Diario Libre, a leading newspaper in the Dominican Republic, marked World Sexual Health Day on September 4, 2026, by publishing seven keys aimed at helping readers build a healthier, safer and more conscious sex life.
The newspaper said that talking about sexual health also means talking about wellbeing, respect, pleasure and prevention, and that the annual observance is meant to put those subjects on the table.
Know your own body
The first key is self-knowledge. Knowing one's own body, identifying what produces pleasure and recognising personal limits allows people to experience their sexuality with greater confidence, according to the report. Sexuality experts recommend personal exploration, which helps people discover preferences that can later be communicated to a partner.
The article noted that sexuality changes throughout a person's life, so this self-knowledge is not something acquired once and for all. It shifts with experience, relationships, age and personal circumstances.
Talk openly with your partner
The second key is communication. Talking about sex can feel uncomfortable, especially when expectations, insecurities or fear of being judged are involved, the report said. Even so, open communication can strengthen intimacy.
Expressing what a person likes, what they do not, what they want to try or what makes them uncomfortable helps build encounters based on trust, which are then enjoyed far more, according to the article. Listening to a partner with the same openness is just as important.
Protect against STIs and unplanned pregnancy
The third key centres on protection. Condoms do not only help prevent unplanned pregnancies, the report said, they are also the safest measure for reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
For that reason, the article recommended that even people using other contraceptive methods, such as birth control pills or intrauterine devices, combine them with condoms for greater protection. Screening tests for sexually transmitted infections are also an important tool, particularly for people with new partners or other risk factors. Consulting health professionals, the report said, allows each person to choose the prevention strategy best suited to them.
Let go of performance pressure
The fourth key is freeing oneself from pressure. The idea that a good sex life must meet certain standards can become an unnecessary source of anxiety, according to the article. There is no single "correct" frequency and no one model of satisfaction.
Desire can change with stress, sleep, responsibilities, medication, life stages or emotional state, the report said. Rather than chasing flawless performance, it suggested, it can be healthier to focus on connection, pleasure and shared wellbeing.
Build intimacy beyond the bedroom
The fifth key is fostering intimacy, which the article said is not limited to sex. Caresses, kisses, hugs, conversation, complicity and other displays of affection are also part of it. For many people, feeling emotionally connected favours both desire and sexual satisfaction.
Taking care of the relationship outside the bedroom, the report said, can have a positive effect inside it. The quality of the bond and a sense of safety can matter as much as physical attraction.
Respect your own body
The sixth key is respecting one's own body. Comparing it with idealised images on social media or with unrealistic standards can affect self-esteem and confidence during intimacy, according to the article.
Accepting that bodies change, and that no fixed appearance guarantees a satisfying sex life, helps people experience intimacy more freely, the report said. Pleasure does not depend on having a perfect body, it added, but on feeling comfortable, secure and present.
Seek medical help when needed
The seventh and final key is seeking professional attention when necessary. The report said that symptoms such as pain, itching, lesions, unusual discharge, bleeding outside the norm or discomfort during sex are not normal and require professional help.
People should not self-medicate or wait for such symptoms to disappear on their own, the newspaper said. Receiving timely information, diagnosis and treatment helps protect a person's health and that of their partners.
World Sexual Health Day
World Sexual Health Day is observed every year on September 4 to raise awareness of sexual wellbeing and encourage responsible, informed approaches to intimacy and prevention. Diario Libre said the date is an opportunity to recognise that a healthy sex life involves caring for the body as well as for emotions and relationships.
