Sexual health
Sexual health is an important part of your overall well-being. Good sexual health means that you can have positive, safe, and voluntary sexual experiences. Sex should feel good, and you should never have to experience anything you have not consented to.
What is sexual health?
Sexual health is partly about protecting oneself to prevent involuntary pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, and partly about everyone’s right to define their own sexuality and exercise it without the risk of discrimination, pressure, coercion or violence.
It is completely normal for sexual desire and needs to vary throughout life. Stress, pain, low mood, relationships, and different illnesses can affect how you feel sexually.
Questions or concerns about sexual health may involve:
- sexually transmitted infections
- concerns about gender identity or sexual orientation
- relationships
- risk behaviours in sexual contexts
- pregnancy or contraception
- honor-related norms
Sexeual health during student life
For many young adults, life changes when you start studying. Moving away from home, meeting new people, and gaining more freedom can mean an increase in sexual activity. This can be positive, but it can also lead to new situations and sometimes increased risk-taking - especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs.
In such situations, it is easier to agree to something you don’t really want, make decisions you regret, or forget to protect yourself. Some may feel social pressure to party, date, or have sex, but you are always the one who decides over your body and your boundaries.
If something feels unsafe or if you are unsure about what you want, it can be helpful to talk to someone or seek support.
Boundaries and interaction
When you have sex, safety, communication, and respect are important - both for your own and others’ boundaries. Therefore, you need to:
- listen to what you want
- pay attention to other people’s signals
- dare to say no, even in the moment - you always have the right to change your mind
- respect if someone else says no
What help can you get in Sweden?
You can get tested for the following sexually transmitted infections without paying anything. Testing is confidential and available at youth clinics (ungdomsmottagning), sexual health clinics, and some healthcare centres.
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhoea
- Hepatitis
You can receive guidance on different types of contraception, including:
- Birth control pills
- IUDs
- Implants
- Condoms
- Other contraceptive options
You can get support for other sexual-health-related concerns. This can include questions about:
- Sexual wellbeing
- Relationships
- Body‑related concerns
- Sexual function
- Emotional support related to sexuality
Where can you seek help?
- On the 1177.se health care guide website, you can find information about contraception and information on how to contact the healthcare service about your concerns and your sexual health.
- If you are under 23 years old (in some cases under 25 years old), the Youth Guidance Centre can answer questions about your body, sex and relationships, and it also offers STI and pregnancy tests.
- If you are over 23 years old, there are often clinics that offer testing, advice and counselling. Contact 1177 for information about clinics near you.
- RFSL offers testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
- You can also turn to the student health service for advice and guidance on where to seek help.
Questions about gender identity
If you have questions or concerns about trans, gender identity or gender affirming care, you can turn to the Transformering organisation. Transformering is a part of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights (RFSL) and RFSL Ungdom (RFSL Youth), which among other things work with issues of gender identity.
What is the sexual consent law?
Since 2018, Swedish law states that sex must always be voluntary. If consent is lacking, it is illegal. Consent means that both people clearly show - through words or body language - that they want to participate. It does not matter if the person doesn’t say “no”; what matters is voluntariness and participation.
Sex can never be considered voluntary if someone:
- is drunk or under the influence
- is scared, threatened, or exposed to violence
- is in a position of dependency
- is unable to express their will
If you have been subjected to, or subjected someone else, to any of the above
If you have been subjected to or subjected someone else to something that doesn’t feel good, you can turn to your student health service, a youth guidance centre, another sexual health clinic or your healthcare centre for support about what you have experienced or advice on how to proceed. It can often help to talk to someone you trust.
If you have been subjected to rape, sexual assault, or sexual harassment, you have been the victim of a crime and can file a police report. You do not have to go through this alone - seek help from someone you know or from a professional support person.
Last updated: 2026-03-10