Looking after your sexual health is important for your overall physical and mental health. However, it is a sensitive topic that many people find difficult to open up about, and a lot of stigma needs to be broken down regarding sexual health.
Sexually transmitted infections and diseases are often the first things that spring to mind when discussing sexual health.
However, this is just one part of sexual health, and it also encompasses sexual preferences, identity, enjoyment, fertility, menopause, and sexual health. Keep reading for some top tips for looking after your sexual health.
1. Practice Safe Sex
Practicing safe sex is one of the most important ways to look after your sexual wellbeing and protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and diseases (STDs).
While many people might only want to protect against pregnancy when having sex, it is important to look after your sexual health by protecting against STIs and STDs wherever possible.
Using a barrier method of contraception such as a male or female condom is the only way to protect against these, so it is important to use these every time you have sex, especially if it is with a new partner.
Of course, some people may want to protect against pregnancy, and there are lots of options when it comes to hormonal and non-hormonal contraception to prevent pregnancy, including:
- The implant
- The pill
- The patch
- The injection
- Intrauterine device (IUD)
- Natural family planning
- Vaginal ring
- Caps
2. Get Tested Regularly
Knowing your sexual health status is important as it can prevent the spread of STIs and STDs, and it also means that those who test positive can seek treatment easily.
How often you should test depends on how often you have sex, whether you have a long-term partner or multiple sexual partners. Generally, everyone should get tested once per year and every time you change partners.
If you have multiple partners, testing every three months or after any unprotected encounters is recommended. You can get tested at home, at your doctor’s, or local sexual health clinic.
3. Use An Online Pharmacy
Seeking treatment for a sexual health condition can be embarrassing, and many people prefer not to discuss this face-to-face. In this case, you might benefit from obtaining medication from an online pharmacy.
If you are dealing with an outbreak of genital herpes, you can get Aciclovir Tablets to help ease the symptoms after a quick online consultation.
4. Speak to Your Doctor If You Have Concerns
Your doctor is always available to give advice if you have any worries concerning your sexual health.
If you are struggling with any aspect of your sexual health, whether this is sexual dysfunction, to do with your fertility, or you are starting menopause, your doctor can investigate this and help to find solutions to make your life easier.
5. Encourage Open Conversations
If you have a partner, then it is important that you are open to talking about your boundaries and needs. Talking about your sexual health will help you to achieve this.
Express your likes and dislikes, how you will determine consent and what safe sex precautions you will take. Talking about sexual health is important to destroy the stigma surrounding it.
