Honest

Sexual health requires open and direct communication with oneself and every sexual partner.

Honesty with oneself involves being open to sexual pleasure, sexual experience, and sexual education. Without honesty, sexual relationships will not be able to have effective communication or be able to uphold any of the sexual health principles. Honesty encompasses sexual health conversations about gender and/or sexual relationship diversity. Each person has the responsibility to determine their own standards of honesty about sex and sexuality as it relates to their partners, medical providers, community, and themselves.

A sexual health conversation tip: when you’re surprised by a sudden question about a sexual matter from a child or teen, you can give yourself a few extra seconds to compose yourself by taking a deep breath and first thanking them for their honesty and asking a question about sex. They will remember that some adults welcome their honesty, a lesson that they might benefit from throughout their life.