Sexual health is the experience of the ongoing process of physical, psychological and social-cultural well-being related to sexuality.

Physical or psychological factors both can result into sexual dysfunction. In most cases issues with sexual health result from a combination of physical and psychological factors. It is a common health problem in both men and women. Delayed ejaculation, premature ejaculation, and inability to achieve full erection are some common sexual dysfunction symptoms in men, while symptoms such as vaginal dryness, dyspareunia are observed in women. Sexual dysfunction is categorized into four main types including desire disorders, arousal disorders, orgasm disorders, and pain disorders. These conditions can be well treated with drugs such as erectile dysfunction drugs, gender dysphoria drugs, hypoactive sexual desire disorder drugs, and premature ejaculation drugs.

Why Is Sexual Health Important?

Sexual health is important for a fulfilling sex life, ability to choose your sexuality, protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases, and choose how and when to conceive or avoid conception.

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 is defined as an approach to sexuality founded in accurate knowledge, personal awareness, and self-acceptance, where one’s behavior, values and emotions are congruent and integrated within a person’s wider personality structure and self-definition. Sexual health involves an ability to be intimate with a partner, to communicate explicitly about sexual needs and desires, to be sexually functional (to have desire, become aroused, and obtain sexual fulfillment), to act intentionally and responsibly, and to set appropriate sexual boundaries. Sexual health has a communal aspect, reflecting not only self-acceptance and respect, but also respect and appreciation for individual differences and diversity, and a feeling of belonging to and involvement in one’s sexual culture(s).