Ava Noir — Sexual WellnessHow Do You Prioritise Sexual Health?
A practical guide to treating sexual wellbeing as a genuine health priority — the shifts in thinking required, the practical steps that matter most and where to get support.
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WHO definitionsexual health is a formal component of overall health — physical, mental and social
Often neglectedsexual health is one of the last areas most people seek help for — despite its impact on quality of life
Practical stepsprioritising sexual health is primarily about removing barriers — not adding complexity
Regular check-insbrief regular attention to sexual health is more effective than crisis intervention
Prioritising sexual health does not require grand gestures or complicated programmes. It requires treating it as the legitimate health matter it is — addressing physical barriers when they arise, maintaining honest communication, seeking help when needed and making regular small investments in intimate wellbeing.Sexual health is one of the most consistently under-prioritised areas of health for most adults. Physical symptoms that would prompt an immediate GP visit in any other context — pain, persistent discomfort, significant functional change — are often accepted for months or years when they occur in a sexual context. Shifting this pattern is the foundation of prioritising sexual health.
The Mindset Shift
The most important change is simply treating sexual health as a health matter rather than a private embarrassment. Sexual pain, persistent dryness, significant desire changes, erectile difficulties — these are legitimate health concerns with legitimate treatments. The discomfort many people feel raising them with doctors typically results in years of unnecessary suffering. A GP has heard all of these concerns many times. The conversation is routine for them even when it feels anything but routine for the patient.
The WHO defines sexual health as a state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing in relation to sexuality — not merely the absence of disease. This definition creates space for proactive attention to sexual wellbeing rather than only reactive response to problems.
The Practical Steps
Address physical barriers when they appear. Vaginal dryness? Use lubricant and see a GP if over-the-counter measures are insufficient. Pain during sex? This warrants a GP appointment rather than accommodation. Erectile difficulties? These are treatable — a GP conversation opens access to effective options.
Maintain regular communication with your partner. Not crisis conversations when something has gone wrong, but brief regular check-ins: "How are you feeling about our intimate life at the moment?" These small regular conversations prevent the distance that accumulates through silence.
Get regular STI testing. For sexually active adults — including older adults, who are seeing increasing STI rates — regular testing is part of responsible sexual health. NHS sexual health clinics offer free, confidential testing without GP referral.
Seek Help EarlyTreat sexual health symptoms as you would any other health symptom. Do not wait months or years to raise them. A GP conversation or sexual health clinic visit is the most direct path to effective support.
Regular Partner Check-InsBrief, low-stakes conversations about intimate life — not crisis talks — maintain the openness that prevents major disconnection. Normalise sexual wellbeing as a topic rather than reserving it for when things go wrong.
Address Lifestyle FoundationsSleep, stress management, exercise and diet directly affect sexual health. Treating these as sexual health investments — not just general wellness — creates more motivation to maintain them.
Know Your ResourcesNHS sexual health clinics (no referral needed), the British Menopause Society (menopause.org.uk), COSRT (cosrt.org.uk) for sex therapists, Relate (relate.org.uk) for relationship support. Knowing these exist makes accessing them when needed more likely.
Solo Sexual Health CountsSexual health includes solo sexual wellbeing — self-knowledge, regular arousal for vaginal health maintenance post-menopause, and an informed relationship with your own body and its changing responses over time.
Use Good ProductsQuality lubricant, vaginal moisturiser and appropriate intimate wellness products are part of sexual health maintenance. Using the right tools removes the physical friction — literal and figurative — that makes sexual health harder to maintain.
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Sexual Health at Every Life Stage
Sexual health maintenance changes across life stages — what it looks like in your thirties is different from what it requires in your fifties. After menopause, vaginal tissue maintenance through regular arousal, lubricant and possibly vaginal oestrogen become active health practices rather than reactive responses. Awareness of these shifting needs — and a willingness to seek and apply appropriate support at each stage — is the practical definition of prioritising sexual health across a lifetime.
When Prioritising Feels Difficult
For many people, low sexual health feels like a low priority because it has been a source of discomfort, embarrassment or disappointment for so long. The willingness to invest attention and resources in something that has consistently produced difficulty requires a belief that improvement is possible. It is. Almost every common sexual health concern — dryness, pain, reduced desire, erectile difficulties — has effective treatments. The first and often hardest step is treating it as something worth addressing rather than something to be accommodated indefinitely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you prioritise sexual health?Treat sexual health symptoms as legitimate health concerns and seek help promptly. Maintain regular low-key communication with your partner about intimate life. Address lifestyle foundations — sleep, stress, exercise. Know your resources. Use quality products. The priority is primarily about removing the barriers that make sexual health the last thing people address.
Why is sexual health important?Sexual health is a formal component of overall health in the WHO definition — not separate from or less important than physical and mental health. Sexual wellbeing significantly affects quality of life, relationship satisfaction, mental health and physical health. Neglecting it affects all of these.
Where can I get sexual health support in the UK?NHS sexual health clinics (free, confidential, no GP referral needed). Your GP for dryness, pain, desire changes and hormonal support. British Menopause Society (menopause.org.uk) for menopause-related issues. COSRT (cosrt.org.uk) for sex therapists. Relate (relate.org.uk) for couples support. All are accessible and experienced in these conversations.
How often should I get an STI test?This depends on your situation. The NHS recommends annual STI testing for sexually active adults with new or multiple partners. NHS sexual health clinics offer free, confidential testing without GP referral for all adults — including older adults, who are seeing increasing STI rates.
Is it too late to improve sexual health?No — sexual health can be improved at any age and at any point in life. Most common concerns have effective treatments. The earlier support is sought the better the outcomes, but it is never too late to start.