Recapping the 10th Annual SHA Conference

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the 2025 Sexual Health Alliance Annual Sexological Conference in Denver, CO. To say I got to experience The Life of a SHAgirl would be an understatement... see what I did there?! 😉✨🧡

From shame-free discussions about STIs with Sex Coach Danielle Beaty and the differences between sexual and erotic orientations with Dr. Joe Kort to learning about why silicone lube is better than the rest with Dr. Evan Goldstein and Dr. Lauren Streicher, the sessions offered a wide range of insights that connect directly to LUWI’s mission: creating an environment where agency, bodily autonomy, and health equity thrive.

I left the conference with countless connections, friendships, and new ideas to strengthen LUWI’s partnerships and expand our work with universities and clinics nationwide. Below, I’ve highlighted some of my key takeaways. Each of these could be their own blog entry – stay tuned for more!

❌ “Sexual Addiction” ➡️ "Out of Control Sexual Behavior” or OCSB

• Several keynote speakers mentioned their alignment to the “Out of Control Sexual Behavior (OCSB)” model opposed to the “sex addiction” model. The OCSB model focuses on deeper underlying problems that often result in sexual behaviors being utilized as a coping mechanism. Experts have found far greater success with this model mitigating shame and stigma compared to the controversial sex addiction model that lacks scientific support.

“Revenge Porn” ➡️  "Image-Based Abuse"

• Norma Buster from CA Goldberg Law reframed “revenge porn” as “image-based abuse” — and honestly, this shift is long overdue. “Revenge” implies the victim's actions warrant revenge, and “porn” implies consent. Image-based abuse is about non-consensual sharing or creation of sexual imagery, sometimes even with AI-generated content. It was so impactful to see legal advocacy aligning with survivor-centered language. I also chatted with Norma about LUWI, "stealthing," and how all of this ties back to agency and autonomy.

“Losing Your Virginity” ➡️ “Sexual Debut”

• The improved term for describing someone’s first time having sex is“sexual debut” opposed to “losing your virginity.” Virginity is a social construct with loaded connotations, and the traditional language reinforces heteronormative, penetrative-centered ideas of what “counts” as sex and projects implications on one’s identity. Reframing this to “sexual debut” opens up a neutralized space for people to define their own sexual narratives.

“Tops” and “Bottoms” ➡️ “Side”

• Dr. Joe Kort introduced me to the term “Side” — a label for people (featured on platforms like Grindr) who don’t identify as “tops” or “bottoms” and prefer non-penetrative sexual experiences. It’s about expanding visibility for people whose sex lives aren’t centered around penetration, and I love how this term affirms that sex doesn’t always mean penetration.

“MSM” 

• A huge historical note I didn’t know: the term “MSM (men who have sex with men)” emerged during the AIDS epidemic to separate erotic behavior from sexual identity — useful in public health contexts but also layered with stigma and erasure. Dr. Joe Kort’s session on male sexual fluidity explained how a straight man can be interested in anal sex, and thus have sex with men, but are not sexually attracted to men specifically. He discusses the stigma men feel around being told that “makes them gay” and brought into focus how sex between men is stigmatized, but between women is fetishized — and how both are problems we need to address.
  
  

“Sex Drive" ➡️ “Sexual Desire”

• I heard the term “sexual desire” being used instead of “sex drive,” and I want to dig deeper into why that shift matters — I suspect it’s about moving away from mechanical or binary models and toward something more fluid and individualized. An insightful takeaway was how beneficial it can be to ask your partner how open they are to getting in the mood compared to trying to initiate sex with a partner who is being asked to take their arousal from zero to 💯 on the spot.
  

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LUWI Lube Littles Make Their SHA Debut!

Our LUWI Lube Littles, single-use foils of our silicone lubricant, continue with their tour and made their official debut at the SHA Conference, receiving sExceptional feedback from professionals and educators alike. With new bulk orders already coming in, it’s clear that LUWI Lube Littles are filling an important gap in accessible, high-quality sexual health resources for students and clinics. Are you a school or clinic ready to place your order? Send a note to sam@getluwi.com or click on this order link.

What's Next for LUWI?

Team LUWI is excited to apply what we learned at SHA to further innovation in sexual health! Stay tuned for updates as we continue expanding LUWI’s partnerships and developing new products in the sexual wellness space.

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