What we say—and how we say it—shapes our understanding of sexual health. Whether we’re talking about STI screenings, protection methods, or sexual identity, language is more than just semantics. It’s a form of care, consent, and agency.
In any setting—clinical, therapeutic, educational—words can create safety or shut it down. Molly Adler, sex educator and therapist, reminds us that choosing the right words isn’t just about correctness; it’s about respect.
When working with clients, Adler suggests using anatomically accurate language as a neutral starting point—“I’m going to say vulva for now, but you can let me know what words you’re comfortable with.” This approach from Adler is a helpful guide, specifically within the context it was shared: helping providers use trauma-informed care techniques. This approach signals openness and and affirms that every person gets to decide how their body and experiences are described. It’s especially vital when supporting transgender and nonbinary clients, whose relationships to language and anatomy may be complex or evolving.
While this approach may work in some scenarios, another way to kick off this conversation is with a question: "When we're talking about your health and anatomy, what terms would you prefer I use that best represent your experience?" Leading with a question lets the guiding force of the conversation be the patient; This also invites an environment that not only encourages but thrives with the patient as the guide of their health and wellness.
This kind of attentiveness doesn’t just reduce awkwardness — it builds trust. And trust is the foundation of every safe, consensual, and affirming sexual health conversation.
At LUWI, we often say: “It’s only weird if we make it weird.” That ethos extends to all conversations around sex and protection. Whether it’s asking a partner when they last got tested or disclosing an STI, these moments don’t have to be scary; they can be gateways to intimacy and care.
Doug Braun-Harvey, a leader in sexual health counseling, challenges the stigmatizing frameworks we’ve inherited by encouraging a shift away from pathology and toward personal alignment: “How can someone define what sexual health means to them — and live it?” This reframe changes everything. It opens up room for curiosity, growth, and conversation rather than judgment, shame, or labels.
This shift in language and approach must be met with solutions that reflect the same values—and that’s exactly where LUWI’s flagship product comes in. The LUWI Finer Liner™ is a hormone-free, latex-free form of protection designed to maximize comfort, sensation, and agency.
It’s a revolutionary step in serving the entire population—especially those who have historically been overlooked or underserved by traditional contraceptive options. By breaking the mold of outdated, one-size-fits-some products, LUWI is pushing the health and wellness industry to catch up with the real-world needs of real people.
Because everyone deserves access to protection that meets pleasure. Everyone deserves access to protection that works for them.
When we reframe conversations to open with questions like, “What does being healthy look like for you?” we rewrite the script of sexual health itself. In a 2019, Braun-Harvey spoke about his "Six Principles of Sexual Health." on the Ignite Intimacy podcast with Laura Aiisha. When Aiisha opened up about her own STI-status, Braun-Harvey invited her to be specific with her words in an attempt to de-stigmatize positive STI statuses. To paraphrase him: "Rather than saying to you [Aiisha] that 'you should be more open about your positive STI status,' I'll say that 'Your STI status is an aspect of your sexual health but not all-controlling.' People who are more open about their sexual health remind others that it's a real consideration we should all be prioritizing."
When we create a comfortable space for everyone to speak for themselves and be heard without fear, we can eliminate fear and concern for saying the “wrong thing" There is no clinical, politically correct, or even comfortable 100% of the time.
This is the kind of cultural shift LUWI is working toward: one where protection, pleasure, and communication coexist: unashamed, unfiltered, and totally human.
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