Imagine my surprise when I learned that women were legitimately putting garlic cloves in their vaginas to fight off yeast infections. And as if that wasn’t absurd enough, I also learned that acne medication is now being used on the genitalia as a form of treatment against Sexually Transmitted Infections.
I don’t know how we got to the point of thinking any of the above scenarios were acceptable, but in case you needed a refresher in Sex Ed, I’ve got you covered.
This week I sat down with Beneath the Brief’s writer and host, Devon to discuss the many ways to be sexually healthy (and happy)!
When asked why she loves and continues to do what she does, she simply said: “The goal of my work is to promote total sexual wellness. That means being mentally, emotionally, and physically comfortable and happy with your sex life, whatever that may be.“
Devon shared her three quick tips for maintaining sexual wellness:
- Get to know your body
- Get comfortable looking at and feeling your own body. If you don’t know what you like, how can anyone else?
- Know your status
- Knowing your STI and HIV status is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your sexual wellness
- Talk about it!
- Talking with partners and friends about sexual preferences and STI prevention methods is a great way to ensure a pleasurable and safe experience
Per the CDC, a projected 1 in 5 people in the United States has an STI.
Because a significant amount of STIs manifest with no obvious symptoms like pain, smell, or discharge, they often go undetected.
This is why routine testing should be an activity ALL sexually active adults partake in.
Excellent resources for testing include your gynecologist or primary care physician. In the event that you don’t have insurance, that’s okay! Your state should have a list of resources of places you can go.
For example, in Texas, you can check out this resource guide. Another favorite resource of mine in the Dallas Fort Worth Metro includes Prism Health of North Texas. Not only do they offer a wide variety of healthcare options, but they also offer FREE condom delivery!
Additional testing options include:
It’s wild to me that in 2021 being proactive about your sexual health is still associated with so much shame and stigma.
In a world where we have so much information at our fingertips, it’s important to be educated, and even more so: feel empowered to make healthy and positive choices for yourself.
I love the opportunity to help other people take pride in their sexuality and provide a truly accessible resource to help people stay healthy. I feel like as human beings we are entitled to good health. My responsibility is to help others get what we are entitled to.
Devon, Behind the Briefs Podcast
For a deeper breakdown into the various ways to be sexually healthy (and happy) check out Unzipped & Unfiltered with Devon on Apple and Spotify Podcasts. Listener Discretion Advised.
The Girl in Gucci Glasses 
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