The Wyoming Health Council works to ensure that all people can access equitable, inclusive, high-quality, and affordable reproductive and sexual health care. | | |
The 6 Principles of Sexual Health
The Six Principles of Sexual Health establish universal guidelines for cultivating a healthy sexual life.
These principles offer a foundation for balancing sexual safety and pleasure while upholding sexual rights. They encourage individuals to define their own personal vision of sexual health and aspire to live in a way that fosters self-respect, supports loved ones, and contributes positively to society. This framework serves as a lifelong guide to improving and maintaining sexual health.
Developed in collaboration with WHO (World Health Organization), Michael Vigorito, and Doug Braun-Harvey
- Prevention from Sexually Transmitted Infections and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBI’s)
Let’s take a look at each one of the Six Sexual Health Principles and what they mean. Are these principles something you are already using in your practice?
| |  | |
10 Hidden Health Benefits of Sex
Experts and science agree: Getting it on can help you stay strong.
Sex is hot, fun, and… secretly good for you? Yep, your favorite bedroom activity boasts tons of benefits (beyond, ya know, the O-bvious one).
“Having sex regularly can do more than make you feel closer to your partner—it can actually make you physically healthier,” says Hilda Hutcherson, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University and author of Pleasure: A Woman's Guide to Getting the Sex You Want, Need, and Deserve.
Of course, that’s probably not what you’re thinking about when you’re thinking about sex. You’re thinking about pleasure (as you should!). But while sex is certainly enjoyable for its own sake, it’s also an “integral part” of your overall health, says Holly Richmond, PhD, a sex therapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and associate director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes in West Palm Beach, Florida. In addition to the key role sex plays in your intimate relationships—including the one with yourself—it also offers serious perks to your physical, mental, and emotional health. Ahead, experts share 10 hidden health benefits of sex that’ll make you want to jump into bed STAT.
| | | |
U.S. Sexual Health Report Card: High Pleasure, Low Testing, Stark Gender Disparities
A new sexual health survey reveals a mix of progress and persistent gaps. Overall, many Americans report positive experiences—interest in having sex, sexual pleasure, and good communication with partners—yet women and gender-diverse individuals still face higher rates of sexual violence, lower sexual pleasure, and discomfort discussing sexual health.
The new study was led by Jessie Ford, PhD, assistant professor of sociomedical sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and the findings are published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy(link is external and opens in a new window).
Ford and her collaborators conducted a cross-sectional online survey in the U.S. using the World Health Organization’s Sexual Health Assessment of Practices and Experiences (SHAPE) questionnaire. The study included 2555 adults aged 18 to 94.
| | | |
What Is Good Sexual Health and How Do I Achieve it?
A healthier body. A satisfying sex life. Valuing and feeling good about yourself. Having peace of mind. Positive and satisfying relationships. Avoiding sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Preventing unplanned pregnancies. These are just a few of the important benefits of good sexual health. Being sexually healthy means being able to enjoy a healthier body, a satisfying sexual life, positive relationships, and peace of mind. Being sexually healthy also means enjoying your sexuality and taking care of yourself and your partners throughout your life. Being free to talk about sexual health with your partner and health professional is key to your health.
| | | |
World Sexual Health Day (WSHD) is the annual global initiative of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS). Each September 4, health professionals, advocates, educators, researchers, and communities around the world come together around a shared theme.
Every Body is the World Sexual Health Day 2026 theme, a declaration that Sexual Health, Rights, Justice and Pleasure belong to every person, in every body, without exception.
Our bodies are ours to know, to explore and to enjoy fully. Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life — in what we think, imagine and desire, in what we believe and value, in pleasure, intimacy and connection, and in every body.
Bodies are personal, relational and political. We live, express and experience through them — asking, choosing, refusing, desiring. That begins with ourselves. It continues in our relationships, in the education and services we can reach, and in the culture, faith, technology and law that decide whose sexuality is protected.
| | | Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month/ Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month | | |
A rising number of women have never been screened for cervical cancer. Here are the risks
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet a growing number of American women have never been screened.
Nearly 1 in 3 women ages 21 to 29 in 2023 had never received cervical cancer screening. This proportion was up from about 1 in 8 in 2005, according to a new study published August 27 in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Screening can detect precancerous changes so they can be treated before cancer develops, but the proportion of women ages 30 to 65 who had never been screened has also increased.
It’s concerning that so many women are missing this preventive care, so I turned to CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen to learn what people should know about when and how to be screened. Wen is an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She previously served as Baltimore’s health commissioner.
| | |
Cervical Cancer Screening at Home: What to Know About Self-Collection HPV Tests
You can now self-screen for cervical cancer, no speculum needed. Here’s how self-collection works, who it’s for, and what happens next.
Cervical cancer screening no longer requires a pelvic exam at the doctor’s office. Thanks to new FDA-approved tests, certain women ages 30 to 65 can now collect their own sample for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing—at home, in a doctor’s office bathroom, or at a lab.
This is an option, not a replacement. You can still choose to have your provider perform screening with a speculum exam, which remains the standard and also allows your clinician to check for other conditions during a pelvic exam.
“This is all very exciting because it improves screening access,” says Sangini S. Sheth, MD, MPH, a Yale Medicine obstetrician–gynecologist. “Those who are going to most benefit include anyone who finds a speculum exam difficult, which could be because of a history of pain or past negative experiences with an exam, a history of sexual assault, or transgender patients for whom speculum exams are often harder. There are also people with mobility issues who find having their feet in footrests for a typical gynecologic exam challenging.”
The self-collection test checks for HPV, the virus that causes nearly all cervical cancers. Long-lasting infection with high-risk types of HPV can lead to precancerous changes that, if caught early, are highly treatable.
| | Prostate Cancer Awareness Month | | |
We Asked a Doctor Whether Prostate Cancer Can Be Caught Early Without Symptoms
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States, after skin cancer. While treatment for early stages of prostate cancer is effective, most people have little to no symptoms early on. Guidelines for who should be screened and when can also vary by age and individual risk factors.
We asked Kristine Peregrino Lacuna, MD, a genitourinary oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth, in New Jersey, about effective ways to find prostate cancer early.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
| | | |
20 Famous Men Who Have Had Prostate Cancer
Cancer doesn't care if you're rich and famous: Not even stars like Robert De Niro or Sir Ian McKellen are immune from the disease.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer (after skin cancer) among men in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, which amounts to approximately 268,000 new cases every year. Fortunately, the disease is very treatable if found early, and in some cases the only “treatment” recommended is active surveillance, or “watchful waiting.”
Currently some 3.1 million American men count themselves as prostate cancer survivors, including more than a few household names such as Robert De Niro, Nelson Mandela, and Harry Belafonte. Read how they and others dealt with having prostate cancer in the public eye.
(Please note updated data from the time of the article publish date is as follows:
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in the United States for 2026 are:
About 333,830 new cases of prostate cancer
About 36,320 deaths from prostate cancer)
| | | National Suicide Prevention Month | | |
Why Sexual Health Matters
The vital connection between sexual health, pleasure, and mental health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 8 people live with a mental health condition. Together with the World Association of Sexual Health (WAS), they recognize that sexual health and sexual pleasure are a critical component of overall mental health throughout the lifespan.
Another 2024 review of 63 studies by Vasconcelos et al. in the Bulletin of World Health Organization also found that in almost all the studies, there were significant connections between positive sexual health and lower levels of depression and/or anxiety, as well as increased life satisfaction. These associations included men, women, older adults, pregnant women, and those in both same-sex and mixed-sex relationships.
| | | |
Exploring the Connection Between Mental Health and Sexual Health
The health of the mind and health of the body are deeply connected. How we feel emotionally can affect our bodies, and how our bodies feel can influence our emotional state. As a result of this connection, mental health and sexual health are also closely related; however, they’re often discussed separately in healthcare and education.
In the sections below, we explore how mental health and sexual health influence each other and how communication, self-awareness, and support can contribute to a healthy, positive experience. If you're aiming to become a counselor or sex educator who advocates for integrated care, understanding this connection is key to overall wellness for clients (and yourself).
| | | | A Goal-Setting Sexual Health Promotion Program
El Camino is a sexual health education program designed for Latino young people based on positive youth development principles. El Camino, developed by Child Trends, provides education, skills, and support to empower its participants to set their own goals, make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, and build healthy relationships. While created with Latino youth in mind, El Camino can be tailored to serve diverse populations of young people.
The El Camino curriculum is available for download—at no cost—in English and Spanish.
| | | |
Latin American Sexual Attitudes RANKED
from Conservative to Open
| | |
Female Condom Day
Sept 16
So, You're Thinking About Trying Female Condoms — Here's What You Need to Know
Curious about how FC2 Female Condoms feel? It’s a common question, and for good reason — trying something new in the bedroom can be exciting but might be a bit intimidating, too. Female condoms (internal condoms) provide a unique alternative to male condoms (external condoms) and other forms of sexual protection to make your intimate moments both safer and sexier. And, like with anything new, it’s totally expected to have questions.
So, let’s get real about what you can expect from your first time using FC2 Female Condoms and why some women find it to be a total game-changer for sexual protection when it comes to comfort, convenience and, for some, even enhanced pleasure (who doesn’t love that!).
| | | |
Talk Like a Pirate Day
Sept 19
30 beginner-friendly sex role play ideas to try now
Sometimes you just need to use your imagination
Sex role play is a such a fun way to dive into your sexual fantasies, and even try your hand at a spot of power play — if that’s what you’re into. As society becomes increasingly open about sex and kinks, it’s no surprise that more of us are exploring sexual scenarios and fantasy via acting and imagination. But if you’ve never tried role play before, it can be a daunting prospect — where do you even begin?!
“Role play has a bit of a marmite quality to it,” says sex educator and author Ruby Rare. “In my experience if you’re into it, then you’re really into it, and if you’re not, it can feel quite intimidating or even off-putting to give it a go.”
That’s not to say it’s out of the question for those just wanting to dip their toes in. In fact, as Ruby points out, role play is a particularly good way of “leaning further into playful erotic fantasy, while still having the familiarity and security of being with a pre-existing partner”.
| | | |
World Contraception Day
Sept 26th
Green Flag: Your boo wants to talk about birth control
Talking about birth control with your partner is sexy
It’s a total green flag if your partner wants to talk about birth control. But if they spend a lot of time on social, you might have to help bust some birth control myths. Untruths about birth control (hello, misinformation!) are taking over the internet right now! How can you know which concerns about birth control are valid? We are here to break them down for you.
| | |
Please consider supporting reproductive and sexual health care in Wyoming!
You can donate directly to us—100% of your contribution goes toward supporting health care access in our state.
| | |
This newsletter was developed (in part) with federal funds from the Office of Population Affairs. For more information on the rules and regulations that apply to our programs, please visit
https://opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/title-x-service-grants
This project is supported by the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.X. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $924,108 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.X. Government.
| |
WYOMING HEALTH COUNCIL
111 S. Durbin, Suite 200
Casper, WY 82601
Call Us: (307) 439-2033
| | | | | |
