That’s why we wanted to create a safe space for shame-free sex chat – an event demystifying our sexual wellbeing, where everyone’s questions are welcome and valid and answered with total clarity. And no bananas in sight.

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So we teamed up with the best (s)experts in the bizz to host an evening on all things re-sex education. As part of our GLAMOUR x Boots Virtual Wellness Festival, the event was presented by activist and co-founder of the feminist group 'The Pink Protest', Grace Campbell, who spoke to a whole host of sex-positive pros from the sexual wellness industry. 

 

There was Farah Kabir and Sarah Welsh, founders of sexual wellness brand HANX; Billie Quinlan, co-founder of the Ferly app all about mindful sex and sexual self-care; and Alice Pelton, founder of The Lowdown.

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Over the course of the evening, they answered your questions on everything from methods of contraception and orgasm-pressure to STIs, porn and kink-consent. Absolutely no topic was off limits.

 

Here are the questions on sexual wellbeing covered in the event, answered by the people in the know...

 

Q: What is sexual wellness?

 

A: “Your sexual wellness is such a holistic thing and it encompasses so many parts of your overall wellbeing; it includes your physical, emotional psychological health,” explains Sarah. “There’s so many things that make up your sexual wellness – relationships, consent, pleasure – but normally we only think it means topics like sexual health and STIs; it has quite a negative connotation, but actually, sex is fun and great and we should celebrate it.”

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Billie also adds that, until recently, female pleasure hadn’t been part of the conversation on sexual wellness and that is, finally, starting to change. “Our sex education hasn't been around pleasure or masturbation, it’s mostly been around reproduction, and that’s mad because we have sex for pleasure more than we have sex to make a baby! And masturbation is a crucial part of understanding ourselves, connecting with our bodies and becoming self-aware, but we don’t encourage our young women to do that. Yes, we’re starting to talk about it more and it can feel like we’ve made a lot of progress, but there’s still so much work to do and many people who still feel uncomfortable talking about this. 

 

“But the good news is that RSE – which is our relationships and sex education system in the UK – has now introduced pleasure into the curriculum, which is incredible.”

 

Q: Why is there such a need to open up the conversation on contraception?

 

A: Everyone reacts differently to different types of contraception, and while many women can use the Pill (and its many different varieties) with no problems, this wasn't the case for Alice. "I really didn't get on with the hormones,” she explains. “I just basically would cry all the time about stupid things – but then I came off the Pill and stopped crying the whole time, and realised it must’ve been the Pill.

 

“So I’m just very pro women understanding all about contraception; the good, the bad and also experimenting with different types, because most women use it for 30 years, so it’s important you make sure what you're using is right for you and works for you.”