Pleasure is often treated as an afterthought in conversations about sexual health—but according to Venus O’Hara, it should be central. In a recent Sexual Health Alliance interview with Venus O’Hara, she shared powerful insights on pleasure, intention, communication, and why understanding our bodies can transform not only our sex lives, but our relationships, confidence, and emotional well-being.

Venus O’Hara is a pleasure educator, product expert, author, podcaster, and meditation creator whose work spans sexuality, wellness, and lifestyle education. With over a decade of experience reviewing pleasure products, hosting a top-ranked podcast, and creating educational content across platforms, she brings a deeply nuanced and embodied perspective to sexual wellness—one that moves far beyond mechanics or performance.

When people seek out sex therapy, they’re often looking for answers to very specific questions: Why don’t I enjoy sex the way I think I should? Why is it so hard to ask for what I want? Why do I keep going along with things that don’t actually feel good?

What Dr. Betty Martin has shown through decades of somatic education is that these questions rarely begin with sex itself. Instead, they begin with something far more foundational: learning how to notice desire, express preference, respect limits, and stay present in one’s own body.

Men’s sexual health is often reduced to performance: erection quality, stamina, orgasm, and “satisfying your partner.” But if you’ve ever worked with men clinically or coached men in real life, you know that’s rarely the full story. Sexual concerns are frequently the tip of the iceberg—covering stress, shame, attachment wounds, relational disconnection, compulsive patterns, and a nervous system that’s been running in survival mode for far too long.

Men’s pelvic health has long been overlooked, misunderstood, or minimized in both healthcare and education. For decades, conversations about pelvic floor dysfunction, sexual pain, and bladder or bowel issues were framed as “women’s health” topics—leaving men without clear pathways to care or providers trained to support them.

Male sexual dysfunction is far more common than most people realize—and far more treatable than many men are led to believe.

According to urologist Dr. Joshua Gonzalez, sexual dysfunction is the most common concern he sees in his men’s health practice. Erectile dysfunction alone increases in prevalence by roughly 10% per decade of life, meaning approximately 30% of men in their 30s and 40% of men in their 40s experience some level of dysfunction. Yet despite how widespread these concerns are, shame, misinformation, and silence still prevent many men from seeking help.

Male factor infertility is no longer a niche issue—it is a global public health concern hiding in plain sight.

Sperm counts worldwide have declined by nearly 50% since 1970, and more than half of all infertility cases involve male factors. Yet fertility conversations still overwhelmingly focus on women, leaving men undereducated, underdiagnosed, and often emotionally isolated when problems arise.

The “sex recession” has been well documented in the United States and continues to draw attention in the media, public health, and sexuality fields. National surveys show clear declines in partnered sex across age groups—not only among young people, but among adults more broadly. Americans are having less sex than they did 10 or 20 years ago, shaped by changing relationships, growing stress, digital life, and shifting social norms.

But the U.S. is not alone. Around the world, sexual activity is changing in noticeable and sometimes dramatic ways. One country receiving increasing attention is Japan, where rising rates of sexual inactivity have become a major societal and public health concern.

A new scoping review examining sexual inactivity in Japan sheds light on why these trends are accelerating—and what they reveal about modern sexuality across cultures.

Genitopelvic pain is a common but often overlooked sexual health concern—one that influences people’s bodies, intimate relationships, emotional well-being, and quality of life. 

Despite its wide-ranging impact, the research that shapes clinical knowledge and treatment guidelines has historically centered a narrow demographic: White, cisgender, heterosexual women. As a result, entire communities experiencing sexual pain have been excluded from the evidence base that drives diagnosis, care, and policy.

A new global scoping review, examining 227 studies on genitopelvic pain, brings this issue into sharp focus. By assessing what is known—and, more importantly, what remains unknown—about genitopelvic pain in minoritized populations, the review highlights an urgent need for more inclusive research.

This work represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to date to map the landscape of genitopelvic pain across diverse communities—and it underscores how much more remains to be done.

When most people think about semen quality, they think about fertility. But science is telling a bigger, more surprising story: your swimmers might also say something about your long-term health — even how long you live.

Yep, really.

A massive 50-year study from Denmark suggests that semen quality isn’t just about making babies. It may be one of the most overlooked biomarkers of men’s overall wellbeing. At SHA, we’re all about science that’s human and accessible, so let’s dive into what researchers found — and explore the emerging frontier of the semen microbiome.

In the field of sexual health, one truth consistently rises to the surface: you cannot guide others into deeper intimacy, vulnerability, or connection if you haven’t done that work yourself. This theme came through powerfully in our recent conversation with Tim Norton, LCSW, a respected therapist who specializes in men’s sexual health and hosts the podcast Hard Conversations.

Tim’s insights illuminate not only the current landscape of men’s health, but also the evolving skills today’s professionals must cultivate. For those pursuing sex therapy certification, his message is clear: your personal development is inseparable from your professional excellence.

When people hear “couples therapy,” they often imagine crisis mode — slammed doors, late-night arguments, or a relationship on the brink. But the real story is far more hopeful. In fact, research shows that by the end of couples therapy, most people are doing better than 70%–80% of those who don’t get treatment — an improvement as strong as the best therapies for individual mental health.

Four decades of research tell us something clear and inspiring:

Couples therapy works.

It’s becoming more effective.

And it’s evolving to meet the realities of modern relationships.

At SHA, we’re big fans of supporting couples feel closer, communicate better, and bring more joy (and yes, pleasure) into their relationship. Love deserves tools, and therapy gives people the skills, insight, and emotional safety to grow together — not apart.

Today we’re breaking down what decades of science, including several major research reviews, tell us about how couples therapy helps people reconnect, heal, and thrive.

Let’s get into it.

I recently attended a sexuality, therapy, and public health conference—one of those rare spaces where research, practice, and community collide in the best possible way. I spotted so many SHA community members, reconnecting with colleagues and meeting practitioners who are studying and serving diverse communities.

From Emily Nagoski’s keynote on why our work is more relevant than ever, to cross-disciplinary hallway conversations, there was a palpable sense of momentum. Sexual health professionals are taking up space—and the field needs us.

Anal sex is widely practiced yet rarely discussed with clarity, accuracy, or compassion. Misinformation, cultural stigma, and shame have created a landscape where many people engage without guidance, avoid exploration altogether, or experience preventable pain and injury. For sexual health professionals, building a strong foundation in Anal Sex Education is essential for providing inclusive, affirming, and evidence-based care.

SHA met with Dr. Evan Goldstein, one of the most recognized experts in gay men’s intimate health and a pioneering voice in anal wellness. As the preeminent thought leader in this field, Dr. Goldstein is committed to expanding access to accurate education, dismantling stigma, and promoting whole-life sexual wellbeing. He has written extensively about the unique health issues affecting gay men, the cultural experience of being gay, and the nuance of being a gay father in today’s sociopolitical climate.

His personal journey, clinical insights, and educational mission offer invaluable guidance for every sexual health provider.

Testosterone plays a critical role in men’s emotional, physical, and sexual wellbeing—yet Testosterone and Men’s Sexual Health remains one of the least understood areas of intimate healthcare. Misconceptions are widespread, many clinicians receive minimal training in male hormonal health, and patients often struggle to find evidence-based information.

In a recent SHA interview with Dr. Amy Pearlman, a urologist specializing in men’s health and hormonal optimization, we explored why this topic deserves far more attention from sexual health professionals. Her insights offer essential guidance for clinicians, educators, and anyone who works with male clients or couples navigating sexual concerns.

What if many of our clinical and educational frameworks are too small for the sex lives people are actually living?

Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is no longer niche. At least 1 in 20 people in the U.S. are in a non-monogamous relationship—and some recent estimates suggest it may be as high as 1 in 4, depending on definitions and sampling. Interestingly, these numbers have held steady for over a decade and cut across age, education, income, religion, region, political affiliation, and race.

Where do differences appear? Gender and sexual orientation.

The global sex toy market continues to rise, reflecting increased openness, accessibility, and normalization of pleasure-related products. Sex toys can broaden or enhance pleasure for many individuals, and research consistently shows that users report positive outcomes—including greater sexual enjoyment, reduced pain during sexual activity, and enhanced comfort and confidence in sexual experiences.

In a country where 75% of youth have had sex by age 20, nearly 40% still receive no meaningful sexual health education at all.

Sexual health education in the U.S. remains inconsistent, fragmented, and often incomplete. At a recent sexuality conference, (where I kept running into SHA community members everywhere I looked!), I was reminded just how critical and urgent sexual health education remains.

Decades of research show that masturbation offers meaningful individual, relational, and health benefits—from stress reduction and pain relief to deeper sexual self-awareness and improved sexual functioning with partners. Yet despite this evidence, masturbation remains stigmatized across many cultures, communities, and even within healthcare settings. Female masturbation in particular is often surrounded by misinformation, silence, and lingering social discomfort.

A recent study of nearly 500 Portuguese cisgender women provides new insight into how genital knowledge, genital self-image, and early sexual experiences shape adult masturbation behavior and orgasmic functioning during partnered sex. These findings offer valuable lessons for sexual health professionals working to promote empowered, informed, and shame-free sexual development.

If you’ve ever felt called to help others explore intimacy, heal from shame, or build stronger, healthier relationships, there’s never been a better time to turn that passion into a profession. Certified sex therapists are in higher demand than ever. And not just in private practice, but across healthcare, education, research, and community mental health.

We’re living in a time of both connection and contradiction. The world is talking more openly about sexuality, yet many people still struggle with loneliness, misinformation, and barriers to care. From the ongoing “loneliness epidemic” to the challenges of modern dating and polarized debates about sexual rights, one thing is clear: our collective need for compassionate, informed conversations about sex has never been greater.

Sexual health education is evolving rapidly — from comprehensive consent programs to inclusive, pleasure-based models that emphasize emotional intelligence, communication, and respect for all learners.

At the Sexual Health Alliance, we’re not just keeping up with these changes — we’re leading them. Our Sex Education Certification Program is training a new generation of educators with the knowledge, language, and confidence to deliver relevant, inclusive, and evidence-informed sex education in every setting. Whether you’re an aspiring educator, therapist, researcher, or advocate, SHA’s certification opens the door to a meaningful, impactful career in sexual health.