing your feelings.
That said, there are plenty of things to consider here to ensure that this aspect of your sexual health is at its best. Assessing your interactions with your mental illness and the love and shame surrounding your sexuality (including acknowledging that masturbation is good for you) are excellent starting points. From here, you can delve even deeper — practicing mindful sex with your sex partners to gain in-depth knowledge on what you like sexually, as well as figuring out your sex style.
Social sexual health
Humans are inherently social creatures; thus, the fact that we adopt this sociability into our sexuality cannot surprise us. Because of this, talking about sex with the people we are engaging with sexually is crucial. This is true whether we’re sleeping with someone new for the first time or you are talking about sex with your partner (including talking to your partner about your fetishes).
Some things that come up can be accepting (and working through times) when a self-induced dry spell is necessary and the fear and uncertainty surrounding sex as you age.
If there’s one thing we hope you have understood today, it’s that sexual wellness goes beyond the sexual health issues we often think about when the topic arises. Having a deeper understanding of your own sexual health can improve your relationship with your mind and body and enjoy relationships and intimacy shared with sexual partners (particularly when you make it one of your essential relationship boundaries).
In taking care of yourself and knowing your body better, you can be the best version of yourself and increase your chances that you will be well for the long haul.
Does the possibility of sexual health problems cause concern for you? What are ways you maintain a balance between intimacy and sexual wellness? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
