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Addressing Sexual Health
In common parlance sexual health would
mean, anything or everything to do with sexual activity,
a simple explanation for the term would be sexual
intercourse. What in medical term is “coitus”,
meaning coming together. For a common man it is sex
with the penis in the vagina. Intercourse is a natural
phenomenon, it's not a science which needs to be learned,
it is within us. From millions of years man has been
doing it instinctively.
The feeling of sexual contact is something which has
always been curtailed; sexual contact has always been
considered naughty, secret, dangerous, forbidden or
even criminal. The root cause of thinking such a pious
natural urge as a forbidden act is our nature. From
time immemorial the human species has thought of sex
as a means of reproduction. Pleasure was a luxury, and
communication between the sexes was minimal.
Sexual
health does not imply penetrative sex alone. In
recent times sexual health is a new focus for WHO (World
Health Organisation). It has convened international
technical consultation on sexual health. Its importance
accorded by the world body is a step in the right direction
and needs to be an ongoing process. Sexual health is
a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being
in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence
of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health
requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality
and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility
of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free
of coercion, discrimination and violence.
Sexual health is influenced by a complex web of factors
ranging from sexual behavior and attitudes and societal
factors, to biological risk and genetic predisposition.
It encompasses the problems of HIV and STIs/RTIs, unintended
pregnancy and abortion, infertility and cancer resulting
from STIs, and sexual
dysfunction. Sexual health can also be influenced
by mental health, acute and chronic illnesses, and violence.
Addressing sexual health at the individual, family,
community or health system level requires integrated
interventions by trained health providers and a functioning
referral system.
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