In Bloom: a sexual and reproductive health refresher

By Miranda Massie, Workplace Wellbeing Practices & Learning Consultant 

Springtime – it's not just for the birds and the bees.  The earth reawakens, things begin to bloom once again, and it’s the perfect time for a sexual and reproductive health refresher.   

Sexual wellbeing is an important part of our overall mental and physical health, and yet it’s often overlooked due to stigma, shame, a lack of information, or discomfort. It’s also a broad umbrella that can include intimacy and pleasure, relationships, sexuality, gender identity and expression, safety and consent, reproduction and fertility, as well as intersecting identities, autonomy, personal values, and comfort.  

Read on for a quick sexual health refresher to put some spring back in your step! 

Consent: It’s not just for sex 

Consent is a constant conversation that requires ongoing communication, openness and active listening. It must be enthusiastic, freely given, and can be withdrawn at any time. Consent doesn’t just relate to sex or sexual activity but extends to our personal space and boundaries, including things like physical touch.   

• WATCH: Consent and Communication (2:10) and Consent Explained: What is it? (1:46)
• REACH OUT: To UBC’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office if you have experienced any form of sexual or gender-based violence, harassment, or harm. 

Having the talk: It’s going to be ok! 

Talking about sexual health as a parent or guardian can add a stressful layer to an already tricky topic. For any askable adults out there looking for tips on how to talk about this sensitive subject with the kids in your life, consider registering for our upcoming workshop:  

• ATTEND: Talking to your kids about sex: Tips for parents, guardians and askable adults (May 16 & 23). 

Holistic sexual health 

Historically, sexual health education in the West has focused on the physical aspects of health like disease prevention, however, sexual health is so much more than anatomical information and physiological tests. One model that utilizes a holistic approach to sexual health is the Sexual Wellbeing Learning Model. This model is rooted in traditional Indigenous knowledge, and in the belief that sexual wellbeing is key to overall health and wellbeing. 

• LEARN: About the four Indigenous values that align with sexual health and healthy sexuality. 

Mindfulness benefits for sexual wellbeing 

The state of our mental health can impact our ability to lead the sexual lives we want. When we are experiencing high levels of stress or chronic stress, we are operating in “survival mode” – often referred to as fight, flight, freeze or fawn. This focus on survival can block both sexual pleasure and sexual interest (Nagoski, 2015). Research from Dr. Lori Brotto and UBC’s Sexual Health Research team has shown a positive impact of regular mindfulness practice on sexual pleasure, particularly for women.   

• LEARN: More about Dr. Brotto’s research.  

Reproductive health regardless of reproduction  

Regular checkups are an essential part of maintaining our overall sexual and reproductive health. Even if you’re not currently sexually active, or planning on conceiving or carrying a pregnancy, you may still be at risk for health problems related to your reproductive system(s).   

• FIND: Sex-positive health service providers through Options for Sexual Health, BC Centre for Disease Control or Trans Care BC.       

Respecting reproductive health boundaries  

Conversations around reproductive health are deeply personal and not always a topic that people want to discuss with others. There can be a lot of social pressure created around topics like pregnancy and children without much thought to those experiencing fertility struggles, pregnancy loss, or those who have opted not to have children. An individual’s reproductive status does not define them or determine their value, and this should be respected, especially in the workplace.  

• READ: “Stop asking women if they want kids, here’s why”- The Everymom
• DISCOVER: Updated UBC family building benefits coverage for fertility, surrogacy, and adoption

The Pleasure Principle 

Including sexual pleasure as part of sexual health and wellbeing education has been linked to positive physical and mental health outcomes, as well as increased self-esteem and relationship satisfaction.  Creating pleasure-positive or pleasure-inclusive cultures can promote individual agency and empowerment; address stigma that negatively impacts LGBTQ2S+ individuals; and help combat rape culture that often prevents survivors of sexual violence from speaking up or seeking help (Kosciw, J. et. al., Rademacher, L., & Hoskins, L., 2017).   

• READ: More about pleasure and sensuality.
• VISIT: The Body Is Not an Apology – Radical Self-Love for Everybody and Every Body. 

References: 

Brotto, Lori A. et al. (2008). Mindfulness-Based Group Psychoeducational Intervention Targeting Sexual Arousal Disorder in Women. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 5, Issue 7, 1646 – 1659.   

Iulia Dascalu & Lori A. Brotto (2018). Sexual Functioning in Experienced Meditators, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44:5, 459-467. https://med-fom-brotto.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/03/Iulia-Dascalu-Lori-A.-Brotto-2018-Sexual-Functioning.pdf  

Kosciw, J. G., Greytak, E. A., Palmer, N. A., & Boesen, M. J. (2014). The 2013 National School Climate Survey: The experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in our nation’s schools. New York: GLSEN. 

Nagoski, E., & Nagoski, A. (2019). Burnout: the secret to unlocking the stress cycle. First edition. New York: Ballantine Books. 

Rademacher, L., & Hoskins, L. (2017). The Principles of Pleasure: Working with the Good Stuff as Sex Therapists and Educators (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315715872   

UBC Learning Circle. (2018). Indigenous Perspectives on Healthy Sexuality with FNHA Indigenous Wellness Team. Faculty of Medicine. https://learningcircle.ubc.ca/2018/02/27/indigenous-perspectives-on-healthy-sexuality/