Celebrate Sexual Health in September
Each year, the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) celebrates World Sexual Health Day on September 4th, and the theme for the 2024 observation is Positive Relationships.
During Sexual Health Month in September, we’re taking up the call from WAS to talk about positive relationships—and you can join us! Explore this page to discover content from ASHA and others on the topic.
Types of Relationships
Relationships can be different. They’re not just about love; they include how we get along with friends, family, health care providers and others we meet. Every kind of relationship is important and makes life interesting.
Exploring Relationships
- With Partners
Sexual relationships work best when everybody is clear about what they want. If you don’t tell your partner what you want, you might find you expect different things. When entering into a new relationship and throughout the course of a relationship (since our expectations often change over time!), there’s a lot to talk about—learn how to get started and explore tips on discussing safer sex boundaries, birth control STI status, sexual desires, and more. - With Providers
A good relationship with your health care provider is essential for your sexual health. Your provider should be able to give you straightforward, nonjudgmental feedback and advice about your body and sexual life. But at the same time, they have to start with the whole picture. If you can’t be totally honest about what’s happening with your body and your feelings about it, you won’t be able to get accurate treatment. Learn how to own your awkwardness and and get the care you need.
Your Relationship with Yourself
Building a healthy relationship with yourself is the key to fulfilling connections with others. Swipe through the images to explore the pillars of self-love: confidence, mindfulness, and embracing your body.
STIs and Relationships
Let’s talk about a crucial aspect of healthy relationships: knowing and sharing your STI status. Knowledge is power, and open communication builds trust. Swipe or scroll to learn more!
Relationships and Abuse
Romantic relationships can be wonderful! But while it’s important that partners care for each other, it’s just as important that you take care of yourself and be aware of signs of abuse. Abuse doesn’t always mean that someone hits or hurts your body. Emotional abuse is anything that harms your self-esteem or causes shame. This includes saying things that hurt your feelings, make you feel that you aren’t worthwhile, or trying to control who you see or where you go. Scroll or swipe to learn about warning signs of an unhealthy relationship.
