5 key characteristics of a sexually healthy relationship

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Compiled in this article are a collection of characteristics of a sexually healthy relationship. After reading this article, you’ll be able to improve upon current and future sexual relationships.

Introduction

Are you satisfied with your sex life?

If the answer to that question is no, or a yes with hesitation, it means that it could be so much better, so much hotter, and lead to much better orgasms. A Sexually Healthy Relationship is ideally a mutually satisfying relationship full of intimacy, orgasms, and fun. Ensuring that it’s both hot and healthy takes some effort.

The CDC recognizes that sexual health is an important aspect of someone’s health. It’s described as a holistic state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being concerning sex and sexuality. Sexual health isn’t just being free from diseases or ailments.

Benefits of a Healthy Sex Life

Sex and sexual health play an important role in people’s health and wellbeing. There are physical, psychological, and social factors that not only impact sexual health but our sexual past.

There are immediate benefits of having a great sex life and these include…

· Lower blood pressure

· Improved immune system

· Lower risk for heart disease

· Increased self-worth and self-esteem

· Decreased depression

· Decreased anxiety

· Natural pain relief

· Better sleep

· Increased intimacy

· Increased interpersonal skills

· Stress relief both physically and mentally

Being in a wonderful and healthy sexual relationship is associated with better overall well-being according to a study published August 2019 in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. However, that’s not to say that any relationship is good. This study found that being single was much preferred and healthier than being in a bad or even mediocre relationship. Sexual health is not about having lots of sex, it’s about having quality intercourse.

5 Key Characteristics of a Sexually Healthy Relationship include communication, Openness, trust, self-esteem, and learning. It’s not a matter of obtaining these aspects once and it is done. Instead, it’s about working on these constantly in a balanced way throughout the relationship.

Communication

Talking to your partner about what you like, what you need, what you don’t like, is important. Being honest with your partner allows for more growth and a closer connection.

Improving communication in a relationship can be difficult. Here are some tips to improve communication in a relationship.

· Communicate effectively with partners outside of the bedroom

· Communicate respectfully their desires to have sex, to not have sex, and everything in between

· Talk with your partner about sex before during and after it occurs

· Discuss different topics with your partner before having sex such as limits, contraceptives, condom use, kinks, and preferences.

· Communicate your intentions and expectations in a relationship.


Emotional Connection

Having that emotional bond with your partner ensures that sex is more than just physical. Sex is more than just a blow job, more than just a rim job, more than just reverse cowgirl. It’s important to build a close relationship when sex isn’t directly involved.

A lack of chemistry can have sex difficult or simply not enjoyable. 

Tips to improve a connection in a relationship:

· Do things together whether that’s cooking, a board game, an event, or going on a date.

· Spend time together just being in the same room

· Talk about fantasies with your partner

· Provide displays of affection when it’s not about sex

· Learn your partner’s love language and engage in that love language with them

Trust

Having complete trust in your partner and vice versa allows for both of you to be comfortable and safe with one another. That has sex in general better. It also makes experimentation much easier for both sides.

Being able to trust your partner with your body, and your heart is huge. 

Here are some tips to improve trust in a relationship:

· Allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to build trust with your partner

· Talk about everything and be honest

· Respect your partner’s boundaries and limits

· Develop a sense for your partner’s body language

· Respect a no when it comes to sex whether it comes from you or your partner


Self-Esteem

Having a strong sense of self-esteem, self-worth, self-respect is a vital step to having a quality relationship with a partner. With all partners being comfortable in their skin, comfortable in their sexuality, comfortable with their bodies helps to have sex more comfortable.

Starting with yourself is important. 

Tips to improve self-esteem in a relationship:

· Appreciate your body in both sexual and not sexual events

· Masturbate by yourself or with a partner to explore your senses

· Deeply explore the topics of identity and orientation

· Be aware of the impact of negative sexual experiences including abuse, cultural norms, and gender roles.

· Acknowledging the past impacts of negative sexual experiences in your own life and start the healing process


Learning

A Willingness to learn is hot. Learn about yourself. Learn about your partner. Learn about different sexual health relationships. Learn about new concepts, kinks, and toys to add to your love life. Whether it’s trying out a new kink or a new sex toy, or something, it helps to bring excitement and bonding into the bedroom and your love life.

Tips to improve learning in a relationship:

· Watch sexual documentaries, or podcasts, to expand your understanding of sex holistically

· Read novels such as ‘Sex Plus: Learning, Loving, & Enjoying Your Body’ by Laci Green, or ‘The Coitus Chronicles’ by Olive Persimmon, or ‘Faking It: The Lies Women Talk About Sex & What They Reveal’ by Lux Alptraum.

· Follow sexual health experts on social media to get updated information on new studies and tips

· Discuss the things you learned with your partner.

· Approach your partner about the things you want to learn more about and explore those topics together.


Final Thoughts

True Sexual health requires a positive respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships free of coercion, discrimination, and violence. Sex is meant to be an intimate and positive experience. Integrating a healthy sex life into one’s life provides a degree of balance.

Taking a holistic approach to sexual wellness includes emotional, psychological, physical, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of all parties individually and collectively. Being in a good place yourself is just as important as being in a good place in a relationship.

Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews: Manny Pacquiao is better off as a philanthropist eventhough he is homophobic

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Manny Pacquiao always quote the bible, ironically he's a law maker. Did he know that there's a separation of state and church within the constitution?

If Pacquiao aspires to be president, he should set aside his own beliefs. He can't be the people's representative if he cannot represent and express what they need. He should've remember that the citizens elect people to serve, not for the people to serve who is on power.

Even if I have nothing against his beliefs, the point is: he is a Presidential aspirant hence providing stronger arguments is expected and required.

The problem with Pacquiao is, he might be sincere, but let's be real, he's not competent and fit enough to be in the highest ruling office.

Manny Pacquiao may be the weakest candidate, but he seems full of sincerity, and may bayag din umappear sa Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews.

I’m giving him credit for showing up despite not being the best candidate for the position.

His heart is in the right place, and his fighting spirit is unquestionable. Parang mas tatakbo pang panginoon si Pacquiao kaysa pangulo. Let Manny lead the prayer.

Pacquiao could probably ace a theology exams because his answers are pure and mirrors ‘kindness’ pero this is not theology class nor values education, this is politics and governance. 

Nanatili na lang sana syang boksingero dahil doon ko sya hinangaan. Pero ang pagiging politiko, hindi ko sya iboboto!

Of course I’m not going to vote for a homophobic....even if I'm also one.

Sabi ni Pacquiao ay dumarami raw LGBTQ supporters niya and at the same time, hindi raw siya nag-aagree sa same-sex marriage. How does that work? Why would the community support someone who treats them indifferently?

The LGBTQ na sumusupport sa kaniya is giving me "I am a tree but I support deforestration" vibes.

Imagine saying that infront of an LGBTQ person who supports him (if there is actually one).

There are no words to explain with what you've said, Mr. Pacquiao. You were not misquoted. It was clearly stated that you called LGBTQ community as "masahol pa sa hayop". Tapos hindi ka pa nagsisisi.

Again, the separation of Church and State shall be inviolable. This is according to the 1987 Ph Constitution, Section 6 of Article II.

This country is not ready for the same sex marriage issue because people like Manny Pacquiao still exist. 

It is EVERYBODY’s right to love and it is the law’s responsibility to legalize it because it’s not as though loving is unlawful and immoral. 

Pacquiao can never be president if he only advocates for certain genders and not everyone.

Parliamentary or Presidential?

Pacquiao: Parliamentary 

Then why did you run for President?

Well of course it’s because we are using the presidential system...but he probably means that he wants the country to have a parliamentary system in the future if he wins. Might be done through ammending or changing the constitution for us to have a parliamentary system. But do we really need to touch the constitution?

I just want to hear Manny Pacquiao give us concrete plans. How many times must I hear the words "pagkakaisa" and "parusahan" before you give us good plans?  

I feel so bad with Manny Pacquiao. I am thinking that his money will vanish soon enough because he is surrounded by greedy people! 

I fear that he may end up like the usual sad Filipino story from rags to riches but fell hard due to misguidance & trusting greedy people.

He also keeps on making unfeasible promises (if you'll consider his capabilities). I was an avid fan before but not anymore. He got too greedy for position.If he really wants to help the Filipino people, then be a philanthropist instead. 

He is very trusting sa mga akala niya real friends niya. Kasi kung totoong kaibigan yung mga yun pinayuhan agad xa na wag tumakbo this may 2022. Kaso mo may vested interests yung mga nakadikit at nagsusulsol.

I was a fan his boxing career, and I still am. But never a fan of his political career. If the seat he occupied in the senate was given to someone who are more capable of, who knows? We may have a law that is better and more useful than what we currently have.

Ok lang sana Mayor o pwede rin Governor, huwag lang Legislative kasi wala naman sya alam dun. Lalo na pagka Presidente.

It's not yet his time, or he will never be qualified as a president. He really should isolate himself from his so-called ‘friends’. Withdraw now while his money still has a chance.

I was a little disappointed to hear about Leni's answer when asked who will she vote for. But then I realized Leni is fueled by the very same thing she sees in Pacquiao, sincerity to the people. It's a good thing that Leni is running. We don't have to choose the lesser evil among the rest.

We should realized that Bongbong Marcos should be ashamed for reasoning out na “babastusin lang din naman” kaya hindi umattend. Pacquiao had been ridiculed his entire political career pati family niya, and yet he had the guts to attend.

If may magrereason out na ganyan, I would understand more if si Pacquiao. Pero um-attend sya eh. And kudos to him, his answers weren’t as perfect, but some of his points are okay.

Sana ma-realize ni Pacquiao na kaya naman niyang gawin yung charity niya kahit wala sa public office? I mean, namimigay na nga siya ng mga bahay gamit ang sariling pera habang absent sa Senado.

Sana talaga nagfocus na lang sya sa boxing at philantrophy. Di na need ang pagpasok sa pulitika, pambansang kamao na sya. Mas may pride doon. Dami lang tuloy ngayon nawalan ng respeto sa kanya.

Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews: Transparency, Accountability, People Empowerment is the Leni Robredo presidency in a nutshell

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

While watching the Jessica Soho Interviews, one thing is clear: I made the right choice supporting Leni Robredo. My trust and confidence cemented! She is the most fit for the presidency. 

What are your concrete steps to address corruption in government? 

Robredo: Sa akin, transparency, accountability and people empowerment. Ang una kong gagawin ang full disclosure policy...na lahat ng government process, dapat i-make public para nadedeter ang overpricing and corruption.

Sobrang uplifting nung pinaka-core ng candidacy ni Leni. 

Transparency. Accountability. People Empowerment. 

She's the epitome of these. And these are what we can expect from a Robredo Presidency. No doubt, Leni Robredo is the leader we need and the president we deserve!

These three things alone can provide our country what it has been needing.

I hope her campaign team would visualize and contextualize them further thru ads and social media postings.

The answer to Filipino problems has always been the Filipino who is informed, empowered, and who knows that they can trust and rely on their government. VP Leni sees the presidency as a position to lead and to inspire the citizenry to be part of the solution and not as a Deus Ex Machina that will save us all. Ibang-iba talaga siya, ano?

She has proven this in her office. And she continues to do so when the pandemic hit the country.

When your candidate knows health economics and actuarial science, it's a win. 

When your candidate advocates for government transparency, accountability, and people empowerment, it's a win.

When your candidate has been consistent in her public service, it's a win.

Leni Robredo’s answers are on point and concise. It’s really that simple: to avoid corruption, there should be political will. 

Except for Ka Leody De Guzman, the rest are just trapos...Bias aside but among these presidential candidates, VP Leni is the only one who speaks with ease, humility and a lot of sense. 

With VP Leni, people are realizing that it's us people who truly have the power not the trapos and corrupt politicians. She's not just running because of the Marcoses, she is running to fight what the Marcoses and the like are condoning. 

Many traditional politicians won't support her kasi malaki mawawala pera sa kanila. Transparency sa government bidding na isapubliko, mahirap mangurakot  sa kaban ng bayan. Kaya taong bayan mismo ang tutulong pera siya manalo.

I hope everyone understood the  value & importance of VP Leni's advocacy for PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT, an empowered people will have the ability to hold any abusive and greedy public official, from the president down to barangay officials, ACCOUNTABLE. It's what we really need these days.

She said “no, for now” when asked about her stand re: divorce but the thing about Leni is she has always been willing to listen, always open for dialogues. After all, people empowerment is one of the pillars of her leadership branding.

For those people asking why VP Leni says no to divorce. She wants to fix the annulment system first, make it accessible to the poor and marginalized. 

She’s not pro-divorce now, but good thing about Leni is she listens and collaborative - and there’s nothing impossible to a leader who listens to people.

Leni's answer is clear, concise, and truthful. Hindi defensive, especially sa tanong na mahirap ang Bicol. She was able to convey her answer by acknowledging the problem and then presenting her solution. This is in contrast with Narcos denying na Ilocos is poor.

What will you do to protect the rights of OFWs?

Robredo: First, let's fix our economy so people who go abroad aren't forced to do this but because they want to. Let's enter bilateral contracts with countries where there are OFWs to protect them. Upskill our workers.

Leni's thoughts on OFWs:

- Should be by choice

- Bilateral agreements

- Retool them with skills for better job prospects

Understanding the context and having vision. This is what Angat Buhay Lahat is all about.

What steps will you take to make the country more resilient to extreme weather events?

Robredo: It's an opportunity to build back better. Let's invest. Evacuate people from danger zones. Then let's make sure that their housing is resilient, and schools are usable as evacuation centers.

What are your concrete steps to address challenges in education?

Robredo: As early as 2020 we told DepEd that we need to open schools in low-risk areas. Kelangan na magface-to-face classes kasi grabe na ang damage na nangyayari sa estudyante.

Kung inumpisahan na natin nung sinasabi nating magbukas na, marami sana tayong problema na puwedeng maiwasan.

VP Leni did not just do her homework, she gave us thesis in this interview! Yung may proof of concept agad, di lang puro empty promises. Handa na siya magpakain sa panelists sa sobrang advanced ng preparations. 

Leni Robredo is the only one who knows what PhilHealth really needs - someone with Actuarial Science background.

Actuarial Science is a relatively unknown field to many. It is a field of expertise that a Philhealth head should be proficient in.

It may be a small detail but it subtly indicates breadth of knowledge of VP Leni.

Can we all agree that being tough is never based on gender? Coz I'm a man and I never saw a woman any less. Leni is not a symbol for women, Leni is a symbol for inclusivity. No one's potential must be diminished EVER. 

Leni Robredo is Leni Robredo. Her answers are backed up with real experiences on the ground. Time and again, you cannot question her consistency and track record. 

No other candidate have inspired us to volunteer for this cause and brought out the best from each and everyone of us. We are all driven by the same passion to make a difference for a good and incorruptable governance.

Babangon muli? Nope, she really said sit down. I got this. She incontrovertibly slayed the Jessica Soho Interviews! Inclusive and collaborative. President ko ‘yan!

Transparency, accountability, and people empowerment. I hope this becomes a reality.

See, not just Ping but everyone's getting the hard questions too. Isko being a traditional politician, Manny's taxes, Leni's competency. Issues about the presidentiables that are very relevant. You address them nonetheless, you show up and stand your ground. Learn and attend, Bongbong!

Listening to Leni Robredo’s answers just makes me believe more than ever that if she loses, we, as a country, will lose way more. 

Wow, ang daming change of heart stories sa timeline ko pagkatapos ng Presidential Jessica Soho Interviews. Sobrang inspiring ang life changing yung interviews!

History will only repeat itself if we disregard the mistakes of the past. We do not erase nor revise the history, WE LEARN FROM IT!

Way to go, VP!

Well-researched questions. Straightforward. This is what journalists do. Not soft and stupid questions, kaya hanggang Toni Gonzaga lang si Bongbong Marcos eh!

Kudos to the Jessica and her team....of course, also to GMA.

Madali lang ang kamay na bakal strategy. Sigaw sigaw patay patay lang ‘yan eh. But to actually do the work, speak out even if it means going to the lion’s den, ‘yan ang tunay na matapang.

This inclusive and empowering feminine energy is what we need right now.

Before anything else let us CONGRATULATE all those who shifted from a BBM fanatic to becoming a Kakampink. Choosing Leni Robredo is the best thing you did this 2022. Goodluck on our 2022 adventure with our new President Leni.

This is why interviews and debates are important, ang goal naman nito ay (1) persuade the undecided voters & (2) conversion of votes.

We did both last night!