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