Sexuality is an intrinsic part of being human throughout the lifespan. Sexuality and our sexual health can influence our physical and emotional wellbeing as well as our relationships. Learning more about sex and sexual health can help someone have safer, respectful, and enjoyable experiences.
One of the best ways to learn about your sexuality and what you like and don't like is to get to know your body first. Many folks didn’t have pleasure talked about in their upbringing or sex education in school, but it is central and paramount to healthy sexuality and sexual experiences.
Find out with you like through masturbation, which can be done on your own or with a sex toy. The UBC Wellness Centre sells sex toys of all types and has educators available to speak confidentially about what you could try or what could be right for you. Learn more about masturbation.
When we say 'sex' on this page, we're not only referring to intercourse. We mean the full range of sexual acts and experiences. Sex means different things to different people. You need consent for kissing, making out, touching, sexting, sharing sexy photos, and all sexual actions!
Reflect on your own reasons for having sex.
Check in with your thoughts, your feelings and your physical body.
Sexual consent is about clearly and freely agreeing to sexual activity. Consent must be the following.
Learn about consent in the Sexual Consent and Culture of Consent Canvas course from the UBC Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office.
You need to respect your partner’s reasons for choosing to have or not have sex.
It’s each person’s responsibility to ask, listen to, and respect their partner. That way, both people have an enthusiastic and enjoyable sexual experience.
Along with talking about consent, it’s important to verbally communicate about your sexual preferences and boundaries. Everyone has things they like and don’t like, things they want to try, and things they do not.
Knowing the answers to the questions below and communicating them with a partner will help you feel comfortable during sex. These questions are all components of a healthy sexual experience.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are a group of infections that are most commonly passed through sex (fluid exchange or skin to skin touch). While people usually do not show any signs or symptoms, they can develop into more serious infections that can be dangerous and can also be passed to others unknowingly. Anyone who is sexually active could catch an STI. The good news is that STI transmission is preventable. If someone does catch an STI, all of them are treatable and many are curable.
Sexually transmitted infections can be:
If you’re planning to be or are sexually active, consider and discuss STI prevention methods with your partner beforehand.
Learn more about STIs at sexandu.ca.
STIs can be transmitted through oral, vaginal, and anal sex. There are 4 ways to prevent STI transmission:
Learn more with the Sexual Health Canvas Module created by the Wellness Centre.
Contraceptive methods help prevent pregnancy. Many methods are very effective at preventing pregnancy. However, no method is 100% guaranteed.
Learn more about contraception and birth control.
If you had sex that could result in pregnancy and did so without contraception, or if your contraception failed during sex (e.g., the condom broke, or the pill wasn’t taken consistently), emergency contraception (EC) may be an option. Since emergency contraception drastically changes your hormone levels, it is only meant to be used occasionally, it is not meant to be used as regular birth control.
Emergency contraception is available as a pill, and you can take it within 5 days of vaginal sex. The sooner you take it after sex, the more effective it is. Taking it within the first 12-24 hours after unprotected intercourse is the most effective.
In BC, you can purchase emergency contraception from any pharmacy. You can get a prescription from a physician at Student Health Service or another doctor’s office to reduce the cost of EC and/or to find out about your options for EC.
Learn more about emergency contraception
If you’re concerned that you may be pregnant, you can use a pregnancy test.
You can buy pregnancy tests at the Wellness Centre, or at any drug store or pharmacy in British Columbia.
A doctor or nurse can also administer a pregnancy test and discuss your birth control or pregnancy options. Book an appointment with the Student Health Service on campus, or find a clinic in Vancouver.
Relationships take on many forms and may or may not be romantic/sexual. Find tips and strategies for building healthy relationships.
These websites and apps have been carefully chosen by health professionals at UBC. They’re easy and accessible tools you can use any time to help you manage your sexual health.
It might be easier to talk with a trained student about sexuality and sexual health. They may understand what you’re going through and can offer helpful resources.
If you need a prescription for birth control, STI testing, or support with sex and sexual health, talk to a health professional.
