Skip to main content

A sexually healthy adult will:

  • Appreciate one’s own body.
  • Seek further information about reproduction as needed.
  • Affirm that human development includes sexual development, which may or may not include or sexual experience.
  • Interact with all genders in respectful and appropriate ways.
  • Affirm one’s own sexual orientation and respect the sexual orientation of others.
  • Affirm one’s own gender identity and respect the gender identities of others.
  • Express love and intimacy in appropriate ways.
  • Develop and maintain meaningful relationships.
  • Avoid exploitative or manipulative relationships.
  • Make informed choices about family options and relationships.
  • Exhibit skills that enhance personal relationships.
  • Identify and live accordingly according to one’s own behavior.
  • Take responsibility for one’s own behavior.
  • Practice effective decision-making.
  • Develop critical-thinking skills.
  • Communicate effectively with family, peers, and romantic partners.
  • Enjoy and express one’s sexuality throughout life.
  • Express one’s sexuality in ways that are congruent with one’s values.
  • Enjoy sexual feelings without necessarily acting on them.
  • Discriminate between life-enhancing sexual behaviors and those that are harmful to self and/or others.
  • Express one’s sexuality while respecting the rights of others.
  • Seek new information to enhance one’s sexuality.
  • Engage in sexual relationships that are consensual, non-exploitative, honest, pleasurable, and protected.
  • Practice health-promoting behaviors, such as regular check-ups, breast and testicular self-exam, and early identification of potential problems.
  • Use contraception effectively to avoid unintended pregnancy.
  • Discuss risks of contracting or transmitting a sexually transmitted disease, openly and respectfully.
  • Act consistently with one’s own values when dealing with an unintended pregnancy.
  • Help prevent sexual abuse.
  • Demonstrate respect for people with different sexual values.
  • Assess the impact of family, cultural, media, and societal messages on one’s thoughts, feelings, values, and behaviors related to sexuality.
  • Critically examine the world around them for biases based on gender, sexual orientation, culture, ethnicity, and race.
  • Promote the rights of all people to accurate sexuality information.
  • Avoid behaviors that exhibit prejudice and bigotry.
  • Reject stereotypes about sexuality of different populations.
  • Educate others about sexuality.