Relationships & Sexual Health
What defines a relationship?
Relationships are integral part of our lives. The relationship you have with your friends, your family, your guardians, and other important people in your life. Some relationships will start, develop, continue, or finish. These relationships can develop into intimate or sexual. Positive relationships help us emotionally and makes us feel connected.
What is importance of healthy relationships in sexual health?
When it comes to discuss sex, communication is important for healthy relationships. It is mainly built on trust, respect, and open communication. Unfortunately, sometimes poor communication makes things go wrong or not as expected. Healthy relationships enable you and your partner to stay in control of your sex life. In an intimate relationship, you and your partner might be thinking of having sex. Discussing sex with your partner shows respect for each other and each other’s health. It is essential that all parties consent to sex and can communicate about safer sex and contraception. Sex might not happen immediately or not all. Not all intimate relationship leads to sex.
Other aspects of a good relationship include:
- Support
- Compromise
- Companionship
- Feeling free to express yourself and be you
- Listening to each other
Some of the factors for an unhealthy relationship:
- Lack of communication
- Little trust in your partner
- Control issues
- Makes you feel worthless, criticize you
- Will not let you talk to other people
- Your partner forces you to have sex with you
- Your partner physically threatens and frightens you
N.B. If you are experiencing abusive behavior from your partner call 179 for support (Freephone from landlines and mobile phones) or click on: https://fsws.gov.mt/en/appogg/Pages/support-line-179.aspx