Embracing Empowerment: Redefining Sexual Wellness for Women

We are in 2023 and still far behind in generating positive employee experiences for female employees.

According to a Gartner survey, only 13% of employees are completely satisfied with their work experience. That means a major percentage remains unsatisfied due to one reason or the other, or usually the challenges posed.

And for women, it is much more challenging because of their unavoidable health conditions. 

But wait, what is sexual wellness? And what sort of sexual issues are we talking about and how do they affect women’s work-life balance? And how can an employer promote sexual wellness at work? Let’s find out.

What Does Sexual Wellness Mean?

For women, sexual wellness includes all aspects that support a satisfying and fulfilling sexual life, including physical, emotional, and psychological factors. It entails being aware of and accepting of one's boundaries, preferences, and physical appearance.

 It includes upholding general wellness, resolving sexual issues or dysfunctions, promoting a healthy body image, engaging in safe and consensual intercourse, and cultivating open communication with partners.

Women can have pleasure, intimacy, and connection when they are sexually well-balanced, which also improves their general health, work-life and hence quality of life.

What are the sexual health issues that women face?

Vaginismus 

Sexual health issues like Vaginismus need more awareness. Some women experience pain during sexual intercourse. The fear and anxiety cause their vaginal muscles to tighten. That results in pain during penetration and is scientifically termed Vaginismus in women. Vaginismus should be handled with care as it requires special care concerning mental health like talking therapy, couple counseling, and emotional coaching. 

Endometriosis 

A common gynecological illness like endometriosis happens when endometrial tissues that line the uterus of women grow abnormally outside the uterus. When that happens, it causes pain during periods and can lead to fertility problems in the future. Heavy or excessive bleeding, painful periods, and cramps are some of the common symptoms related to this condition. 

Uterine Fibroids 

Non-cancerous tumors in women are said to be known as Uterine Fibroids. They grow in and around the uterine wall or womb. They are made up of muscle cells and tissues. Painful periods, pain during sexual intercourse, pain in the lower back, the urge to urinate often, and infertility are the results of having fibroids. Not many women have these symptoms so better to watch out for other discomforts. 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) 

You need to educate yourself about sexually transmitted diseases to steer clear of unprotected contact and unsafe sex. More than 20 STIs exist and can manifest into irreversible conditions and health problems. PID or Pelvic inflammatory disease is a common and serious infection of the female reproductive organs. It can lead to long-term complications like chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. It is caused by sexually transmitted infections like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea as well as other bacteria. For women of reproductive age, it can pose a hindrance to getting pregnant. 

HIV 

HIV is another major human immunodeficiency virus that can impair the immune system. HIV in women is the result of sexual intercourse with a man who is HIV-positive or sharing needles with an infected patient. 

PCOS 

PCOS is a chronic hormonal condition in women in which the body produces abnormal levels of androgen. PCOS can affect fertility, and PCOS symptoms and signs are facial hair growth, hair loss, anxiety, and skin acne. Your diet needs to be revisited and your lifestyle should be modified to suit your PCOS body and help you manage your body weight. 

Hence, all these issues add up to the problem that corporate women already face and create unrest, lack of satisfaction, poor work-life balance and ultimately reduced efficiency and absenteeism.

However, if these issues are addressed, there can be a considerable positive impact which will benefit the hiring company. But how do we address these issues? Let’s find out!

What Can Corporates Do for Women to Promote Sexual Wellness?

Corporates can take several initiatives to promote sexual wellness among women. Here are some key actions they can consider:

Incorporate sexual wellness as part of corporate health care plans, offering comprehensive care plans (Check Newmi Care’s plan for corporate women) that include preventive health solutions, period care consultation, gynaecologist consultation, community support, mental health care, baby care services, and perimenopause/menopause solutions.

Organize seminars and workshops on sexual wellness, covering topics such as postpartum care, menopause, and sexual health, to educate and create awareness among female employees.

Conduct online sessions with experts to address common concerns related to sexual health, providing a safe and supportive environment for women to seek guidance and advice.

Provide access to online women's care stores that offer sexual wellness products, offering discounts or subsidies to encourage women to prioritize their sexual health needs.

Offer yoga and fitness programs tailored to women's needs, led by experienced women's care specialists, promoting physical fitness and overall well-being.

Incorporate emotional coaching and mental health support in corporate programs, addressing mental health issues and anxiety symptoms that may impact sexual well-being.

Implement regular screenings, immunizations, and health check-ups to identify and address sexual health disorders and overall general health concerns, ensuring women are aware of their health profiles and potential risks.

Provide one-to-one counseling and specialized digital therapies, offering personalized support to women and helping them improve their overall well-being.

Hence, by partnering with initiatives like Newmi Care's personalized corporate program for women, organizations can attract and retain talented women while supporting their physical, mental, and sexual health needs. It will also ultimately help in creating a more inclusive and supportive work environment. 

Related: What else can be done by employers to support women's health?

The Bottom Line

Prioritizing all aspects of health, including sexual wellness, empowers women to confidently thrive in their professional lives. So, take a step forward, and collaborate with us. 

Newmi Care’s personalized corporate program is a synergy between corporates and women to improve the well-being of the latter by hand-holding them in all stages of their life. 

The corporate programs for women from Newmi Care take care of preventive health care solutions, community support, holistic mental care, baby care services, and perimenopause/menopause solutions. Get in touch with us for any more details, we will be glad to help!