World Sexual Health Day (4th of September) is a day you shouldn’t ignore. It’s a day to be loud and proud about sexual health and a time to advocate for sex worker rights. This year’s theme is positive relationships and sexual health.
In this article, we’re exploring how sex workers can have a more positive relationship with the concept of sexual health, as many still feel shame when visiting the clinic or when talking about sexual health services.
Keep reading to learn the sexual health basics every sex worker should know and how it’ll benefit the relationship you have with yourself.
Celebrating World Sexual Health Day & your relationship with sexual health
World Sexual Health Day (WSHD) is an international celebration that’s all about raising awareness, breaking taboos, and making sexual health services more accessible across the world.
Sexual well-being is a right for everyone. However, it’s especially important for sex workers – and WSHD is a great chance to celebrate modern innovations in sexual health while educating your audience and fellow sex workers.
Too often, we brush sexual health conversations off. Rather than talking about testing or contraception, we keep these topics silent and book clinic visits and birth control appointments in the dark.
But it’s time to change this! Sexual health is a central aspect of sex work, and sharing accurate information is essential for sex workers. Not only will it reduce the stigma around sexual health, but it’ll help educate clients and make work safer for professionals.
So, when September 4th rolls around, take a moment to connect with others and talk about sexual health. You could also watch an informative video, share a few social media posts, or even read some of the official WSHD resources.
The basics of sexual health for UK sex workers
Knowing how to take care of your sexual health will uplift the way you feel, how you approach work, and your overall relationship with yourself.
Below, we’ve broken sexual health for sex workers into five key areas. Start with these and keep researching!
Regular STI testing
STI testing is critical for a sex worker. You should be testing at least every six weeks to ensure you catch anything early. Remember, some STIs are symptomless. Even if you don’t notice any changes, you should keep testing regularly.
Similarly, while condoms prevent STIs, they’re not always 100% effective. Taking regular tests might seem frustrating, but it’s a necessary step to protect your health and the health of your clients.
Accessing sexual health services
A popular service for London-based sex workers is the SHL.UK kit. You can register and order discreet STI testing kits for your home. Orders are usually sent within the same day, and the organisation is partnered with the NHS.
If you’re outside of London, you can still access free STI tests. Check out our previous guide to UK healthcare for sex workers article to find the right services for you.
Contraception
Contraception is another vital pillar of sexual health, as it prevents unwanted pregnancies.
Alongside protecting yourself from STIs, it’s important to choose a contraceptive method that works for you (if applicable). This protects you physically and also mentally since it can reduce the stress and anxiety of getting pregnant when you’re not ready.
Methods of contraception include:
- The pill
- Copper coil
- Hormonal IUDs
- Implants
- Patches
We’ve already created a full guide to contraception for sex workers. Give this a read if you’re unsure which method is best for you.
Emergency birth control
Part of having a positive relationship with yourself is knowing how to look after yourself. While you may never have to use it, understanding emergency contraception is also critical. This way, you can access it without stress if the situation ever occurs.
Skip to our emergency contraception guide now to find out more.
Talking about sexual health with clients
Lastly, the final factor to consider is how you talk about sexual health with your clients.
This might seem completely unrelated to your personal relationship with sexual health. However, having the confidence to talk about sexual health with your clients helps you stay healthy, as they’ll understand why it’s important and be more likely to practise safe sex. This, in turn, protects you and demonstrates your confidence in the subject.
Empowering your relationship with yourself through sexual health awareness
Sexual health doesn’t always seem like a fun topic. But knowing you’re doing the right thing for your own body can be a very empowering experience. Like eating well, working out, and getting enough sleep, it’s a positive action that sets you up for success.
You can nurture your relationship with yourself and your sexual health by taking a proactive approach.
For example, you can mark a date in your calendar for a monthly STI check-up. Pair this routine screening with a coffee at your favourite cafe, or take yourself to see a movie to make the date more of a self-care day.
You may also want to follow social media influencers who promote positive sex education content. This will keep you in the loop of new trends or research without needing to read research papers or long news stories.
If you want to practise your advocacy skills, you can even share sex-positive content or send resources to your friends and colleagues.
You may even want to stock up on your favourite condoms or experiment with new flavours as part of making sexual health fun for yourself. There are plenty of textures, colours, and scents to try. So, don’t hold back!
The takeaway
Whether you’re new to sex work or not, taking time to revisit how you feel about sexual health is critical. Often, how you feel about it sets the tone for how much effort you put into sexual health. So, maintaining an educated and positive relationship is critical for your and your client’s well-being.
Keep reading about sexual health on the Vivastreet blog to upgrade your knowledge. Or read our sex work-focused blogs to learn about industry trends, how to build a brand, and how to protect yourself while working.
