What Is Sexual Health — and Why Is It So Important?

September is National Sexual Health Awareness Month, and September 4 is World Sexual Health Day. Let’s stop the guilt and stigma so we can talk openly and shamelessly about sex!

Words by Daniel Vaillancourt

September is Sexual Health Awareness Month, a time when community health centers like DAP Health — which has three dedicated sexual wellness clinics (in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Indio), a Monday pop-up clinic for students at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, and a new location coming to Oceanside on the San Diego Coast in early 2026 — remind past, present, and prospective patients that one’s sex life is a happy, natural, positive part of life in general, and that sexual health is part of overall health.

But sexual health is about far more than just preventing or treating infections, or avoiding pregnancy. It’s a holistic view of health that includes physical safety, emotional intimacy, mental well-being, and the ability to experience and express sexuality in ways that are confident and joyful — regardless of one’s sexual orientation or relationship status.

As health care continues to evolve, understanding and promoting sexual health and wellness has never been more important. It plays a vital role in overall health, public health outcomes, and personal empowerment.

What Is Sexual Health?

Sexual health (or wellness) refers to a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being related to sexuality. It involves:

• Access to accurate information and resources.
• Safe, consensual sexual experiences.
• Preventive care (like vaccines, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP, and birth control, including condoms).
• Regular screenings.
• Timely, stigma-free, effective treatment for HIV and/or sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Open communication with providers and partners.
• Emotional support and acceptance.

It also means respecting one’s own values and boundaries — and those of others.

The Role of Inclusive, Stigma-Free, Affirming Care

Sexual wellness can only thrive in environments like DAP Health — where patients feel safe, seen, and respected. This means:

• Providing LGBTQ+ competent care.
• Encouraging conversations about pleasure, desire, boundaries, and consent — not just risks.

Clinics and community health centers like DAP Health are leading the way by integrating sexual wellness into primary care, offering services such as:

• Free HIV testing.
• PrEP navigation services.
• HIV specialty care.
• Free STI testing, treatment, and prevention (DoxyPEP).
• HPV vaccines.
• Contraceptive options.
• Sexual health counseling.

These services not only reduce infections and improve outcomes — they help patients build lasting relationships with providers who genuinely care.

Preventing HIV: Tools That Save Lives

One of the most transformative developments in sexual wellness is the prevention and management of HIV. With the right tools, HIV has become a controllable condition, and in many cases, completely preventable.

Key prevention strategies include:

• PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis): A daily pill or long-acting injection that significantly reduces the risk of HIV transmission for HIV-negative individuals.
• PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis): A 28-day emergency treatment started within 72 hours of possible exposure.
• U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable): People living with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load through treatment cannot transmit the virus sexually.

This is why routine testing and early diagnosis are so crucial. Once diagnosed, people living with HIV can begin treatment, live long and healthy lives, and protect their partners. Those who are negative can begin PrEP.

STI Prevention: The Rise of Doxy-PEP

STIs like syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia remain a persistent public health issue. In recent years, Doxy-PEP (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis) has emerged as a promising new tool for preventing some bacterial STIs.

• How it works: Taken within 72 hours after sex, two 100 mg tables of doxycycline can significantly reduce the risk of acquiring certain bacterial STIs.
• Who it’s for: Everyone! (Except for women who are pregnant, or trying to become pregnant, since it may endanger the fetus.)

While Doxy-PEP is not a substitute for condoms or routine screenings, it adds another layer of protection.

HPV: A Common Virus with a Preventable Outcome

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STI in the United States, affecting millions each year. Some types of HPV can lead to genital warts, while others can cause cancers of the cervix, anus, throat, and more. 

Prevention strategies include:

• HPV vaccination: It’s recommended for all children as young as 9 (but before they turn 15). Catch-up vaccination is available through age 26 (and sometimes up to 45).
• Cervical and anal Pap smears for HPV testing: These screenings are vital for catching abnormalities early.

HPV is often symptomless but can have serious long-term effects — so education, vaccination, and screening are essential.

Preventing Unwanted Pregnancies 

Birth control methods can include oral birth control pills, the patch, a vaginal ring, contraceptive injection, non-hormonal gel, and male and female condoms.

Emergency contraception may include oral agents, such as Plan B (over the counter or by prescription). Abortion referrals are also provided.

Why Sexual Wellness Matters

Sexual wellness affects much more than our bodies — it influences our confidence, relationships, mental health, and sense of autonomy. When people are empowered to care for their sexual health, they are more likely to:

• Build healthy, satisfying relationships.
• Make informed choices about their bodies.
• Detect and treat health issues early.
• Advocate for themselves in clinical settings.

And at the community level, strong sexual wellness infrastructure leads to lower STI rates, better health outcomes, and reduced stigma.

A Holistic, Ongoing Journey

Sexual wellness is not a destination — it’s a lifelong journey. Whether you’re just starting to explore your sexuality and sexual health, seeking care for a specific issue, or navigating life post-diagnosis, support is available at DAP Health.

Everyone deserves access to science-based information, respectful expert care, and a safe space to ask any question. All of that exists at each one of DAP Health’s sexual wellness clinics. By investing in sexual wellness — for yourself, your partners, and your communities — you pave the way toward a healthier, more inclusive future.

To find out more about DAP Health’s sexual wellness locations and services, to make an appointment for testing and/or treatment, to inquire about PrEP and/or DoxyPEP, or to receive a free HIV self-test kit discreetly mailed to your home, please click here. You may also call 760.323.9255, extension 761.