Sexuality and sexual health – what exactly does that mean?

Flirting, relationships and the famous »first time«, online dating, fidelity and of course sex – there are many aspects to the topic of sexuality. But what does sexuality actually mean? What does sexual health means? And why are diversity, well-being and health related? LIEBESLEBEN answers these and other questions for you.

Sexuality is more than »just« sex!

Like hardly any other issue, sexuality and sex accompany us throughout our lives – whether as a basic need, for fun or as a form of expression. Sexuality is a natural part of being human, it is a completely normal and positive way of expressing yourself. It's not just about sex, but also about other things, such as relationships and sexual rights.

And it is precisely because sexuality is such a central part of being human that there are many ideas about what's »right« and »wrong«, what's proper and what's not. Fidelity, for example, is extremely important to some people, while it is less so or not at all to others. For some, love and sex are closely linked, while for others they are different things. A lot of things are really just a matter of personal taste and your own personal values. There is one boundary that is important, however: no one must be coerced into sexual acts.

Sexual health – what does that mean?

Sexuality is not just about your personal preferences or social attitudes, it is also about health. And not just when it comes to protecting yourself from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It's also about your well-being, your sexual health.

How do you feel about your sexuality? Do you feel comfortable? Are you healthy? And can you have the experiences you want to have? All of these things are part of sexual health. It is about your physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. That's how the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines it. But what does that mean exactly?

It means that you are positive about sexuality. This includes that you can have safe sexual experiences in a self-determined way and without coercion, discrimination or violence. It also means protecting yourself and others from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

You see: There may be more to sexual health than you initially thought. And if you are comfortable with your sexuality and accept yourself as you are, you create the ideal conditions to be and stay healthy.

Sexual rights

Sexuality is a way of expressing yourself in a self-determined way. It's not just about sex, but also about rights – your right to live your sexuality and to be treated equally. This also means, specifically:

You have the right to find out about contraceptives, for example, through sex education at school, at counselling centres or from a doctor.
You decide with your (sexual) partner what contraception you use and how to protect yourself. Don't be talked into anything.
You decide over your body and which physical touches you want to allow.
You decide if and how you want to have sex and you can say no at any time.
You decide how you want to live your gender and sexual orientation. No one may discriminate against you because of it.

LIEBESLEBEN helps you to accept yourself and your sexuality as you are and to prevent health risks, such as with so-called conversion therapy (which refers to a treatment that seeks to change your sexual orientation and gender identity unnecessarily).

Relationships come in different forms

As different as people are, so are their relationships. And often a relationship is the context in which sexuality takes place. At the same time, your sexuality also affects which type of relationship suits you. Examples of relationships include:

Monogamous relationships, where exclusivity can be particularly important
Open relationships, which are more about variety
Couple relationships between two people
Polyamorous relationships between several people
Long-term relationships, such as marriage
Casual relationships, such as friendship plus

But no matter what relationship you are in or if you are single: try to break free from other people's expectations. Ask yourself: What feels right to me at this moment? Am I happy with how I live and how I experience my sexuality? This is how you develop a self-determined sexuality.

Do you have more questions?

Sexuality is a diverse topic and it covers many different things – including when it comes to sexual health. And it doesn't matter if you are unsure or have questions. Find out more and, if in doubt, seek advice if you need help, for example from the LIEBESLEBEN counselling service. The experienced counselling team can help you with your very personal concerns – in different languages. The counselling team can also give you addresses of counselling centres in your area that also offer services in different languages.