This definition plays a crucial role in emphasising that sexual health is not just about the management and treatment of sexual ill-health –  it also involves providing people with the tools and knowledge to maintain healthy sexual development and negotiate safe sexual relationships, in a non-judgemental manner and respectful of people’s rights.  Sexual health also links with a number of other public health issues, such as alcohol and drug misuse and the impacts of intoxication on risk-taking behaviour.

From a public health perspective, work on this topic is aimed at:

Helping to prevent:

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV
• Unintended pregnancies, especially under the age of 18
• Sexual assault and exploitation (of children or adults)
• Psychosexual dysfunction

Promoting the health benefits of:

• Mutually supportive partnerships
• Comfort in one’s own sexual identity

It is important to recognise that a person is a sexual being throughout the life course. From the biological changes of puberty through to the challenges of ageing, sexual health has a significant impact on a person’s social development. Good relationships and sexuality education is crucial in this – through giving young people the knowledge and information they need to maintain good sexual development from puberty and throughout adulthood, they should be empowered to negotiate and develop healthy, happy and fair relationships and to negotiate and manage safe and satisfying sexual relationships.

An empowered, informed individual will also have the knowledge and responsibility to make decisions on their best methods of preventing STIs and unplanned pregnancies.  Pregnancy and maternal health outcomes are connected to good sexual health. Giving a child the best start in life begins with giving the mother the best maternity experience possible, and providing excellent antenatal care. Thus, the promotion of good sexual health isn’t just important to the present generation – it is crucial to a healthy start in life for future generations.

Frisky Wales / Cymru Chwareus provides information on contraception, individual sexual health risk, chemsex and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Wales for HIV prevention in individuals deemed at high-risk of getting HIV.