Sexually healthy individuals

You can use these guidelines to improve your personal sexual health and well-being.

Sexual health and well-being covers more than birth control and infection screening. Here are some goals for sexually healthy people:

appreciate their own bodies
enjoy sexual feelings without necessarily acting upon them
identify and understand their values
decide what is personally “right” and act on these values
demonstrate tolerance for people with different values
understand the impact of media messages on thoughts, feelings, values, and behaviors related to sexuality

interact with both genders in appropriate and respectful ways
avoid exploitive relationships
are able to communicate with a partner about sexual activity before it occurs, negotiate boundaries, and discuss physical and emotional consequences (positive and negative) of sexual activity, contraception (if applicable), safer sex methods and meaning in the relationship
communicate desires not to have sex and accept refusals to sex

understand the consequences of sexual activity
ask questions about sexual issues
seek further information about sexuality as needed
are aware of sexual health resources in their communities (like our ISHS clinics and programs!)

take responsibility for their behavior; communicate effectively with family and friends
if sexually active, understand and control fertility to choose pregnancy, or use contraception effectively to avoid pregnancy; and use condoms and safer sex practices to avoid contracting or transmitting a sexually transmitted infection
practice health-promoting behaviors, such as regular check-ups, sexually transmitted infection screening and breast or testicular self-examinations

This page was last updated on Jul 14, 2006.