On this page, we talk about sexual health
Rights are rules about how people must treat you:
- fairly
- equally.
What sexual health is
Sexual health includes your right to:
- choose what happens to your body
- understand what choices you have
- find and use health care services.
It also includes:
- knowing how to have safe sex and be healthy
- deciding if you want to be pregnant.
Good sexual health can help you make decisions about the type of sexual experiences you want to have.
Sexual health is also about managing
STIs are health problems that people can get through sexual activity.
This includes knowing how to:
- stop yourself from getting an STI
- treat an STI.
Sexual health is also about taking part in sexual activities:
- that are healthy and legal
- that give everyone pleasure
-
where everyone gives their
When you give your consent, you say it is okay for someone to do something.
Your can also be part of your sexual health.
Your gender is what you feel and understand about who you are as a person.
You might think of yourself as a man or woman or something different.
You can choose the words that are right for you.
Sexual health is important for everyone.
This includes if you have a disability.
You have the right to get information about:
- sexual health
- your body.
Why sexual health is important
Some people might feel more comfortable talking about their bodies than other people.
And some people might not feel or have the right words to talk about their sexual health.
When you are confident, you:
- believe in yourself
- know what you can do
- can try new things.
People can miss out on getting the health care they need when they do not talk about their sexual health.
For example, they might:
- get an STI
- get pregnant when they do not want to.
People can also feel less pleasure when they take part in sexual activities if they do not talk about their sexual health.
Services for your sexual health
Everyone who takes part in sexual activities has the right to health services they can:
- find and use
- easily afford.
A doctor is the best place to go to:
- learn about sexual health
- stay safe and be healthy
- decide if you want to be pregnant.
A doctor can help you if you need
Birth control can stop you from getting pregnant.
A doctor can help you if you are worried you might be pregnant.
This includes if you want to have an
When you have an abortion, you might:
- have a small surgery
or
- take medicine.
This will stop you from being pregnant.
A doctor can help you if you:
- want to become pregnant
- are finding it hard to become pregnant.
A doctor can also help you if you:
- are pregnant
- need health services for you or your baby.
You can take a support person with you to see a doctor.
We have information on our website about visiting the doctor.
You can find out more on our page about medical information and services.
You can find out more about health clinics near you on the Family Planning Alliance Australia website.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
If you take part in sexual activities, it is important to know how to:
- stop yourself from getting an STI
- treat an STI.
You can use birth control to stop yourself from getting an STI.
For example, you can use a
A condom is a thin type of wrapper that goes over and around a penis.
You can ask your doctor how to use a condom.
You can buy condoms from a chemist or supermarket.
If you are taking part in sexual activities with someone who does not have a penis, you can use a
A dental dam is a thin piece of material that can cover a person’s mouth or private parts during sexual activities.
You can ask your doctor about:
- how to use dental dams
- where to get them.
You can search online for where to buy dental dams.
You should have regular appointments with your doctor about sexual health if you:
- take part in sexual activities with new people
- do not use birth control
-
have STI
A symptom is a sign that you might be sick.
You might:
- see symptoms
- feel symptoms.
Some symptoms of STIs include feeling:
- itchy
- sore.
You might feel these symptoms on or inside your private parts.
Other symptoms of an STI include:
- pain when you pee
- bleeding from your private parts
- discharge – fluid that comes out of your private parts.
Learning about sex
Learning about sex can help you understand:
- consent
- safe sex
- pleasure.
You can find out more on our page about consent.
You can also find out more on our page about pleasure.
You can learn about sex in different places and from different people.
For example, you can ask someone you trust, like a carer.
There is also information available if you:
- care for a person with disability
- want to help someone learn more about sex.
You can find out more on the SECCA website.
Menopause
People can have throughout their life.
Menstruation is a kind of bleeding from the vagina that usually happens once a month.
People also call it a period.
Once you start having a period, you can get pregnant when you have sex.
When people reach a certain age, their menstruation stops.
This is called
Menopause is when you stop having your period.
Most people go through menopause when they are between 45 and 55 years old.
Menopause affects your:
- body
- wellbeing.
It can also affect how you feel about yourself when you are around other people.
Research has found that people with an are more likely to go through menopause earlier than other people.
An intellectual disability affects how you:
- learn new things
- solve problems
- communicate
- do things on your own.
Research has also found that people with can go through menopause even earlier.
Down syndrome affects how you grow and think.
Your health conditions can get worse when you go through menopause.
There is not a lot of information about how menopause can affect people with intellectual disability.
Menopause symptoms can feel worse if you do not understand what you are going through.
People can also feel stressed if they:
- go through menopause
- and
- have to be around other people all the time.
For example, if you live in an
An aged care home is where older people live when they cannot live in their home anymore.
Example story
We wrote a story to show an example of sexual health rights.
The story we wrote is about a person called Renata.
The story and the people in it are not real.
We made them up to explain sexual health rights.
Renata’s story
Renata is a woman with an intellectual disability in her twenties.
It is important for people with vaginas in their twenties to get a every 3 years.
A pap smear is a medical test to check the cervix is healthy.
The cervix is at the top of a person’s vagina.
Renata has never had a pap smear.
Her doctor has not asked her to have one.
And she has not asked her doctor for one either.
But Renata would not bother anyone if she asked her doctor for a pap smear.
She would be looking after her sexual health.
Renata’s father thinks she should not learn about sex because she has an intellectual disability.
He is worried that learning about sex might put her in danger of:
- being hurt
- getting sick.
But Renata is also in danger of these things if she does not know:
- how people get pregnant
- how to have safe sex with consent.
Renata should be able to learn about sex in a way that is:
- correct
- safe for her age.
