Sexual Wellbeing: An Overview

Sex is an important part of life It’s a way for people to: Feel pleasure Express love for their partners Become pregnant with children

Sometimes, sex leads to serious problems Unwanted pregnancy Diseases and infections, such as STIs Emotional problems

Men and Women have the right to be happy sexually and to protect their sexual health!

Deciding if and when to have children Sexual Health Means: Deciding if and when to have children

Sexual Health Means: Preventing diseases, including HIV/AIDs

Sexual Health Means: Having a healthy body

Choosing with whom and when to have sex and being free from violence Sexual Health Means: Choosing with whom and when to have sex and being free from violence

Family Planning Means: Having the number of children you want, when you want them. Both men and women must take part in family planning

Family Planning Is Important! Pregnancy is risky! Mothers and babies will be healthier because fewer pregnancies means less risks Fewer children means more food for each child

Family Planning Is Important! Fewer children can mean more time for parents to spend with their children Waiting to have children can give women and men time to finish their education

It’s A Right! A person has the right to decide how many children they want to have A woman has the right to protect her health from the risks of pregnancy

There are several methods of family planning Barrier Methods Hormonal Methods IUDs (Intrauterine Devices) Natural Methods Permanent Methods All of these methods (EXCEPT FOR PERMANENT METHODS) can be stopped at ANY time if a woman decides to get pregnant or if she decides to try a different method of family planning Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Barrier methods work by physically preventing the man’s sperm from joining with the woman’s egg Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Condoms An example of a barrier method Can be bought at the store or at a clinic or an gotten at an agency for free The ONLY method of family planning that also protects against diseases Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Hormones and Hormonal Methods Hormones are chemicals in the body. Men and women have different hormones. It is hormones that make men grow mustaches and women grow breasts. Hormones also determine when a woman can get pregnant (when she is “fertile”) by getting her body ready for pregnancy. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Hormonal Methods When a woman uses a hormonal method of family planning, she puts hormones in her body that prevent her from getting pregnant by: Preventing her body from releasing an egg Making it harder for the sperm to reach the egg Keeping the egg from sticking inside the womb Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

A woman needs to see a doctor to get a hormonal method! Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Hormonal Methods The Pill Woman takes one pill every day at the same time The Patch Woman wears on her skin and changes once a week Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Inserted into the woman’s arm by a doctor Hormonal Methods Implants Inserted into the woman’s arm by a doctor Work for up to 3 years The Shot Woman gets a shot every 3 months Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Intrauterine Device: IUD Put into the womb by a doctor Can last for 5 or 10 years Can be removed when the woman decides she wants to get pregnant or at any other time Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Natural Methods Natural methods help a woman know when she is fertile, so that she can avoid having sex at that time. A woman is usually fertile during the middle days of her monthly bleeding cycle A woman is usually NOT fertile when she is breastfeeding for the first 6 months after her baby is born Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Permanent Methods A doctor makes it impossible for men and women to have any more children The operation for a man is called a VASECTOMY The operation for a woman is called a TUBAL LIGATION Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

What is an STI? An STI is a sexually transmitted infection STIs are caused by germs that are passed through sexual contact The only way to protect against STIs is by using condoms Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Many people have STIs and don’t know it!! Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

If They Are Not Treated, STIs Can Cause Serious Problems Pain and discomfort Men and women might not be able to have children (infertility) Babies can be born too early, sick, or dead A person can even die Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

How STIs Are Spread The germs that cause some STIs are on the SKIN and are passed by touching during sex Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

How STIs are Spread The germs that cause other STIs live in the LIQUIDS of the body and are passed during sex Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

How STIs are Spread The germs that cause STIs can be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Condoms are the only way to protect against STIs! It is very important to use condoms every time someone has sex. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

A person may have an STI if he or she has one or more of these signs: • an unusual or bad-smelling vaginal discharge itching or painful genitals sores or blisters on the genitals pain in the stomach pain during sex Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Sometimes STIs do not have any signs at all! A person can feel healthy, but actually may have an STI Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

The ONLY way to know whether a person has an STI is to get tested by a doctor A doctor will test the person’s blood or urine to see if they are infected.

If a person has an STI it is very important to take all the medicine the doctor says Even if he or she does not feel sick anymore, a person will not be cured until all of the medicine has time to work For some STIs, a person has to take medicine for the rest of his or her life Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Men and women should talk about STIs and family planning Women have the right to protect their health from the risks of unplanned pregnancy A man is responsible for protecting the health of his family from the risks of unplanned pregnancy Both men and women have the right to protect themselves against STIs by using safer sex methods and getting tested at the doctor!

Healthy Bodies: Women’s Health Women’s bodies are different need special care to be healthy. Sometimes a woman might feel healthy, but actually have problems. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

It’s very important for a woman to get a check up at the doctor once every year. This way the doctor will be able to find problems early, when they are easier to fix. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Cervical Cancer A very serious cancer of the women’s reproductive system Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

There is a vaccine that can help prevent cervical cancer “Gardasil” There is a vaccine that can help prevent cervical cancer Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

A woman has to get the vaccine shot 3 times She has to go back to the doctor 2 months after her first shot and 4 months after the second shot Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

It’s very important that all women and girls age 11-26 get this vaccine! Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Menopause is a health concern of older women Menopause happens when the woman’s monthly bleeding ends

Menopause is a natural part of aging Menopause is a natural part of aging. However, because their bodies are changing, some women don’t feel well during menopause. Some signs are: Feeling very hot, gaining weight feeling sad or angry, having trouble sleeping, and having sexual problems.

There are medicines that can help manage the symptoms of menopause Most signs can be managed with exercise and eating healthy. However, if you feel very bad, talk to your doctor. There are medicines that can help manage the symptoms of menopause Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Calcium As women get older their bones lose calcium and get weaker and more breakable Its especially important for women to eat lots of calcium-rich food like milk, yogurt, broccoli, oranges and leafy greens Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Staying Active Regular exercise is very important for good health and sexual wellbeing Exercise can strengthen muscles, prevent weight gain and make you feel happier Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Eating Healthy Food Eating a balanced diet of whole grains, lots of fruit and vegetables, and lean protein will you feel healthier. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

It’s important to speak clearly to your partner about your sexual health concerns. You have a right to be healthy and happy!

Remember, you are responsible for your health!

It’s very important to share this information with your friends, family, and community members so that everyone can be healthier! Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs