What is sexual wellbeing? | Trans+ Sexual Wellbeing

Sexual wellbeing isn’t just about sex, it’s about how safe, confident and comfortable we feel in ourselves and our bodies. 

It’s the link between our mental health, our bodies, and our sexual health. For trans people, this link can be really strong. Feelings of gender dysphoria, euphoria, affirmation, stigma, and discrimination can all shape how  trans people feel about sex, intimacy, their bodies, and their mental wellbeing. 

For many trans people, sexual wellbeing can feel closely tied to identity, affirmation and feeling seen and respected. 

How does sexual wellbeing impact us? 

When we feel good then sex can be incredible, but when we feel down, then our sex lives and sexual wellbeing can be impacted. It can impact relationships, how we interact with people sexually, and it can affect our mental wellbeing and our sexual health. When you feel down or bad about yourself, you’re more likely to make risky choices when it comes to your sexual health.   

For trans people, when we feel affirmed in our gender and comfortable in our bodies, sex and intimacy can feel fun, joyful and even empowering. But when we’re struggling with things like dysphoria, misgendering, discrimination, long waiting lists for gender-affirming care, relationship difficulties, or poor mental health, our sexual wellbeing can be affected. This might negatively impact desire, confidence, boundaries, communication, or the choices we make about our sexual health. 

What impacts our sexual wellbeing? 

Trans people can face things that can influence sexual wellbeing,  which our cisgender counterparts don’t usually experience. 

• Body dysphoria and discomfort with specific body parts 

• How hormones can impact sex drive, sensation, or fertility 

• Navigating sex before, during, or after medical transition 

• Fetishisation or othering  

• Fear of rejection 

• Fear of violence 

• Stigma within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community 

• Barriers trans-specific sexual health knowledge and services. 

When we feel low, isolated, or disconnected from our bodies, we may be more likely to take risks with our sexual health, struggle with consent and boundaries, or stay in situations that don’t feel affirming. Feeling supported and informed can help us make choices that protect both our mental health and our sexual health. 

You deserve sexual wellbeing that feels safe, affirming and right for you. 

How can the Trans+ Sexual Wellbeing hub help? 

The LGBT HERO Trans+ Sexual Wellbeing hub explores how these different factors can impact trans people and offers support, information, and advice to help you take care of your whole self. 

The hub includes advice on: 

• Body confidence and body image 

• Sexual self-esteem as a trans person 

• Stigma and discrimination 

• Consent 

• Safer sex 

• Safety 

• Trans healthcare  

The Trans+ Sexual Wellbeing hub can help us make a positive change to our sex lives and mental health. Then we can pass that knowledge on to others.