Healthy sexual practices mean you are well informed about sex, careful with your practices, and respectful to your partner. It also means enjoying sexual practices that appeal to you.

What Exactly Is Sexual Health?  

Sexual health is the ability to embrace and enjoy sexuality throughout our lives. It is an integral part of our physical and emotional health. Good sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, and the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences free of coercion, pressure, and violence. For a healthy sex life, the sexual rights of all involved must be respected, protected, and fulfilled.

Why Is Sexual Health So Important?  

Sex is pleasurable and offers many health benefits; the benefits of sex range from lowering stress levels to reducing the risk of cancer and heart attacks. Sex enables healthy bonding and feelings of intimacy with another. This kind of connectedness does more than make one feel warm and loved; it reduces anxiety and boosts one’s overall health. Good sexual health of women can significantly boost libido and improve emotional, physical, and mental well-being.

Women’s Guide To Sexual Health: 5 Essential Steps  

Sexual health is an essential part of overall personal wellness. Healthy sex life can significantly affect one’s quality of life. Below is the lowdown of simple steps for a women’s reproductive health:

• Eat healthy: Sexuality reflects one’s general state of health. Nutrition is vital to active sex life. Healthy foods nourish the body and are key to overall health.
• Education: Most people learn about sexuality and sex early in their lives through discussions with parents, siblings, teachers, or friends. Some discover it on their own. It is important to learn as much as one can about sex. The more informed, the better one is prepared to make good choices.
• Safety: Put safety first. There are many ways to protect a women’s sexual health. Abstinence is the surest way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). If one is sexually active, then birth control methods such as the condom, pill, patch, shot, diaphragm, implant, or Intrauterine Device (IUD) are necessary if pregnancy is not in one’s plans. Condoms are the only method among these to help prevent STDs. To maintain reproductive health, women should consult a doctor to learn about safety, risks, and protections before starting to have sex.
• Communication: A foolproof way to improve your sex life is communication. One should talk with a sexual health care provider and trusted adults for advice on female sexual wellness—though the latter is not a replacement for the former. Be direct and clear with sexual partners about your preferences and expectations; set boundaries to define your comfort zone.
• Consent: Sex is not just about physicality. It is also about emotional health, communication, and mutual consent. Consent involves effective communication and clear expression of whether one desires sexual activity at any given time.

A healthy sex life makes your life wholesome. However, the onus of making it a pleasurable experience each time is on the partners.