Understand what is considered sexual health
When you ask yourself, “what is considered sexual health?” you might first think about avoiding infections or pregnancy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sexual health is much broader. It is a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well‑being in relation to your sexuality, not just the absence of disease or dysfunction (WHO).
Sexual health involves:
- Feeling safe and respected in your sexual life
- Having access to pleasurable and consensual sexual experiences
- Being free from coercion, discrimination, and violence
- Having your sexual rights respected and protected (WHO)
In other words, your sexual health is not only about what you avoid, it is also about the positive experiences and relationships you build.
Sexuality as part of who you are
You cannot talk about sexual health without talking about sexuality. The WHO describes sexuality as a central part of being human throughout your life. It includes:
- Sex and reproduction
- Gender identity and gender roles
- Sexual orientation
- Intimacy and emotional closeness
- Erotic feelings and pleasure
All of these are shaped by many things around you, such as your culture, family, religion, economics, and the laws where you live (WHO).
Your sexual health is about how well you are able to live with and express this part of yourself, in a way that feels safe, respectful, and true to who you are.
Explore the key parts of sexual health
To get a clearer picture of what is considered sexual health, it helps to break it into a few connected pieces. These pieces influence one another, so improvements in one area often support the others.
Physical sexual health
Physical sexual health is often the most visible part. It includes:
- Prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Contraception and pregnancy planning if you are sexually active and could become pregnant
- Sexual function, such as erections, lubrication, arousal, and orgasm
- Managing pain or discomfort during sexual activity
- Addressing medication side effects that affect your sexual function
For men in particular, sexual health is closely linked to blood flow and overall circulation. Healthy levels of nitric oxide help keep blood vessels relaxed and allow more blood flow to the penis during an erection, which is central to sexual function (University of Iowa Health Care).
Your physical sexual health is also affected by:
- Weight management and nutrition
- Regular physical activity
- Smoking and alcohol use
- Long term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer
When you take care of your general health, you often support your sexual health at the same time.
Emotional and mental sexual health
Sexual health is not only what your body can or cannot do. It is also how you feel about yourself and your experiences.
Emotional and mental sexual health includes:
- Feeling comfortable in your body and with your desires
- Feeling confident enough to set boundaries
- Managing worry, shame, or anxiety related to sex
- Feeling able to talk with partners about needs and concerns
Sexual health is closely linked to self‑perception and your relationships with others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that sexual health and intimacy are key parts of well‑being, especially for people living with or after cancer (CDC).
A large 2024 review also found that positive sexual health is connected with:
- Lower levels of depression and anxiety
- Higher quality of life
- Greater life satisfaction across different ages and types of relationships (WHO Bulletin)
When you care for your emotional and mental health, you support your sexual health, and when your sexual life feels safe and respectful, it can strengthen your overall well‑being.
Social and relationship sexual health
Your sexual experiences do not happen in isolation. They are shaped by partners, families, communities, and social norms.
Social and relationship sexual health includes:
- Mutual consent and respect in your relationships
- The ability to talk honestly with partners about sex, pleasure, and boundaries
- Feeling supported rather than judged for your sexual orientation or gender identity
- Protection from discrimination or violence related to your sexuality (WHO)
Healthy sexual relationships are built on trust and communication. When you and your partner can talk openly, you are better able to:
- Address problems early
- Adjust to physical or emotional changes
- Maintain intimacy even when sex itself needs to change for a while
Recognize the role of sexual rights
An important part of what is considered sexual health is your sexual rights. These are human rights related to your sexuality. They include your right to:
- Express your sexuality freely, as long as it respects the rights of others
- Seek, receive, and share information about sexuality and sexual health
- Decide whether or not to be sexually active
- Choose your partner
- Have consensual sexual relationships that are free from coercion and violence
- Access sexual health services and support without discrimination (WHO)
According to the WHO, you cannot fully achieve sexual health if your sexual rights are not respected, protected, and fulfilled (WHO).
If you feel unsafe, pressured, or discriminated against because of your sexuality, that is a sexual health issue too. In many places, laws, policies, and social attitudes still need to improve so that everyone can enjoy their sexual rights without fear.
See sexual health as a lifelong and holistic process
Sexual health is not a one‑time achievement. It changes as you move through different stages of life.
You might notice shifts in your sexual health when you:
- Start or end relationships
- Become pregnant or decide not to have children
- Go through hormonal changes such as puberty or menopause
- Live with chronic illness, disability, or the effects of medication
- Experience stress, trauma, or major life changes
- Age and notice changes in desire or function
The WHO emphasizes that sexual health should be understood in a holistic and positive way, always in the context of your social and economic situation and the policies that affect you (WHO). It is not only about preventing problems, it is also a resource for well‑being that can be supported and improved (WHO Bulletin).
Understand how health conditions can affect sexual health
Some health conditions have a clear impact on sexual health, but people often feel uncomfortable raising these topics.
Cancer and sexual health
Cancer and its treatments can affect:
- Desire and arousal
- Fertility
- Physical comfort during sex
- Body image and confidence
The CDC notes that many cancer survivors experience sexual health challenges and that these issues are common and valid parts of survivorship, not personal failures (CDC).
Open communication is key. Talking with your partner and your care team can help you:
- Learn about expected side effects
- Find medical treatments or therapies that support sexual function
- Access intimacy counseling and support programs, including virtual options (CDC)
Real experiences, like that of Wenora, a cancer survivor who went into early menopause after a hysterectomy, show how important it is to bring up sexual health concerns early so that you are not left to struggle alone (CDC).
Lifestyle factors and sexual function
Your daily habits can support or strain your sexual function, particularly if you are male. University of Iowa Health Care highlights several lifestyle factors that influence nitric oxide levels and blood flow, which are crucial for erections (University of Iowa Health Care):
-
Weight management and nutrition
Extra weight can stress your heart and blood vessels. A balanced eating pattern helps support circulation and hormone balance. -
Regular physical activity
Movement supports blood flow, heart health, and mood, all of which can improve sexual function and confidence. -
Stress reduction
Stress can narrow blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the penis. It can also blunt desire. In some cases, high stress can even reduce the effectiveness of medication for erectile difficulties (University of Iowa Health Care). -
Smoking and alcohol
Smoking harms blood vessels throughout the body. Heavy alcohol use can dull arousal and make it harder to maintain an erection. Reducing or quitting can have noticeable benefits.
Improving these areas often brings mental benefits too. Feeling stronger, more energetic, or more at ease in your body can increase your motivation and confidence related to sex (University of Iowa Health Care).
Learn the difference between “no problems” and “good sexual health”
Many tools used in research focus on whether you have specific difficulties such as pain, lack of desire, or trouble with erections or lubrication. While this information is useful, it leaves out key parts of what is considered sexual health.
According to a 2024 systematic review, sexual health has several dimensions (WHO Bulletin):
- Sexual function
- Sexual satisfaction
- Sexual distress
- Sexual pleasure
- Competency, such as feeling able to make informed choices
- Consent
That review pointed out that many studies pay attention to function, but often overlook consent and pleasure. A more complete view of sexual health includes whether you:
- Feel satisfied with your sexual life
- Experience pleasure that feels right for you
- Feel that your experiences are consensual and aligned with your values
- Feel little or manageable distress related to sex
In other words, not having medical problems is only part of the picture. Feeling respected, content, and safe is just as important.
Practical ideas to support your sexual health
You do not need to change everything at once. Small, practical steps can add up over time. The ideas below can help you strengthen different parts of your sexual health.
Take care of your body
You support your sexual health when you:
- Get regular health checkups and STI screenings if you are sexually active
- Talk with your provider about any pain, changes in desire, or function
- Manage long term conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- Choose movement that you enjoy so exercise feels sustainable
- Limit smoking and alcohol, or seek help if cutting back feels hard
If you are using medications that affect sexual function, ask if there are alternatives or adjustments that might help.
Support your emotional well‑being
Your mind and body are closely linked. To support your emotional and mental sexual health, you can:
- Notice your self‑talk and gently challenge harsh inner criticism
- Learn basic relaxation techniques to reduce stress before intimacy
- Explore what you enjoy sexually at your own pace and comfort level
- Consider counseling if past trauma or shame keeps getting in the way
If you are dealing with cancer or another serious illness, it can be especially helpful to look for support that addresses both sexual health and overall coping, including programs that are designed for survivors (CDC).
Strengthen communication and consent
Good communication is a foundation of sexual health. You might try:
- Using simple, direct language to express what you like and do not like
- Checking in with your partner before and during sexual activity
- Agreeing that either of you can pause or stop at any time
- Talking about safer sex practices, such as condoms or other barriers
- Sharing how physical or emotional changes are affecting your desire
Consent is not a one‑time question, it is an ongoing conversation. When both people feel heard and respected, sex is more likely to be safe, comfortable, and enjoyable for everyone involved.
Know when to reach out for help
You deserve support when:
- Sex feels consistently painful or distressing
- You notice sudden changes in desire or function without explanation
- Shame, fear, or past experiences make intimacy very difficult
- You feel pressured or unsafe in your sexual life
- You have questions about fertility, pregnancy, or contraception
- You are recovering from cancer treatment or another major medical event and are unsure what is “normal” (CDC)
Health care providers can:
- Offer medical treatments or adjustments
- Refer you to sexual health or intimacy specialists
- Connect you with counseling or support groups, sometimes virtually
If talking about sex feels awkward, you can start with a simple sentence such as, “I have some questions about how my health is affecting my sex life,” and let the conversation grow from there.
Key takeaways about what is considered sexual health
When you look at all these pieces together, a clear picture emerges of what is considered sexual health:
- It is a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well‑being in relation to sexuality, not only the absence of disease or dysfunction (WHO).
- It includes your sexual function, satisfaction, distress, pleasure, competency, and consent (WHO Bulletin).
- It depends on your ability to express your sexuality safely and respectfully, with your sexual rights protected and free from discrimination and violence (WHO).
- It is shaped by your relationships, your social environment, and the laws and policies around you.
- It can be supported throughout life, including during illness, disability, and aging.
You do not need to have everything “perfect” to have good sexual health. You only need to keep moving toward a sexual life that feels safer, kinder, and more aligned with who you are.
If one small step feels possible today, you might choose to book a checkup, start a gentle conversation with a partner, or write down a question you want to ask a health care provider. Each of these is a meaningful way to care for your sexual health and overall well‑being.
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