Positive Sexual Health – What’s That?!
Positive sexual health? What is that? Well, the experience itself can vary from individual to individual. But in general, it is typically going to involve safety, consent, and respect. It involves feeling pleasure and experiencing joy, as well as being connected and intimate with your partner(s) in the bedroom. Positive sexual health is having the power to make informed and powerful decisions regarding your body, and relationships.
Last week we learned that sexual health has an integral role in our individual health and wellbeing, and how it can play a wonderful role in our overall quality of life. So, this week, lets look at sexual health from a positive, affirming, and respectful light. Let us start changing the narrative, together.
For too long the narrative around sexual health has been painted in a poor light. Often leaving individuals to not fully understand what positive sexual health is, how it can look for them, and how it can positively affect your physical and mental wellbeing. Ask yourself if you have ever experienced:
- Pain and/or discomfort during sex
- Feelings of shame or guilt
- Anxiety around sex or intimacy
- Withdraw or avoidance from intimacy.
If you have, it is important to know you are not alone. A lot of people struggle with these things, and they’re not frequently talked about.
Positive Sexual Health
When we look at our sexual health from a positive, affirming, and respectful approach we begin to see how it not only opens the door to pleasurable and safe experiences inside the bedroom, but also how it can positively impact our mental health. To do this though, we need to understand what positive sexual health looks like, and how to recognize or see the signs that might interfere with it.
Many studies out there have conducted research on sexual health and wellbeing. The overwhelming conclusion is that individuals who have a positive association with their sexual health, also report lower levels of depression and anxiety, and increased life satisfaction. Similarly, studies looking into quality of life and wellbeing have consistent outcomes that show a positive correlation with sexual health. This has lead researchers and professionals alike to believe that sexual satisfaction is linked to improving quality of life. You might be reading this wondering ‘Stephanie, that’s great but how does this tell me anything about what positive sexual health is, and what it can or should look like?’
Let’s talk about it.
Intimacy and Hormones
Intimacy is a particularly important key to sexual health, and what our experiences in the bedroom are like. In short, intimacy can reduce perceived levels of stress. But, how? Well, when we are intimate with our partners it creates a chemical reaction in our body, releasing hormones that make us feel good. These hormones are Oxytocin (our love drug hormone), and endorphins (Stress-related hormones that help induce euphoric feelings, and pleasure).
Oxytocin is a hormone that is produced in a part of our brain called the hypothalamus, where it is released by the pituitary gland into our blood stream. When released it can have positive effects on our body promoting positive feelings. This process happens because of feeling excited by our partner(s), or when we fall in love, among other things. This is why we call it the love drug hormone. It does not just help us feel good during sex or other intimate actions, but it also helps us with social interactions and, when released, it promotes relaxation, trust, and psychological stability. When we are having sex, and feel joy, or pleasure, of bliss during or follow it, we can thank our endorphins. It is believed that the release of endorphins may also promote the release of other hormones associated with feeling or experiencing love. This sort of reaction can boost our mood and strengthen our relationship with our partner(s).
Being Sex Positive
Being sex positive is another aspect of positive sexual health. It affirms our right to enjoy and accept the type of sex we are having and want to be having. If we all practiced this, it would also improve the conversation around sex, resulting in less judgement. Being sex positive also involves topics related to gender identity, sexuality, health, and pleasure, all without the stigma, shame, or judgement.
So, how can we be more sex positive? By practicing open communication, exploring, and practicing self-awareness.
Open Communication: This includes openly discussing safe and healthy boundaries around sexual experiences; discussing needs and wants; and/or learning how to prioritize sex in your relationship together.
Exploration: Ask yourself what your sexual fantasies are. What are your partners sexual fantasies? Do you have any kinks? Does your partner have any kinks? Consider exploring these interests (remembering to maintain consent through the exploration process).
Self-awareness: Start allowing yourself to enjoy feeling all the sensations in your body; consider your sexual patterns and whether they are healthy or not; advocate for your own sexual health.
Thank you for tuning in this week to our Sexual Health series, where we dove a little deeper into what positive sexual health is. Next week we will look at how our mental health affects our sexual health, as we continue this short series on how both our sexual health and mental health are interconnected and important in our overall wellbeing.
Stephanie Byerson
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
References:
Cooper, S. (2025). World mental health day: Why sexual health matters. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/sex-esteem/202510/world-mental-health-day-why-sexual-health-matters
Harvard Health. (2025). Endorphins: The brain’s natural pain reliever. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/endorphins-the-brains-natural-pain-reliever#:~:text=Endorphins%20can%20also%20release%20stress,even%20eat%20a%20delicious%20meal.
Harvard Health. (2025). Oxytocin: The love hormone. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/oxytocin-the-love-hormone#:~:text=Oxytocin%20both%20stimulates%20the%20muscles,Understanding%20Depression
Liu, H., Waite, L. J., Shen, S., & Wang, D. H. (2016). Is Sex Good for Your Health? A National Study on Partnered Sexuality and Cardiovascular Risk among Older Men and Women. Journal of health and social behavior, 57(3), 276–296. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146516661597
Mandriota, M. (2021). All about sex positivity. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/health/sex-positivity-meaning
Morales-Brown, P. (2023). Does sex provide health benefits? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316954
Pitts, R. A., & Greene, R. E. (2020). Promoting Positive Sexual Health. American journal of public health, 110(2), 149–150. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305336
The World Health Organization. (2025). Sexual health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/sexual-health#tab=tab_1
