Sexual Health Across the Lifespan

Sexual health is an issue for the whole population, not just members of groups at risk for outcomes such as STD/HIV.  Since sexuality is an intrinsic component of human physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual well-being, sexual health is important across the lifespan, and there are specific developmental challenges and opportunities at each life stage.  Sexual health is relevant to settings across all of society and has increasingly been recognized as a useful unifying concept by many nations and international organizations. Communities and health care professionals must take appropriate action to support healthy sexual development throughout the life course.