Sexual Health
Sexual health – the integration of the somatic, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of sexual being, in ways that are positively enriching and that enhance personality, communication, and love. (according to the definition, provided by the World Health Organization in 1975). In the field of sexual and reproductive health, an International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was held in Cairo in 1994.
This reached a consensus on an expanded concept of reproductive health that included sexual health and emphasized the importance of the access of everyone to reproductive and sexual health services – the enhancement of life and personal relations, and not merely counselling and care related to reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases (a primary definition).
In recent years, the ICPD definition of sexual health as a component of reproductive health has been questioned. It has been widely recognized that sexual health encompasses more than reproductive health alone, and should be considered in its own right. Sexuality and sexual relations are central to both reproductive and sexual health, but most sexual activity is not directly associated with reproduction and is of relevance throughout a person’s lifespan, so sexual health may be considered to be a broader concept.
World Health Organization. (2010, October 22). Developing sexual health programmes: A framework for action 3-5. Retrieved from https://shorturl.at/RYvda
Sofia, G., …Eszter, K. (2019, April 14). Sexual health, sexual rights and sexual pleasure: meaningfully engaging the perfect triangle. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters. Vol 27 (Issue 1), 30. Retrieved from https://shorturl.at/AeYs2