Nov 15, 2021
Taking care of your sexual wellbeing
When it comes to self care, sexual wellness is often overlooked... But it shouldn't be!
Taking care of your sexual wellbeing can boost your confidence, help you draw boundaries, increase your sex drive and help you create a more satisfying sex life (whether you have a partner or not).
Ready to get started? Here's 3 simple ideas to try today:
Explore your sexual side
One of the best places to start your sexual wellness routine is by spending a some time reflecting on your relationship with sex. You can do this by journaling on the subject, experimenting alone or doing some good old fashioned research!
Some questions to ask yourself: What am I looking for? What feels good? What don't I want?
Communicate with your partner
Pleasure can be different for everybody, and sadly nobody can read their partner's mind, so communication really is vital for finding what feels good in a sexual relationship. Speaking to your partner(s) about your desires can pave the way for a more intimacy, satisfaction and ultimately enjoying sex way more.
For better communication, have a conversation about your boundaries, speak up about what feels good (and what doesn't), or make specific requests about things you'd like to try. If you're not sure where to start, try asking yourself these simple questions first:
What am I looking for? What feels good? What don't I want?
Explained: How your cycle affects your sex drive.
Plan for protection
To avoid STIs or unplanned pregnancy, using some form of protection every time you have sex is recommended.
If you've had unprotected sex, book a doctors appointment, chat to a pharmacist or visit your local sexual health clinic. You'll be able to get tested for STIs and pregnancy, no questions and no judgements. Your healthcare professional could also help you find a more reliable method of protection so that you feel more prepared next time.
Remember: help is available. The morning after pill exists and many STIs can be treated with a single dose of antibiotics - so the sooner you visit the doctor the better!
Not trying to conceive? Here's how to decide which type of birth control is best for you.
Learn more about sexual health
If some parts of sexual health are still a mystery to you, don't be afraid to reach out to your healthcare provider or local sexual health clinic to answer any questions.
The internet is also your friend, as long as you ensure that your resources are trustworthy and fact-checked. Try these sites to get started:
You can also find tons of sexual & reproductive health articles here at Cycles.
Pro tip: check out this article about the most common myths about sex (think: average duration, pregnancy prevention, orgasm myths and more!).
