Female Sexual Health
Sexual health refers to a state of well-being in the physiological, psychological, ethical, and sociocultural aspects related to sexuality. It encompasses both individual and collective sexual health. Individual sexual health not only affects personal well-being but also has an impact on the health of families and society as a whole, making it the foundation of collective sexual health.
The criteria for individual sexual health primarily include:
- Normal intellectual abilities.
- A well-developed and healthy sexual physiology.
- Acceptance of one's own sex, gender, and gender roles.
- A correct understanding of sexual needs.
- Sexual behavior that complies with legal regulations and social moral norms.
- Knowledge about sexuality and reproduction.
- Capacity to resist sexual temptations that conflict with societal norms.
Compared to male sexual health, female sexual health is more complex physiologically, psychologically, and culturally. Female sexual physiological health requires:
- Maintenance of good lifestyle habits, including diet, regular routines, avoidance of alcohol abuse, abstinence from smoking, and staying away from drugs.
- Maintenance of hygiene for sexual organs and safe sexual practices. Washing the external genitalia of both partners before sexual activity is encouraged, while considering the timing, frequency, and appropriateness of sexual activity during menstruation, pregnancy, the postpartum period, and lactation. Individuals with significant organ dysfunction should only engage in sexual activity under medical guidance.
- Proper family planning, attention to contraception, and efforts to prevent unintended pregnancies.
- Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
In terms of psychological health, both partners should recognize that sexual activity is a basic human need. Individuals should avoid feelings of guilt or shame about their own sexual desires and should not respond with aversion or fear to their partner's sexual needs. Understanding the differences in sexual responses between men and women, as well as variations among individuals, is essential. On this basis, individuals must adhere to sexual health norms informed by ethics and society, while embracing reproductive health awareness. It is important to foster a sense of responsibility toward family, community, society, and future generations. Advocating for marriage and childbearing at appropriate ages, promoting harmonious coexistence, and creating a happy life align with these goals.
Sexual Health Education
Sexual health education refers to planned, organized, purposeful, and systematic education in sexual knowledge and sexual ethics. Its primary aim is to disseminate knowledge about sexual physiology and psychology to individuals of all age groups, establish correct attitudes toward sexuality, foster scientific perspectives on sex, uphold sexual ethics, promote healthy sexual behavior, prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and curb sexual crimes.
The content of sexual health education primarily focuses on these areas:
- Sexual Knowledge: This includes medical knowledge of sexual health, such as the anatomy and physiology of male and female reproductive organs, characteristics of sexual behavior, contraception, sexually related diseases, sexual dysfunction, STDs, and their prevention.
- Sexual Psychology Knowledge: This encompasses the formation, development, and maturation of male and female psychosexuality, as well as the characteristics of sexual desire and responses.
- Sexual Ethics Knowledge: This covers topics like ethics in relationships and marriage, gender equality, respect for women, and more.
- Sexual Law Knowledge: This includes awareness of the legal prevention of sexual crimes.
Since sexual health is significant throughout an individual's lifetime, people of all ages should receive targeted sexual health education. Evidence suggests that the capacity for sexual arousal exists from birth, making sexual health education necessary from age 0. According to the 2018 UNESCO International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education, the focus of child sexual education includes advocating for gender equality and opposing sexual violence and abuse.
Adolescence is the critical stage for lifelong sexual health education. During this period, teenagers are taught scientific knowledge about sexuality to correct misconceptions and maladaptive behaviors. Adolescents should understand the onset of menstruation, sexual desire, sexual impulses, and masturbation. Masturbation is described as a normal means of self-relieving sexual tension and poses no health threats; furthermore, it contributes positively to future sexual relationships. From puberty, adolescents should be educated on contraception and STD prevention. They are also encouraged to recognize and adapt to the rapid physical and psychological changes of puberty, manage emerging sexual challenges during their "sexual latency period," and navigate relationships between the sexes. Adhering to social norms regarding sexual behavior can help develop moral character and emotional maturity.
Sexual health education for adults focuses on fostering harmonious and fulfilling sexual relationships, offering guidance on sexual activity during special periods such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. It includes education on suitable contraceptive methods and STD prevention, as well as on how adults can impart sexual education to their children.
For older women, the emphasis is on understanding physiological changes associated with aging and establishing sexual habits and behaviors appropriate to these changes. Older women retain the capacity for sexual desire and responses, and regular sexual activity may contribute to better overall well-being.