These tips can help you live a more fulfilling sex life. Photo: Canvas
each September 4th celebrated in sexual health day, This is by World Sexual Health Association Since 2010, its goal has been to “raise awareness and promote sexuality as an important aspect of being human and an element of reproductive health that must leave people feeling satisfied, healthy and free from risk”.according to World Health Organization (WHO), Sexual health is defined as the state of physical, emotional, psychological and social well-being related to sexuality; it is not just the absence of disease, dysfunction or incapacity. So, in honor of the occasion, we leave you with four lessons you should know to better deal with this aspect of your life.
Condom use and annual STI screening
The first rule of sexual hygiene is to use condoms in all sexual relations to avoid the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, human papilloma (HPV), etc. It is important to consider that schools emphasize this, as for example HPV is one of the most common STIs. According to the World Health Organization, 9 out of 10 sexually active people may develop some type of papilloma, which can lead to death.
On the other hand, besides using condoms, annual STI screening is a necessary preventive measure. Ideally, experts say a complete annual check-up, which includes testing for HIV, hepatitis B, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and herpes type 2, is ideal.
Not all STIs can be prevented with condom use
Although condom use is important and essential to avoid contracting STIs through exchange of bodily fluids, condoms also have limitations for three types of infections: HPV, genital herpes, and syphilis. In all cases, infection can occur through skin-to-skin, skin-to-skin contact in the pelvic area because the male condom covers the penis but not surrounding areas such as the scrotum and lower abdomen. In this way, lesions capable of presenting herpes or syphilis or HPV warts are easily spread.
happiness is also healthy
Talking about sex would feel less taboo if pleasure was seen as part of everyone’s overall health. Sex can have many benefits, such as improving your mood, reducing stress and helping you sleep better. For example, gynecologist Corina Hidalgo previously told La Repubblica that she brought up issues related to pleasure during consultations.
“Previously, sexual pleasure was not discussed and only the number of sexual partners was asked to see if they had risk factors for HIV infection; however, now we can talk openly with patients about sexual relationships or whether they have sexual desire because low libido is present. When there are organic causes that can reduce libido in men or women, libido can also be normalized a lot,” says the expert.
Know Your Pleasure Through Masturbation
When viewing pleasure as health, it’s also important to develop our sexual self-knowledge through masturbation, with the goal of knowing what we like and don’t like. For example, for someone with a vulva, the act of discovery is touching the vulva, but not only the clitoris, but also the labia minora. It can also be touching breasts, thighs, or even trying different ways of masturbating, ie not only with hands but also with pillows, heels or some sex toys.
And, for men, too, trying different ways to stimulate the penis or slowly touching the nipples is their way of exploring these areas and experiencing pleasure.