Sexual health is a part of overall well-being, where individuals can have safe sexual experiences and express their sexuality safely.
Tips & Links
Living with a health condition or disability can affect your sexual health. Discover strategies to navigate and adapt to these challenges.
Sexuality and Gender
- Take time to explore and understand your feelings, desires, and preferences regarding your sexuality.
- Know that how you decide to express or share this information is up to you.
- Learn about sexual orientation and gender identity from the Government of Canada.
Impact on Sexual Health
- Be aware that conditions like diabetes, neurological disorders, or spinal cord injuries can lead to sexual dysfunction.
- Know that medications, treatments, and surgeries can impact hormones, significantly altering sexual desire and functioning, and also your reproductive health.
- Investigate short and long-term side effects of all treatment options and surgeries being suggested.
- Understand that symptoms such as chronic pain and limited mobility can make sexual activity uncomfortable or difficult.
- Learn about your medications that can impact contraception methods from Healthlink BC.
- Ask what changes in your appearance may be expected, such as weight gain/ loss, hair loss, scarring, or skin changes, and others that may be impact your body image.
- Consult with your physician or ask for a referral to a specialist for guidance on managing physical symptoms or medications to address your sexual health concerns.
- Know that a pharmacist in BC can dispense different forms of contraception without a prescription from a physician. Learn more about their expanded role from the Government of BC.
Healthy Relationships
- Expect to be valued and treated with respect in all your relationships. Focus on connection, communication, values, caring, and kindness and trust in your relationships.
- Be aware that your health changes may impact your partner’s lifestyle as well. Try to explore their feelings.
- Discuss feelings, preferences, and concerns in a non-judgmental environment to maintain a healthy sexual relationship.
- Know that sexual health is a shared experience, so mutual understanding and patience are crucial.
- Understanding your condition, its impact on sexual health, and available treatment options is crucial to managing any challenges that arise.
For More Information
- Learn about the impact of medications, radiation, and surgery on sexual and reproductive functions for both female and male sex organs from the Canadian Cancer Society.
- Look into the sexual rehabilitation program if your sexual health has been impacted by an injury or disability at GF Strong BC.
- For a comprehensive list of sexual health services in BC visit Pathways from the Doctors of BC.
- Understand how ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’ (SOGI) are considered in education and health care in BC by Sogieducation.org.
- Explore gender equity & 2SLGBTQIA resources from the Government of Canada.
- Visit Trans Care BC that provides guidelines for safe and accurate trans health care from the Provincial Health Services Authority.
Take notes on all your findings, update your Health Profile with your sexual health information and keep your research in your Mywell Health digital or print files.