How growing up with conservative or negative teachings around sexuality can have a negative impact on your sexual health…

Growing up with a conservative religious background can have various effects on an individual’s sexual desire/or relationship with your own sexuality. This isn’t always the case, however, it is not uncommon for this to occur. It is important to note that people’s experiences can vary significantly, as religious belief and practices differ across cultures, denominations, communities, etc. Here are some feelings you may be experiencing some if you have had this background…

Guilt and Shame: Emphasis on strict moral codes and the importance of abstinence until marriage can lead individuals to feel guilt and shame about themselves and their sexual desires, considering them as sinful or immoral. Consequently, this may suppress or repress their sexual desires, leading to a decreased overall sexual desire or difficulty in expressing and exploring their sexuality.

Fear of Judgment and Ostracism: There can be strong social pressure to conform to traditional sexual norms within these communities. Individuals who have desires or attractions that deviate from these norms, such as same-sex attraction or unconventional sexual interests, may fear judgment, rejection, or ostracism from their religious community. This fear can lead to the suppression or denial of self and their desires.

Limited Sexual Education: Some communities provide limited or abstinence-focused sexual education, often omitting information about sexual desires, how your body works, anatomy, pleasure, and diverse sexual orientations. This lack of education can result in a limited understanding of one’s own sexual desires and can lead to confusion or guilt when exploring or experiencing sex or sexual feelings.

Negative body image: Modesty is often a component in religious teachings. There can be a strong emphasis on one gender, particularly the female, who is supposed to guard herself or protect herself against boys/men who are deemed to be out of control sexual beings that can’t help themselves. This dynamic sets up a power differential and potentially a lot of anxiety around normal natural desires of wanting or being wanted. Emphasis on the body and how it can not be trusted can make one feel inherently sinful or distracting.

Difficulty in forming intimate relationships: can and often do happen when pre-martial sexual exploration is inhibited because you are discouraged to develop relationships prior to marriage that are less vulnerable or emotionally intimate. Avoidance of emotional and physical intimacy is practiced so it can be more difficult to develop those types of relationships at the time of marriage.