Elevating Healthcare with Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Written By Braelin A

The Integral Role of Sexuality in Patient Care

Every individual, regardless of their background or experiences, possesses a unique sexuality that is deeply intertwined with their identity. As healthcare providers, we recognize that questions and concerns related to human sexuality frequently emerge during patient interactions. Yet, it's alarming to note that a significant number of healthcare professionals lack the necessary training in sexual health and sexuality education. Understanding human sexuality is not just beneficial—it's essential for delivering quality healthcare.

Delving into Sexuality Education

Sexuality, as described by Karen Ryne and Ryan Dillon in An Introduction to Sexuality Education: A Handbook For Mental Health Professionals, encompasses an individual's entire being. It reflects everything a community conveys about intimate relationships and cultural aspects of sexuality. While sex education provides knowledge and information, sex therapy delves deeper, addressing sexuality through a therapeutic lens.

Although sex therapists are equipped with specialized training to provide therapeutic interventions, many other healthcare providers are expected to offer sexuality education. This includes topics such as sexual anatomy, gender identity, sexual orientation, and sexually transmitted diseases. Moreover, patients often approach us with trauma-related concerns linked to sexuality, such as:

  • Pregnancy and birth experiences

  • Encounters with sexual abuse

  • Exposure to pornography

  • Negative experiences stemming from religious teachings about sexuality

  • Challenges related to LGBTQ+ identities, including prejudice, bullying, and the complexities of coming out

Being well-versed in these topics and employing specific, sensitive language during patient interactions can profoundly enhance the quality of care and support we provide.

Addressing the Bias in Sexuality Education

In today's world, comprehensive, sex-positive education is unfortunately scarce. Many healthcare providers, despite their best intentions, remain unaware of their biases and misconceptions about sexuality. This lack of awareness often originates from the limited sex-positive education available and the prevalence of misinformation during adolescent years.

As healthcare providers, we hold a unique position of authority. We have the responsibility to provide accurate and unbiased information, even if our own training in human sexuality has been limited. It's crucial to recognize and address our biases, ensuring that we offer the best care possible to our patients.

The Expansive Realm of Human Sexuality

The field of human sexuality is vast and intricate. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including:

  • Research methods in human sexuality

  • Male and female sexual anatomy

  • Physiology of sexual response

  • Concepts of attraction and love

  • Gender identity and roles

  • Relationships and communication dynamics

  • Sexual behaviors and fantasies

  • Sexual orientation

  • Conception, pregnancy, and childbirth

  • Contraception and abortion

  • Sexuality across different life stages

  • Sexual dysfunctions

  • Sexually transmitted diseases

  • Atypical sexual variations

  • Sexual abuse and commercial sex

While mastering every aspect is challenging, it's imperative for healthcare providers to educate themselves on relevant topics as they arise in patient care. Most importantly, self-awareness is key. As providers, we must understand our own perspectives and biases to offer the most effective sexuality education.

Embracing Sex-Positive Education

While much of today's sexual imagery is rooted in pornography, which often perpetuates negative stereotypes, there exists a wealth of sex-positive and educational sexual imagery. At Evidentia Sexual Health Education Center, we harness various forms of sex-positive educational mediums to achieve our mission of promoting sexual health, freedom, inclusivity, and fostering healthy relationships.

Conclusion

Sexuality education is not just about imparting knowledge—it's about changing lives. By equipping healthcare professionals with the right tools and knowledge, we can ensure that every patient receives the care and understanding they deserve. At Evidentia Sexual Health Education Center, we are committed to this cause, striving every day to make a difference in the world of healthcare and sexuality education.

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Braelin A

Braelin A. (she/her) is a queer, neurodivergent educator and entrepreneur from Cleveland, Ohio, who brings her richly diverse background and transparent self-awareness to the forefront of sexual health education. At 29, she leads Evidentia with a philosophy that personal history informs educational style, advocating for inclusivity and evidence-based, trauma-informed care. Formerly a child actor, Braelin has pivoted from professional theatre due to its systemic injustices, channeling her experiences into Evidentia and its HealthEquity Toolkit. She's holds a post-baccalaureate in Cannabis Therapeutics from Maryland University of Integrative Health and attended the Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment. Committed to dismantling educational privilege, Braelin's mission is to deliver accessible, transformative resources that challenge oppression and promote holistic well-being.

http://www.braelina.com/
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