The World Health Organization defines sexual health as a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.

Sexual health care includes giving people the medical care they need to be mentally and physically healthy while having safe, positive relationships. This includes having:

• Accurate education and information about sex
• Ability to decide when and if you want to have a baby
• Access to tools like birth control to help plan pregnancies
• Access to tools like condoms to help prevent sexually transmitted infections

Sexual Health & Public Health

A lack of sexual and reproductive health care can cause wide-ranging effects on public health. Social, economic and living conditions affect if and how people seek sexual and reproductive health care.

People may not seek reproductive health services due to shame, low health literacy or when they do not have health insurance.  

Common sexual and reproductive health issues include:

• Prenatal, delivery and postpartum care and education
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Intimate partner violence
• Access to birth control and reproductive health care in rural areas
• Access to infertility treatment
• Access to abortion services
• Access to LGBTQ+ health care services

Sexual Health in Bexar County

Taking care of sexual and reproductive health is important for the well-being of the entire community. Some key factors to address are:

• Access to birth control/contraception and family planning to reduce unintended pregnancies and abortions
• Teaching people about sexual health, including discussing abstinence, contraception and using condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Providing moms with good prenatal care ensures safer pregnancies and healthier newborns

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in North America. In 2021, there were 14,084 cases of chlamydia reported in Bexar County with a rate of 694 cases per 100,000 population. This is higher than Texas and the U.S.

Between 2016 and 2020, the teen birth rate decreased by approximately 25% in Bexar County. But Bexar County and Texas have higher teen birth rates than the U.S. overall.

Texas schools are not required to teach sex education. Students in health education courses may learn about anatomy, contraception and STI prevention.