Why Sexual Wellbeing Must Be Part of a Men’s Health Strategy
Every year, Men’s Health Week shines a spotlight on the health inequalities that continue to affect men across the UK. Men are more likely to die prematurely, less likely to seek support early, and often face cultural pressures that make talking about health difficult.
As conversations around a national Men’s Health Strategy continue, there is one area that cannot be overlooked: sexual wellbeing.
Sexual health is often treated as a separate issue - something limited to sexually transmitted infections, relationships, or reproduction. In reality, it is deeply connected to our mental health, physical health, confidence, relationships, and overall quality of life. If we are serious about improving outcomes for men, sexual wellbeing must be part of the conversation.
Sexual Wellbeing Is About More Than Sex
Sexual wellbeing is not simply about avoiding infection or dysfunction. It includes feeling informed, confident, safe, respected, and able to make choices about your body and relationships.
For many men, sexual wellbeing is closely tied to identity, self-esteem, intimacy, and emotional connection. Difficulties in these areas can have a significant impact on mental health, relationships, and day-to-day wellbeing.
At the same time, broader health issues often show up in sexual health first. Erectile difficulties, for example, can sometimes be an early indicator of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stress, anxiety, or depression. Low mood, poor mental health, alcohol use, and social isolation can all affect sexual wellbeing - and vice versa.
This is why sexual wellbeing should never sit on the sidelines of healthcare policy.
Men Often Struggle to Talk About Sexual Health
Many men grow up surrounded by messages that encourage them to “just get on with it” or avoid vulnerability. That can make it difficult to speak openly about sexual health concerns, whether that is around performance, body image, fertility, sexually transmitted infections, relationships, sexuality, or mental wellbeing.
The result is that many issues go unspoken and unsupported.
We know that stigma and embarrassment remain major barriers to accessing healthcare. Men may delay testing, avoid seeking advice, or ignore symptoms because they feel uncomfortable discussing them. Others may turn to misinformation online rather than speaking to a professional.
Creating a Men’s Health Strategy without addressing sexual wellbeing risks missing one of the clearest examples of how stigma and silence negatively affect health outcomes.
Sexual Wellbeing Supports Mental Health
There is a strong connection between sexual wellbeing and mental wellbeing.
Healthy relationships, intimacy, communication, and self-confidence can all positively affect emotional health. Equally, experiences such as anxiety, shame, loneliness, rejection, or sexual difficulties can contribute to poor mental health.
For some men, sexual health services may also be one of the few points where they engage with healthcare at all. These conversations can create opportunities to discuss wider wellbeing, including mental health, substance use, relationships, and emotional support.
By treating sexual wellbeing as part of holistic health - rather than something separate or taboo - services can better support men earlier and more effectively.
Prevention Matters
A strong Men’s Health Strategy should not focus solely on crisis intervention. Prevention, education, and early support are essential.
That means:
- Making sexual health information clear, accessible, and non-judgemental
- Encouraging regular testing and open conversations
- Challenging stigma around HIV and sexually transmitted infections
- Supporting healthy relationships and consent education
- Recognising the needs of LGBTQ+ communities
- Addressing the links between mental, physical, and sexual health
- Ensuring services are welcoming and accessible to all men
Sexual wellbeing should be seen as a normal and important part of overall health - not an optional extra.
A More Complete Approach to Men’s Health
If we want to improve men’s health outcomes, we need to look at the whole picture.
A Men’s Health Strategy has the potential to tackle long-standing inequalities and encourage men to engage with healthcare earlier and more confidently. But that strategy will only succeed if it recognises that sexual wellbeing is fundamental to overall wellbeing.
Physical health, mental health, and sexual wellbeing are all connected. Ignoring one weakens the effectiveness of the others.
This Men’s Health Week, we are calling for a more honest and complete approach to men’s health - one that reflects how men actually experience their wellbeing, not how services have traditionally been structured.
That’s why we support the development of a national Men’s Health Strategy, and why we believe sexual wellbeing must sit at its core.