Women’s sexual health is a part of overall health and well-being. Yet, women often feel uncomfortable talking about their sexual health or are unsure how to bring up issues to their partners or healthcare providers. Statistics show that 80% of women have sexual health concerns, but only 20% of women will actively discuss these concerns. There are treatments for different aspects of sexual health, and there are resources to understand your own sexuality better. This month on Let’s Chat, Dr. Bitner and Dr. Egan discuss the importance of embracing intimate health, destigmatizing open communication about sex, how to enhance pleasure, and prioritizing sexual wellness for women.  

The Importance of Sexual Health

Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It involves well-being within interpersonal relationships, respect, safe interactions, and consenting adults. Intimacy does not always mean intercourse but rather a focus on nurturing pleasure and connection to build healthier relationships.

Many aspects of life affect your sexual health, including metabolic health, upbringing, mental health, phase of ovarian function (i.e., menopause), and other health concerns individuals may face. Life changes can affect women’s confidence, ability to enjoy sex, and intimacy. Working towards better sexual health involves having the confidence to enjoy the pleasure and benefits that come with participating in activities of sex and intimacy. 

The Sex Deck

The Sex Deck can be used to facilitate open and honest conversations about sexual health and intimacy. The deck contains cards describing interpersonal, psychological, and physical factors that may affect your sexual health and intimacy. It also contains potential causes and treatment options. The Sex Deck can help to jumpstart difficult conversations with partners and healthcare providers and empower individuals to take back their sex life and reach optimal sexual health. 

Here is an example card!  

• Factor: Physical – Low Testosterone
• Potential Causes: natural menopause, surgical menopause, chemo-induced menopause, oral birth control pill, and premature ovarian insufficiency
• Potential solutions: adding testosterone supplements and changing the birth control method

Benefits of Sex Toys

Sex toys can enhance and foster a more comfortable and fulfilling space around sexual health. 

Vibrators can aid in achieving an orgasm, increase arousal during foreplay, and can be used to explore pleasure in different areas of your body. Many times, women are touched all day by their children, husbands, and themselves to help others; using a vibrator can be a place where you or your partner can practice positive touch, a touch that gives you pleasure. 

OHNUT is a tool designed to help partners explore different depths of penetration. The rings allow for partners to determine the amount of penetration they both are comfortable with. This tool can help women be intimate with their partner by setting physical boundaries, easing fear or worry. A history of painful sex or discomfort with penetration can create anxiety, preventing a woman from fully relaxing and experiencing pleasure. Pleasure can also be easily disrupted by distractions, worries, and pain. OHNUT helps partners to relax, enhances the experience of penetration without pain, and allows all participants to be fully present with the feeling of pleasure. 

Lube enhances sexual experiences and is beneficial across different stages of life, regardless of current arousal levels. Many factors can affect natural lubrication, such as stress, medications, hormonal changes, or menopause. Whether or not you are struggling with natural lubrication, lube can be used to increase comfort and pleasure and can encourage sexual exploration in your relationship. 

Incorporating sex toys in sexual activities not only enhances immediate pleasure but also contributes positively to your sexual health and well-being. They allow you to regain control of your sex life and promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of your partner and your own body and desires.

Picture of Self

Developing a Picture of Self involves looking forward and setting a goal of how you desire your sexual health to look. Consider how often you want to be intimate, your feelings about sex, and your self-image. Here are a few questions to help you start:

• How do you picture yourself feeling satisfied with the quality of your sex life?
• How do you feel when sexual satisfaction is reached in terms of expression, communication, pleasure, and intimacy?
• Describe what feels natural and correct for you, physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

Use these questions to form your goals for sexual well-being. This might involve learning more about you and your partner’s desires, consulting your doctor, and personal exploration to achieve your vision. Many women face challenges that impact their sexual health, including surviving cancer, adjusting to body changes, becoming a new mother,  experiencing shifts in relationships, or dealing with low estrogen levels. It is important to show yourself empathy and not to give up on your sexual health. You deserve to feel pleasure and have good sexual wellness at every stage of life.

Resources

Here are a few products and resources that we recommend to enhance and improve your sexual health. Explore these links to find educational material and new tools to cultivate intimacy and pleasure. 

• ISSWSH 
• Prosayla
• AASECT
• The Pelvic People 
• Kiwi – The Pelvic People 
• The Honey Pot

Five Questions to Ask Your HCP

1. What is my phase of ovarian function?
2. Are you comfortable talking about sex?
3. My partner and I need help. What are my resources?
4. Are you willing to help me tackle my sexual health issues? (i.e., measure testosterone levels or consider MHT?)
5. Are you familiar with the connections between sexual health and metabolic health?

Five Key Takeaways

1. You deserve a Picture of Self for your sexual health.
2. There is no “normal.”
3. Painful sex is NOT normal.
4. Issues in the bedroom may be a sign of health issues, so let’s talk about it!
5. There is help for low libido, painful sex, and lack of orgasm.

Be Empowered

You deserve meaningful, connected conversations with your partner, pleasure, and good sexual health. At True, we support you with resources, advice, solutions, and open dialogue to help you reclaim your health. Whether you’re struggling with self-image, body changes, or life’s chaos, you can still find pleasure and intimacy. Start by having open conversations with your partner and doctor. Give yourself permission to embrace sexual wellness and invest in your sexual health now—your future self will thank you!

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