5 Intriguing Things We Learned About Sexual Health In 2024

LOADING ERROR LOADING This moment is a daunting one for many sexual health professionals and the millions of Americans who wish the 2024 election had ended differently. “You’re also far more likely to be influenced negatively by peers and lack a sense of agency over your own life.” Kids who receive comprehensive sex ed make better-informed choices about their bodies and experience less sexual violence and fewer sexually transmitted infections, Sheldon said. “Vulvas come in all shapes and sizes, just as our bodies do,” said sex and relationship therapist Megan Fleming, Ph.D., who believes social media and unrealistic beauty standards lead people to seek cosmetic surgery. This year brought global efforts to end nonvoluntary surgeries for children with intersex traits, which means they have sex traits like chromosomes, genitals, or hormone levels that don’t match up with typical definitions of “male” and “female.” Hida Viloria, a writer, author, and consultant, was “very happy” to be among the co-authors of a study that advised ending these surgeries for prepubescent minors “because it examines and condemns nonconsensual genital cutting, not just in relation to intersex people…but as a universal human rights violation.” Viloria finds that examination and condemnation of these surgeries are “critical to dismantling the practice.” These surgeries carry risks that range from scarring and chronic pain to inaccurate gender assignment and trauma that lasts into adulthood. She is, however, “delighted that these satisfaction factors are finally being surveyed and examined.” “Sexual expression alignment, what the two people want, how they want it, how they make it work despite the challenges of aging and health conditions, how they find pathways to sexual pleasure – all these contribute greatly to relationship satisfaction overall,” Price said, adding that she often hears from people who haven’t managed to do this.