Look after your sexual health.

Sexual health is central to each individual’s wellbeing. Fulfilling and healthy sexual relationships enhance people’s vitality and can nurture good relationships. However, sexual activity can also result in unplanned pregnancy, emotional problems, infection and infertility (Sir Kenneth Calman, Former Chief Medical Officer)

Scotlands record in sexual health is not great.  Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have increased steadily over the past ten years, and teenage pregnancies remain high. 

An increase in the transmission and diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections signposts changes in high-risk sexual behaviour. STIs can have a significant impact on the short and long term health of both men and women. The capacity to bear children may be impaired and poor health outcomes such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer and death may be a subsequent result. Health promotion and prevention activities, linked to the early diagnosis and treatment of STIs, can help prevent such complications (NHS Health Scotland).

Workplaces can play a role in helping to promote this sometimes sensitive area of health promotion:

• • Promoting positive sexual health
  • Reducing sexually transmitted infections
  • Promotion of condom use
  • Reducing the number of unwanted teenage pregnancies
  • Challenging public and professional attitudes
  • Encouraging sexual health service use