Addressing Sexual Health

In common parlance sexual health would mean, anything or everything to do with sexual activity, a simple explanation for the term would be sexual intercourse. What in medical term is "coitus", meaning coming together. For a common man it is sex with the penis in the vagina. Intercourse is a natural phenomenon, it's not a science which needs to be learned, it is within us. From millions of years man has been doing it instinctively.

The feeling of sexual contact is something which has always been curtailed; sexual contact has always been considered naughty, secret, dangerous, forbidden or even criminal. The root cause of thinking such a pious natural urge as a forbidden act is our nature. From time immemorial the human species has thought of sex as a means of reproduction. Pleasure was a luxury, and communication between the sexes was minimal.

Sexual health does not imply penetrative sex alone. In recent times sexual health is a new focus for WHO (World Health Organization). It has convened international technical consultation on sexual health. Its importance accorded by the world body is a step in the right direction and needs to be an ongoing process. Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation 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.

Sexual health is influenced by a complex web of factors ranging from sexual behavior and attitudes and societal factors, to biological risk and genetic predisposition. It encompasses the problems of HIV and STIs/RTIs, unintended pregnancy and abortion, infertility and cancer resulting from STIs, and Sexual Dysfunction. Sexual health can also be influenced by mental health, acute and chronic illnesses, and violence. Addressing sexual health at the individual, family, community or health system level requires integrated interventions by trained health providers and a functioning referral system.