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

• I was reminded again how important it is to use “Out of Control Sexual Behavior (OCSB)” instead of “sex addiction.” This term came up a few times across different sessions and continues to feel more accurate, less shaming, and more supportive of understanding sexual behaviors in context.

“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 blame, 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”

• We need to be saying “sexual debut” instead of “losing your virginity.” Virginity is a social construct, and the traditional language reinforces heteronormative, penetrative-centered ideas of what “counts” as sex. This reframing opens up 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 (mostly 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 don’t revolve around penetration, and I love how affirming this term can be.

“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 behavior from identity — useful in public health contexts but also layered with stigma and erasure. Dr. Joe Kort’s session on male sexual fluidity brought this into focus, especially how sex between men is stigmatized for men but fetishized for women — 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.
  
  

“HRT” ➡️ “MRT”

• Dr. Lauren Streicher made a great point about updating “HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)” to “MHT (Menopausal Hormone Treatment)” — because it’s not about “replacing” something that's missing, but rather about supporting a natural transition in a healthy, informed way.

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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