Consent is an agreement that is willfully given without any external pressure or factors. In order for someone to consent to sexual activity participants must continuously communicate—before, during, and after sexual activity
Communication is key—boundaries should be established before, during, and after sexual activity. In order for someone to consent to sexual activity participants must continuously communicate before, during, and after sexual activity—this is the only way to establish clear boundaries between participants and allows for a relaxing experience.
Consent does not always have to be verbal, but discussing boundaries, expectations, and consent between participants at each sexual encounter is the best way to avoid confusion and respect boundaries.
Sexual coercion is when someone pressures, uses drugs or alcohol, or forces sexual contact with a person against his or her will.
Sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that happens without explicit consent of the victim.
When a friend or family member is sexually assaulted you may struggle to come up with ways to support them. The resources below provide guidance on how to navigate these situations and provide support without triggering and while respecting the victim’s privacy.
How do you know if someone wants to have sex? Or if they are unsure? What do these conversations around consent look like? This series of videos from Planned Parenthood helps demonstrate what clear communication around consent looks like.
See what you know about consent and coersion with these short quizzes developed for World Sexual Health Day, an annual celebration of sexual health on September 4.
The FDA just approved the Teal Wand, a self-collection device for HPV testing that does not require a speculum exam or even a trip to the doctor’s office. People can collect their own sample at home and send it to a lab for analysis.
The results of large-scale study of HPV suggest that one shot of the vaccine may be enough to protect young people from HPV and related issues like cervical cancer.
There are several awareness observations each May, including Women’s Health Month, Sex Ed for All Month, and Hepatitis Awareness Month.
Many people who take doxy PEP say it gives them peace of mind in their relationships and sex life. We sat down with Oscar Alexis, Efthimios, and Maxfield Haynes to talk about doxy PEP and get their perspective.
When we talk about contraception, we usual think about things that we can get from our doctors or pharmacists, but the truth is preventing pregnancy can be a simple as changing your behavior.
Non-hormonal contraceptive methods fall into a few categories. These include barrier methods and surgical options.
About 1.6 million cases of chlamydia and 600,000 cases of gonorrhea are diagnosed in the United Sates each year. A new study suggests that these patients may not be following through with STI treatment or getting the right antibiotics.
A clinical trial of a new antibiotic found that it works just as well as a current drug regimen for treating gonorrhea infections. This is important because the bacteria that causes gonorrhea has become resistant to most existing antibiotics.
ASHA believes that all people have the right to the information and services that will help them to have optimum sexual health. We envision a time when stigma is no longer associated with sexual health and our nation is united in its belief that sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life.
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