Healthy sex life goes a long way

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Sex is an inevitable part of our lives, and a healthy sex life makes this a lot more pleasurable. It is important to be sexually healthy, which means taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health by practising safer sex. You need to be comfortable in your skin, sexuality, and relationship.

Sex is good for you

Healthy sex is good for your physical as well as mental health. It helps you to connect with people. It helps in better sleep, better self-esteem, better fitness, and reduces stress and tension. An orgasm releases endorphins, hormones that block pain and make you feel happy and high.

But, to avail the benefits, you need to maintain a healthy sex life which includes safer sex, regular medical check-ups, hygiene, and avoiding unwanted pregnancy.

Unprotected sex- An invitation to STDs

If you are sexually active, you need to be more careful as there are risks of getting STDs. More sexual partners increase the risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. So, it is important that you know your partner and not involve yourself in unsafe sex.

It is always advisable to use barriers like condoms to avoid STDs that spreads due to the exchange of fluids like HIV, hepatitis, and gonorrhoea. It also reduces the risk of acquiring diseases that spread through skin-to-skin contact like syphilis, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), etc.

Vaccines

Currently, there are vaccines available to prevent STDs. These vaccines are more effective when given before a man, or a woman gets involved in sexual activities. It is recommended to be given before the age of 11, but one can get vaccinated in their late 20s as well.

There are vaccines available for Hepatitis B that can cause liver damage. It is normally given during infancy. Hepatitis A does not spread during sex, but it can be transmitted through anal or oral intercourse. It is recommended to all children under the age of 1.

Regular check-ups and birth control

In case of any discomfort or issue, always consult your doctor. It is good to have regular check-ups for STDs if you have an active sex life. It reduces the chance of long-term consequences if the issue is detected on time and treated appropriately. Women also need to learn about healthcare and hygiene.

As a woman, you need to know your birth control options. Unwanted pregnancy can affect your health and sex life. There are numerous birth control options available, some might require a medical prescription, but some are affordable and readily available.

Barriers such as condoms (both male and female), cervical cap, etc. are some of the commonly used birth controls. Birth control pills, contraceptive sponge, diaphragm, under the skin implant, and sterilization are some of the methods which require medical attention. Talk to your doctor to know which option is best for you.

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While growing up, the only chapter that I read related to sex was on reproduction in biology — 10th grade — it covered all the possible aspects of the human body and hardly dedicated two pages to sexual intercourse! Besides, the way it explained everything and was further elaborated by our teacher was everything but not what it was supposed to be — probably because of the controversial and scandalous image of the word ‘sex’!

I belong to that generation of women where every sexual thought was either of dominating, rape, assault or a marriage ritual — it wasn’t a happy or natural activity at all!!

While growing up, I realised that ‘sex’ was considered a sin to talk about but a duty to perform after marriage — virginity was a bonus point to your character certificate, and marital rape didn’t exist at all. And, somehow, it still holds true today.

Even today, while watching or reading news about rapes, our sanskarik adults curse the culprit but do not accept that there is a dire need of considering sex education in the curriculum. There is a dire need of talking about sex, vagina, penis, menstruation, etc. with the children and channelising their ‘good’ and ‘bad’ thoughts.

Not knowing and understanding these thoughts can lead youngsters to have weird or unwanted desires resulting in peculiar indifferences or unethical acts.

Sex is normal and important, and so should be sex education. Youngsters need to understand that they are not suggested to jump in bed with someone at this age but shouldn’t be ashamed when they decide to do it as responsible consenting adults.

Here’s why sex education important!

31% of the total population (2.3 million people over 15 years) are infected with AIDS/HIV.

Only 45% of young men and 28% of young women are aware of HIV/AIDS, its consequences and its prevention.

8% of unmarried women are not aware of even a single means of contraception and protection.

62% of young girls, even below 15 years, become mothers after getting married off to older men in many parts of rural and semi-urban India.

Approximately 50% of boys and girls face sexual abuse in their young lives as per a survey by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

2 out of 3 girls are completely clueless when they begin menstruating.

Sex education helps in learning about the mental, physical, emotional and social aspects of sexuality by making children and teenagers aware about their physical well being, health, hygiene, dignity and also enhances their skills, knowledge, attitudes and social values which further helps them in developing respectful social and sexual relationships.

While we may argue about morals and ethics and refrain from talking about sex and sexuality — proper sex education do help in

Increasing young people’s awareness and enhancing their approach to sexual and reproductive health and behaviours.

Reducing risky sexual activities and STDs/HIV infection rates.

Making a more gender-neutral environment and accepting others’ sexual preferences.

The list can be long and endless, but the end goal is making our youngsters less vulnerable and more aware of something which is completely normal and not just a taboo!

Countries are rapidly acknowledging the importance of sex education, and it’s time for us to make a move — make responsible choices and impactful actions. Sex education and the right to know about sex is as important than any other human rights.

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