What Is Sexual Health?
Sexual health is the ability to embrace and enjoy our sexuality throughout our lives. It is an important part of our physical and emotional health. Learn more about what being sexually healthy means.
Your Sexual Health Resource
Sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life. The American Sexual Health Association (a.k.a. ASHA) believes that everyone has the right to information and services that will help them be sexually healthy. We provide information and resources that are reliable, science-based, and stigma-free.
Your Sexual Health Resource
Sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life. The American Sexual Health Association (a.k.a. ASHA) believes that everyone has the right to information and services that will help them be sexually healthy. We aim to provide information and resources that are reliable, science-based, and stigma-free.
Sexual Health
Sexual Health Care
Taking care of your sexual health means knowing your body, understanding how it works, and being able to recognize when something isn’t quite right. It also means preventive care that can help you find problems early and prevent serious illness.
Sex and Gender — What’s the Difference?
The words sex and gender are sometimes used interchangeably, but they actually mean different things. Sex and gender may seem complicated, but it’s all pretty simple. Neither biological sex nor gender breaks down to just male/female.
Learn about Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy
Sexual anatomy typically refers to the both the external sexual organs, like the vulva and penis, and the internal organs involved in reproduction, like the uterus and seminal vesicle. Learn about this part of the body and how it works.
How to Talk To Your Kids about Sex and Sexuality
Does your child feel it’s okay to talk with you about sex and sexual health? If not, have you thought about who will answer your child’s questions? Only you can tell your child that it’s okay to ask you questions. You want to become askable!
Sex, Pleasure, and Relationships
Sex and Relationships
Many people confuse love, commitment, and sex, or assume the three always go hand-in-hand. There are many ways to express love, and you don’t need to have sex with someone to show them you love them.
Talking about Sex
Communication is necessary throughout a relationship, from the very beginning to the very end. No matter how long you and your partner have been together, you will need to keep communicating about your sexual expectations, desires and needs.
Five Tips For Keeping The Sexy and The Passionate in Long Term Relationship
Guest contributor Pamela Madsen explores the lack of passionate sex in long-term relationships (including her own), and what we can do about it.
Sexual Pleasure and You
Whether we’re attracted to the opposite gender, the same gender or both, the truth is: We learn how to experience sexual pleasure for pleasure’s sake by understanding our own sexual desires and responses.
Talking about Sexual Pleasure on the Podcast
Featuring interviews with medical professionals and experts in the field of sexuality, ASHA’s Sex+Health podcast aims to offer information and resources to with the goal of helping people take charge of their sexual health.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections—How It Works
Many STIs have no signs or symptoms in the majority of people infected. The only way to know if you have an STI is to get tested.
Vaccines That Can Prevent STIs
One important prevention tool against sexually transmitted infections is vaccination. Currently, vaccines are available to protect against infection with HPV, hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Testing for STIs at home? Yes, it’s possible—and popular
Testing for STIs at home? It’s possible, and an increasingly popular option. Read on to better understand how home testing works and what free at-home tests are available in your area.
Your Safer Sex Toolbox
Explore ways to make sex safer and communicate with your sexual partners about your expectations and boundaries.
STDs A to Z
Sexually transmitted infections, or STIs—also called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs—affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and from all walks of life. In the U.S. alone there are about 20 million new cases of STIs each year.
American Sexual Health Association
ASHA believes that all people have the right to the information and services that will help them to have optimum sexual health. We envision a time when stigma is no longer associated with sexual health and our nation is united in its belief that sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life.
FOLLOW US
ABOUT
GET INVOLVED
ASHA WEBSITES
GET HELP
© 2025 American Sexual Health Association