Let’s Dive into the World of Sexuality and Health

Sexual Health. Two words with tons of meaning. At first glance you might be think it is pretty simple. Sexual = Anything to do with Sex. Health = Absence of disease or a good general condition of your body and mind. Put them together and you get Sexual Health = The health of an individuals reproductive system and sexual well being during all stages of their life. So don’t get sexually transmitted diseases throughout your life and I’m good? What if I don’t want sex at all? What if I can’t physically have sex due to a disability? What if I want to have sex three or four times a day? Is my sexual health ok, or does it get degraded or increased with any of these things? Let’s take a look at what definitions we have been given by the “experts”.

The most obvious Sexual Health definition comes from the WHO (World Health Organization) website. All of the “experts” from around the world have gotten together and “contributed” on what Sexual Health is.

“…a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled.” ¹

So It makes sense, but it also doesn’t make sense. Everything makes sense until it mentions sexual rights and well being. What is well-being?^18,19 We cannot attain sexual health if my sexual rights are not respected, protected and fulfilled? What are sexual rights? Well it goes on to give us their version of that definition also:

Pretty long list if you ask me. We begin with a simple question, and then leave it to the experts to give us a long complicated answer. One thing to note is how many times does it say protected? 4 times. So who will protect my sexual rights? Do I need to be protected? What type of privacy are they referring to? The right to social security? How does social security integrate into sexual health? Towards the end it says “effective remedy for violations”. An “effective remedy” sounds vague and can mean many things. So in the instance where one of my sexual rights is violated, am I no longer sexually healthy?

My simple question of what is sexual health still cannot be answered clearly. Even after reading what the WHO has to say about this topic, I remain more confused than when I started. So I had to search to find these rights and what they mean. Which led me to the Declaration of Sexual Rights brought to you by WAS (World Association for Sexual Health). Lets go through each right and ask some important questions. ¹⁴

Sexual rights are human rights pertaining to sexuality:

• The right to equality and non-discrimination
  Everyone is entitled to enjoy all sexual rights set forth in this Declaration without distinction of any kind such as race, ethnicity, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, place of residence, property, birth, disability, age, nationality, marital and family status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, health status, economic and social situation and other status.

So everyone has sexual rights no matter what. I am more than sure many parents would argue their children have sexual rights, since they are the legal guardians.¹⁵

• The right to life, liberty, and security of the person
  Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security that cannot be arbitrarily threatened, limited, or taken away for reasons related to sexuality. These include: sexual orientation, consensual sexual behavior and practices, gender identity and expression, or because of accessing or providing services related to sexual and reproductive health.

In a perfect world I would agree that this statement makes sense. But in the real world, states inside countries cannot agree on a single item. A clear example is access or providing abortion services in certain states within the USA or even in Mexico can threaten your liberty. Even certain sexual behavior that is consensual, is illegal in many places around the world. They really are shooting for the stars on this one. A good question to ask here is what country in the entire world offers this?

• The right to autonomy and bodily integrity
  Everyone has the right to control and decide freely on matters related to their sexuality and their body. This includes the choice of sexual behaviors, practices, partners and relationships with due regard to the rights of others. Free and informed decision making requires free and informed consent prior to any sexually-related testing, interventions, therapies, surgeries, or research.

It should say, “Everyone of legal age in their respective country has the right to control and decide…” Don’t know how this slipped from thousands of people working at the WAS. Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol have an age limit. Even getting tattoos has an age limit.³⁰ At what age does someone have the ability to consent to any sexually related therapies or surgeries? Very vague statement with nothing specific.

• The right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment
  Everyone shall be free from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment related to sexuality, including: harmful traditional practices; forced sterilization, contraception, or abortion; and other forms of torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment perpetrated for reasons related to someone’s sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and bodily diversity.

Who determines what is degrading treatment related to their sexuality? What if they are into BDSM and consent to such treatment and punishment, but then later regret it? I agree that there are some crazy traditional practices in the world which many of us are not aware of, and with a simple search we can find tons of information. Not mentioned here but part of the harmful practices list includes early child marriage, female genital mutilation, scarification, and more.³¹

• The right to be free from all forms of violence and coercion
  Everyone shall be free from sexuality related violence and coercion, including: rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, bullying, sexual exploitation and slavery, trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation, virginity testing, and violence committed because of real or perceived sexual practices, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and bodily diversity.

The right to be free from bullying? How would this be enforced? Who determines what is bullying? Certainly not you or me. All of these forms of violence and coercion are horrible to say the least. They require an effort from every one of us to have this right. Parents need to take care of their children. Adults need to be held responsible for their actions. Violence is not the way. Coercion is completely unacceptable. Many people wonder and want to understand when persuasion becomes coercion. A future article will be done on this ethical question.

• The right to privacy
  Everyone has the right to privacy related to sexuality, sexual life, and choices regarding their own body and consensual sexual relations and practices without arbitrary interference and intrusion. This includes the right to control the disclosure of sexuality-related personal information to others.

I couldn’t agree more with this statement. The only problem would be the NSA spying on your private messages as well as the FBI, CIA and any other intelligence organizations.³² Let’s not forget that private companies spy on us for the government. There is a very good article on sexual privacy written by Danielle K. Citron.¹⁶

• The right to the highest attainable standard of health, including sexual health; with the possibility of pleasurable, satisfying, and safe sexual experiences
  Everyone has the right to the highest attainable level of health and wellbeing in relation to sexuality, including the possibility of pleasurable, satisfying, and safe sexual experiences. This requires the availability, accessibility, acceptability of quality health services and access to the conditions that influence and determine health including sexual health.

This one will light a fire on someone’s ass, but it refers to universal health coverage in the second sentence.³³ While many people agree with this topic, I disagree on universal health care being a right for many reasons beyond the scope of this blog. But I do think everyone should have basic healthcare, not as a right, but as good social policy. There is a great article worth reading by Richard D. Lamm worth reading on this topic,³⁴ as well as another short article by Philip Barlow.³⁵

• The right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its application
  Everyone has the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications in relation to sexuality and sexual health.

Who is responsible for telling us about any scientific progress that has surfaced recently? How do we access such information or knowledge? Who is funding the scientists that provide the science? Are we allowed to question the science? Who decides on the applications and implementation? How do we define benefits especially relating to sexuality and sexual health? Are these benefits of scientific progress goods or services? This has to be one of the most abstract rights that exist. In this article³⁶ they clearly state that this right still needs further clarification.

• The right to information
  Everyone shall have access to scientifically accurate and understandable information related to sexuality, sexual health, and sexual rights through diverse sources. Such information should not be arbitrarily censored, withheld, or intentionally misrepresented.

How does everyone get access to such information? Obviously we have the internet hence you reading this. How de we know information is scientifically accurate? What does it mean by diverse sources? How would we know if such information is being censored, withheld, or intentionally misrepresented? Should we always trust the experts? Have experts made mistakes before? It almost seems like it is stating the obvious but there is much needed explanations once you ask the questions.

• The right to education and the right to comprehensive sexuality education
  Everyone has the right to education and comprehensive sexuality education. Comprehensive sexuality education must be age appropriate, scientifically accurate, culturally competent, and grounded in human rights, gender equality, and a positive approach to sexuality and pleasure.

Who and how does someone determine what sex education is age appropriate?^9,10 I really like the “positive approach to sexuality and pleasure” part. The sex education that I received, and can barely remember, wasn’t too positive. Coming from a Latino background, maybe having culturally competent sexual education would have been a game changer!

• The right to enter, form, and dissolve marriage and other similar types of relationships based on equality and full and free consent Everyone has the right to choose whether or not to marry and to enter freely and with full and free consent into marriage, partnership or other similar relationships. All persons are entitled to equal rights entering into, during, and at dissolution of marriage, partnership and other similar relationships, without discrimination and exclusion of any kind. This right includes equal entitlements to social welfare and other benefits regardless of the form of such relationships.

Equality in and at dissolution of marriage? Lol. I would ask anyone who has been divorced if they had “equal rights” to that of their spouse. Also ask them if they experienced discrimination or exclusion of any kind during their relationship? I am pretty sure the answer is a big gigantic YES. Are these people serious? Who enforces these rights? One thing to note here is there are many countries who will not allow same sex marriage or have laws that make it illegal in which the penalties go from death to prison time.³⁷ Are these people’s sexual rights being violated? Is there a cultural component to those laws? The last sentence confuses me because it is vague, but I think it means that regardless of the form (same-sex, gay, lesbian, etc.) of such relationships, they have a right to welfare (social security) in the case of legal marriage.

• The right to decide whether to have children, the number and spacing of children, and to have the information and the means to do so
  Everyone has the right to decide whether to have children and the number and spacing of children. To exercise this right requires access to the conditions that influence and determine health and wellbeing, including sexual and reproductive health services related to pregnancy, contraception, fertility, pregnancy termination, and adoption.

We all know Latinos exercise their right to have children, plus tax and a cherry 🍒 on top. Almost everyone we know have little niños y niñas running around at the parties. What’s interesting about this right is that even if the WAS did not call it out, we would still have it. To exercise our right to have children we “need” the right to health care? My opinion on health services as a right are above. I agree that we should have access to excellent health services as good social policy, but not as a right. Does it make sense to say we have a right to contraception? Who will provide it and at what cost? The right to have children doesn’t end or gets violated because they do not have access to contraception or don’t have services to pregnancy termination. This is nonsense. Their right to have children has not been violated, hindered, or haltered.

• The right to the freedom of thought, opinion, and expression Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, opinion, and expression regarding sexuality and has the right to express their own sexuality through, for example, appearance, communication, and behavior, with due respect to the rights of others.

This right is absolutely fantastic. Expression regarding sexuality is essential for happiness. Can someone obstruct or stop your right from freedom of thought? Can someone obstruct your right to having a strong opinion relating to sexuality? If your opinion does not match with the expert opinions, are your opinions considered misinformation? Does censorship stop you from having this right? Is censorship and fact checking anything you say or believe violating your right to freedom of thought and opinion? Who decides what due respect to the rights of others is and is not?

• The right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly Everyone has the right to peacefully organize, associate, assemble, demonstrate, and advocate including about sexuality, sexual health, and sexual rights.

A circular definition given to us by the smartest people on the planet. My sexual right is to be able to advocate sexual rights. To me this sounds like a cut and paste of a human right and they just added sexuality to it, almost like the other sexual rights. You would think they could come up with something original, but they don’t. I absolutely agree the entire world should practice this right, but in many nations people cannot even peacefully assemble, even less advocate sexuality or sexual health. If a nation does not let you peacefully assemble and advocate sexuality, am I not sexually healthy?

• The right to participation in public and political life
  Everyone is entitled to an environment that enables active, free, and meaningful participation in and contribution to the civil, economic, social, cultural, political, and other aspects of human life at local, national, regional, and international levels. In particular, all persons are entitled to participate in the development and implementation of policies that determine their welfare, including their sexuality and sexual health.

If you do not have an environment that enables participation in all parts of life in your city you are not sexually healthy? To be more specific, if you cannot participate in policies that determine your welfare you are not sexually healthy? There are a few definitions of welfare, the first one being: the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity.⁷ The second is: aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need. Clarity and specifics are obviously not one of the strong points of the WAS as once again we are left to wonder what definition they are pointing at here, especially when including sexuality and sexual health. We will guesstimate and go with the first one. This right makes it seem that specific policies determine our welfare. I can’t disagree more. I determine my welfare, not policies and my participation in politics, or even my contributions. I am responsible for myself and my actions, regardless of any policies that arise. Sexual health (which is still being defined at this moment within its own definition) and sexuality are your own personal responsibility.

• The right to access to justice, remedies, and redress
  Everyone has the right to access to justice, remedies, and redress for violations of their sexual rights. This requires effective, adequate, accessible, and appropriate educative, legislative, judicial, and other measures. Remedies include redress through restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantee of non-repetition.

As we have reviewed and questioned the “sexual rights” presented to us by the WAS, we can see that there are more questions than answers. One reason for this is the vagueness of them all. How can we acquire justice for violations of our sexual rights if the rights themselves are not clear and specific. Second, the violation of rights are most likely to be done by the systems (governments) themselves than by individuals. So we expect that a whole system will admit to their wrongdoing and then give compensation or whatever else once they admit they did something wrong? In the case of an individual/s that violate our sexual rights we do deserve justice.

Please note one small detail that the WHO states:

(1) It should be noted that this definition does not represent an official WHO position and should not be used or quoted as such. It is offered instead as a contribution to ongoing discussion about sexual health.

The World Health Organization, the organization that everyone would think had some influence on what sexual health would be, literally said to NOT quote them, it’s just their 2 cents, and keep discussing the topic. Why aren’t they accepting a definition for sexual health? Or at least say, “Hey this is our best definition so far”.

The WHO and WAS expect you and I to read these vague statements and say “Wow I finally understand what sexual health is!”. I don’t know about you but, this sexual health conversation went another way. The more complicated and less simple route. My grandma would have turned on the television and seen at least 1 episode of her novela by the time I explained it to her. Does defining sexual health have to be this complicated? Every time someone asks you what is sexual health, do you have the time to explain these 2 pages worth of items to them? Of coarse NOT! And neither do I. We are human and our attention span doesn’t last that long to clarify a simple definition. So what do we do? Who has the answers? Let’s keep digging.

One way we can discover what something is, is by understanding what it is not. What is the opposite of sexual health? Being sexually unhealthy? The opposite of normal sexual function would be sexual dysfunction? If one has erectile dysfunction, female or male orgasmic disorder, premature ejaculation, dyspareunia, are they still sexually healthy?

Another way of finding out what something is, is by figuring out how it is measured. When you arrive at the CDC website to view the sexual health definition, and direct yourself to data and statistics about sexual health, we see how they measure sexual health.³⁸ Unfortunately, for the WHO, they are quoted for the 2002 definition of sexual health. I am guessing the latest 2006a version is too new for the CDC. Interesting note is there is no mention of sexual rights anywhere. They should have included them and explained each one.

A few topics appear:

• Infectious Disease – Hepatitis, HIV, STI’s/STD’s
• Reproductive Health – Birth Data, Contraceptive use, Reproductive Heath, Teen Births, Women’s Health
• Adolescent health – Youth Sexual Risk Behavior
• Sexual Violence Prevention
• Healthy Pregnancy
• LGBT Health

If all these topics can be measured, then we could guess that sexual health is directly linked to these topics. A step closer to finding the definition of sexual health.

The National Coalition for Sexual Health defines sexual health as:

Sexual health is having a healthier body. A satisfying sex life. Valuing and feeling good about yourself. Having peace of mind. Positive relationships, whether short term or long term. Experiencing pleasure, intimacy, and joy. Avoiding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies. These are just a few of the important benefits of good sexual health.

They then go on to give you 5 action steps to achieve better sexual health. Altarum manages the NCSH and on their site they mention 3 measurements of sexual health in which the U.S. is poor at: STI’s, unintended pregnancies and sexual violence.

The Sexual Wellness Centers of Texas lists all nine of the definitions of sexual health in chronological order here. They warn that, “It is important to remember that any attempts to establish “norms” and an objective definition of sexual health is dangerous in that they could be used to exclude or label people as unhealthy or abnormal.” These guys didn’t get the memo that the WHO doesn’t want to be quoted either. You know for someone who specifically says to not quote them, everyone sure does quote them. So they go on to say that it is dangerous to attempt to establish a norm/standard model for sexual health. They even tell you that it is dangerous to have an objective/factual definition of sexual health. So we can just define it however we want depending on our cultural background? They do not want to label people as unhealthy or abnormal. Why would this be?

The American Sexual Health Association gives is their version of sexual health:

What is sexual health?

ASHA believes that sexual health includes far more than avoiding disease or unplanned pregnancy. We also believe that having a sexually transmitted infection or unwanted pregnancy does not prevent someone from being or becoming sexually healthy.

Sexual health is the ability to embrace and enjoy our sexuality throughout our lives. It is an important part of our physical and emotional health. Being sexually healthy means:

• Understanding that sexuality is a natural part of life and involves more than sexual behavior.
• Recognizing and respecting the sexual rights we all share.
• Having access to sexual health information, education, and care.
• Making an effort to prevent unintended pregnancies and STDs and seek care and treatment when needed.
• Being able to experience sexual pleasure, satisfaction, and intimacy when desired.
• Being able to communicate about sexual health with others including sexual partners and healthcare providers.

Let’s analyze the the definition given to us by ASHA.

ASHA believes that sexual health includes far more than avoiding disease or unplanned pregnancy. We also believe that having a sexually transmitted infection or unwanted pregnancy does not prevent someone from being or becoming sexually healthy.

They believe that having an STI does not prevent you from being or becoming sexually healthy. Being is present tense and becoming would be future tense. So one could have chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV or syphilis and still be considered sexually healthy? How does this make sense? If you can cure the STI, you can become sexually healthy once the disease is cured. But what if it cannot be cured or the disease advanced to the point of permanent problems?

Understanding that sexuality is a natural part of life and involves more than sexual behavior.

I agree with this statement, but defining sexuality can be a whole article in itself. What else would sexuality involve? Why can’t they be more specific. Very open ended statement.

Recognizing and respecting the sexual rights we all share.

What are sexual rights? How can I respect and recognize something that is not stated? They couldn’t even list one?

Having access to sexual health information, education, and care.

The emphasis here would be having access to age appropriate sexual education and information.

Making an effort to prevent unintended pregnancies and STDs and seek care and treatment when needed.

Here we see two topics repeated by other organizations, topics by which others can measure sexual health: unintended pregnancies and STD care & treatment.

Being able to experience sexual pleasure, satisfaction, and intimacy when desired.

Excellent statement, maybe one of the most important aspects of sexual health. To be sexual, experience sexual pleasure, intimacy and joy within our short time here on earth. To experience all of this in a healthy manner.

Being able to communicate about sexual health with others including sexual partners and healthcare providers.

Another circular definition. Sexual health is communicating about sexual health. But what is sexual health? Part of it is communicating about sexual health. Very smart definition. I could not imagine thinking of this one. Once again the confusion arises. Clarity is lost.

Let’s start putting all the pieces together. After going through all of these sexual health definitions we think they have some things in common. Some of them make sense and others are lacking definition and clarity. What are we looking for exactly? We want something clear and specific with correct definitions. We want it measurable so we can track and quantify. We want it achievable to know that it can be attained or accomplished. We want it to be realistic.²⁵ Even if we achieve this “Sexual health” we speak of, can it be maintained?

What Sexual Health means to us here at Caliente Labs

Sexual health is the sum of the following 4 things:

1. Being able to experience sexual pleasure, intimacy, joy and satisfaction, as well as express your fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes and values. This is highly influenced by your culture, expectations and power dynamics.
2. Being able to have positive consensual relationships with good communication, free of violence and coercion, while valuing and feeling good about yourself throughout life.
3. Maintaining good mental and physical health which includes having a healthy diet, exercising, and getting sufficient sleep.
4. Avoiding STI’s/STD’s and unplanned pregnancies.

Let’s dive in and understand why we chose this as our definition.

1. Being able to experience sexual pleasure, intimacy, joy and satisfaction, as well as express your fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes and values. This is highly influenced by your culture, expectations and power dynamics.

Sexual health has the word sexual in it and the first sentence is an oversimplified definition of sexuality. Sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually.¹⁷ It is highly influenced on where you were raised, your culture, gender norms, expectations, religious or spiritual beliefs as well as economic upbringing. Can it me measured? Yes. Are you capable of experiencing sexual pleasure, intimacy, joy and satisfaction? If you aren’t able to experience sexual pleasure and satisfaction can you make it your goal to attain it? Yes!! If you can’t express your sexuality, can you work on it? Absolutely.

2. Being able to have positive consensual relationships with good communication, free of violence and coercion, while valuing and feeling good about yourself throughout life.

This part revolves around sexual relationships with others as well as yourself. We want to strive to have positive, not negative sexual relationships. That negativity can cascade down into violence or coercion, which is unacceptable in any sexual relationship. Consent is invaluable and necessary for any thriving relationship. The difference between rape and sex is consent! We need good communication to understand what others feel and what they are trying to tell us. Is this measurable? Yes. Positive consensual relationships with good communication lead us to experience lower violence and coercion in society. Good communication in relationships leads to avoiding STI’s/STD’s and unplanned pregnancies. Can we attain these sexual relationships and feel good about oneself throughout life? Absolutely! Set them as your goal and work hard to achieve them.

3. Maintaining good mental and physical health which includes having a healthy diet, exercising, and getting sufficient sleep.

Here is where objectivity comes in and also where many people will disagree with us. Sexual health has the word health in it, which means we have to be mentally and physically healthy. We need mental health because sex starts between the ears.²¹ Your mind reflects and holds all of your fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes and values. Your mental health consists of how your emotions, thoughts, and actions influence your decisions, relationships and how we handle stress.^{20, 22} In order to be physically healthy we need a healthy diet, with lots of tacos, exercise and sufficient sleep.²³ Can we measure mental and physical health? Yes. Can we achieve good mental and physical health? Yes. Achieving great sexual health means having good positive mental health and being and feeling physically healthy.

4. Avoiding STI’s/STD’s and unplanned, mistimed, unwanted pregnancies.

Avoiding, preventing, keeping away from sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) and unplanned pregnancies. Easily measured? Yes, and the most actively measured out of all things related to sexual health. If you claim to be sexually healthy, people understand that you do not have any STD’s/STI’s. If you do happen to have any, most people will say, you are NOT sexually healthy. Most articles written on sexual health specifically measure sexual health on just these two parameters.

Why would avoidance of an unplanned, mistimed or unwanted pregnancy be part of the definition of sexual health? About a little less than half of all unintended pregnancies end in abortion which carries risk of medical complications, including death. Women who have unplanned pregnancies are twice as likely to lack or delay prenatal care, are about 30% more likely to smoke during pregnancy, and are greater risk of negative mental health outcomes during and after pregnancy. Children born of unintended pregnancies have poorer mental and physical health, less close mother child relationships, and poorer educational and behavioral outcomes.^26,27,28,29

Can you avoid STD’s/STD’s and unwanted pregnancies? Yes! The opposite of unplanned, mistimed and unwanted pregnancies are planned, timed and wanted pregnancies. They don’t have to be in that order or all three at the same time. Can you realistically plan it? Time it? Want it? Yes!

You just stepped into our Caliente Labs store and you happened to drop into this article and ask, “Why would you care so much about the definition of sexual health? We want sex toys! Sell me something that will make me orgasm 1000 times and ship it this instant!” We are on it❗❗

We care about your sexual health and the first step to achieving sexual health is understanding what it is. Definitions are important and this is no exception. With proper definitions, we can get a sense of clarity and understanding on what we read and process. We want to educate and help you understand what the whole world is throwing at us. It seems at times they want to confuse us, or at times steer you into a different direction that doesn’t have your best interest at heart. Sometimes they blame others for you not being happy or healthy. Everything in life is your fault, including the best times and all the positive consequences of our actions. We want to help you achieve and maintain sexual health!

References:

Sexual Health

1. World health Organization (2023) Sexual Health Definition. https://www.who.int/health-topics/sexual-health#tab=tab_2
2. World Health Organization (2023) Sexual Health Definition. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research. https://www.who.int/teams/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-research/key-areas-of-work/sexual-health/defining-sexual-health
3. National Coalition for Sexual Health (2023) Sexual Health. https://nationalcoalitionforsexualhealth.org/sexual-health/what-is-sexual-health
4. Pandia Health Editorial Team (2021, Feb) Guide to Sexual Health. Pandia Health. https://www.pandiahealth.com/resources/guide-to-sexual-health/
5. ASHA (2022, Dec) What is Sexual Health? American Sexual Health Association. https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/sexual-health/
6. Options for Sexual Health (2023) What is sexual health? https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/facts/sex/what-is-sexual-health/#1551391082878-b68abcb0-a8f6
7. CDC (2019, Jun) Sexual Health Definition: Center for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/sexualhealth/default.html#who
8. Matthew Hogben, Jessie Ford, Jeffrey S. Becasen & Kathryn F. Brown (2015) A Systematic Review of Sexual Health Interventions for Adults: Narrative Evidence, Journal of Sex Research, 52:4, 444-469. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2014.973100
9. Joann Schladale, M.S., L.M.F.T. (2013) A Trauma Informed Approach for Adolescent Sexual Health. Foster Ed. https://foster-ed.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/A-Trauma-Informed-Approach-for-Adolescent-Sexual-Health-2013.pdf
10. Eli Coleman (2002) Promoting sexual health and responsible sexual behavior: An introduction, 39:1, 1-6. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00224490209552111
11. Lucero J. E., Hanafi, S. L., Emerson, A. D., Rodriguez, K. I., Davalos, L., & Grinnell, L., (2020) Sexual Health and Sexual Health Education: Contemporary Perceptions and Concerns of Young Adults Within the Millennial Population Cohort, American Journal of Sexuality Education, 15:4, 476-490. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15546128.2020.1832008
12. Reece M., Herbenick, D. & Sherwood‐Puzzello, C. (2004) Sexual health promotion and adult retail stores, Journal of Sex Research, 41:2, 173-180. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00224490409552225
13. Gruskin, S., Yadav, V., Castellanos-Usigli, A., Khizanishvili, G. & Kismödi, E. (2019) Sexual health, sexual rights and sexual pleasure: meaningfully engaging the perfect triangle, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 27:1, 29-40. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26410397.2019.1593787

Sexual Rights

14. WAS General Assembly in Singapore (2015) Declaration of Sexual Rights PDF. World Association of Sexual Health. https://worldsexualhealth.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/declaration_of_sexual_rights_sep03_2014_b.pdf
15. Ilsa L. Lottes (2013) Sexual Rights: Meanings, Controversies, and Sexual Health Promotion, Journal of Sex Research, 50:3-4, 367-391. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00224499.2013.764380

Sexual Privacy

16. Danielle K. Citron (2019) Sexual Privacy, 128 Yale Law Journal 1870 https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/620/

Sexuality

17. APA Dictionary of Psychology (2023) Sexuality. American Psychological Association. https://dictionary.apa.org/sexuality

Well-Being

18. Selwyn, J., & Wood, M. (2015) Measuring Well-Being: A Literature Review. University of Bristol. https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/41278115/Measuring_Wellbeing_FINAL.pdf
19. CDC (2018, Oct) Well Being Concept: Center for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/wellbeing.htm#two

Mental health

20. SAMHSA (2023, Apr) What is Mental Health? https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health
21. https://www.sexpert.com/what-is-a-braingasm-how-to-have-one/
22. APA Dictionary of Psychology (2023) Mental Health. American Psychological Association. https://dictionary.apa.org/mental-health

Health

23. Croat Med J. (2006, Aug); 47(4): 662–664. The Meanings of Health and its Promotion https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2080455/
24. UN Economic and Social Council (2000, Aug) General Comment No. 14: The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health. Refworld. https://www.refworld.org/docid/4538838d0.html

Goals

25. The Mind Tools Content Team (2023) SMART Goals. Mind Tools https://www.mindtools.com/a4wo118/smart-goals

Unintended Pregnancy

26. Logan, C. Ph.D., Holcombe, E., Manlove, J. Ph.D., & Ryan, S. Ph.D. (2007, May) The Consequences of Unintended Childbearing a White Paper. Child Trends, Inc. https://web.archive.org/web/20100702204001/http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2007_05_01_FR_Consequences.pdf
27. Finer, L. B., & Henshaw, S. K. (2006, Jun) Disparities in Rates of Unintended Pregnancy In the United States, 194 and 2001. Guttmacher Institute. https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/pubs/journals/3809006.pdf
28. Institute of Medicine (1995) Consequences of Unintended Pregnancy. The Best Intentions: Unintended Pregnancy and the Well-Being of Children and Families. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK232137/
29. Hall, J. A., Benton L., Copas, A. & Stephenson J. (2017, Jan) Pregnancy Intention and Pregnancy Outcome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Springer Link https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10995-016-2237-0#Tab2

Miscellaneous

30. Paul-Anthony Surdi (2021, Jul) Tattoo Laws Across the United States. Ink Different Tattoo School. https://tattooschool.com/tattoo-laws-across-the-united-states/
31. Coram International (2017) Harmful traditional Practices. Coram International. https://coraminternational.org/themes/harmful-traditional-practices/
32. Declaration of Mark Klein (2006, Jun) Public Unredacted Klein Declaration. Electronic Frontier Foundation. https://www.eff.org/document/public-unredacted-klein-declaration Summary can be found here: https://www.eff.org/files/filenode/att/presskit/ATT_onepager.pdf

Health Care as a Right

33. Ghebreyesus, T. A. (2017, Dec) Health is a Fundamental Right. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/health-is-a-fundamental-human-right
34. Lamm, R. D. (1998) The Case Against Making Healthcare a “Right”. Human Rights Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 8-11. JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27880117
35. Barlow, P. (1999) Health care is not a human right. National Library of Medicine. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1126951/

Scientific Progress

36. Donders, Y. (2011, May) The right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress: in search of state obligations in relation to health. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy volume 14, pages371–381. NCBI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3190088/#Sec13title