In one of our erotic stories recently, sexual health was mentioned and I thought that we should look at how important sexual health is to all of us.

When you first think of sexual health most people would automatically think of STI’s (sexual transmitted infections.) Whilst this is a priority in our lives not to ever contract an STI, this is not the only area we should be looking at, but it is where we will start.

When having sex with a partner for the first time, if it’s a one-night stand or you are dating you should practice safe sex. It is one of the smartest decisions you will ever make in your life. Some of the STI’s can stay with you forever.

Firstly, you are basically sleeping with a stranger. Unless you have both been waiting and holding onto your virginity, you do not know how many people your next sex partner has had. You don’t know if they have always practiced safe sex with all their other partners.

They may tell you a number and say they have always had safe sex, but you have to ask yourself are they being completely truthful, and do you want to take that chance. For women the number is always going to be lower than what it actually is, and for men it can depend. Sometimes they will exaggerate to prove something (not too sure what) or give a rough estimate.

In my experience, most men always want to have sex without a condom. Men don’t like wearing condoms; they state that it just isn’t the same with one on. They state that the sensations that you would usually feel are diminished quite significantly.

As a woman, I obviously don’t know how it feels to have to wear one, but I wouldn’t think that it would be so bad that I would want to risk my health and life by not doing so. Especially, with today’s condoms as they are so well made with so many different styles, flavours and how they are now extremely thin it’s almost as if they are nothing at all.

To me a condom on a penis whilst having sex isn’t a turn off and to be honest I can’t really say that it feels too different. I can feel the hardness and the throbbing and that is what I want.

Yes, it can be a hassle when you are in the heat of the moment tearing open a condom packet and putting it on and of course, sex is better without a condom but this is also part of the fact that you are now in couple-dom and everything feels better. But until you have had all your tests and are in a full relationship with your partner it really isn’t worth the risk.

But as stated, this is not the only area that we have to look after with our sexual health.

Exercise and diet plays a large part in our daily healthy life and this contributes to how healthy our sexual life is, from our sexual desires to our sexual organs.

When we look after all of our body we look and feel happy and sexy, and when you feel happy and sexy your endorphins are heightened and you will not only attract a partner or if you already have one, but you will feel and want to have more sexual encounters with your lover.

Sexual health is not only for you it is also for your lover or your potential lover as well. One thing that can ruin a sexual experience is if someone did not smell clean and hygienic. This is for both men and woman. Spending a little time in maintaining your penis and vagina with shaving/waxing and cleaning the area will make you feel very confident when you have a lover in-between your legs.

For a little extra, there are pleasurable ways to look after your vagina and penis. Pelvic floor exercises for woman are very important, and it is not only for the woman who has or will have children and the muscles become a little weaker. It is for all women, as it also helps whilst having sex. You can tighten your muscles around the penis, giving you and your partner more pleasure. Using Ben Wa Balls is an enjoyable and easy way to increase the muscles at any time. You can be doing the shopping and have them inside you slowly, slightly moving around giving you a little naughty indulgence.

For men, masturbating is one of the best things you can do for yourself and for your partner. Firstly, if a man ejaculates more than 5 times a week it lessens the risks of prostate cancer. It also is known that if you masturbate you are increasing your sexual stamina, which in turns means longer lasting sexual fun. So play with your manhood as much as you want.

So when you are thinking about your health, don’t just think about your standard physical health also think about your wonderful sexual health. Make sure you look after it and nurture it and it will provide you with wonderful experiences and sensations.