The World Health Organization defines sexual health as a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.

Sexual health care includes giving people the medical care they need to be mentally and physically healthy while having safe, positive relationships. This includes having:

• Accurate education and information about sex
• Ability to decide when and if you want to have a baby
• Access to tools like birth control to help plan pregnancies
• Access to tools like condoms to help prevent sexually transmitted infections

Sexual Health & Public Health

A lack of sexual and reproductive health care can cause wide-ranging effects on public health. Social, economic and living conditions affect if and how people seek sexual and reproductive health care.

People may not seek reproductive health services due to shame, low health literacy or when they do not have health insurance.  

Common Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues 

• Prenatal, delivery and postpartum care and education
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Intimate partner violence
• Access to birth control and reproductive health care in rural areas
• Access to infertility treatment
• Access to abortion services
• Access to LGBTQ+ health care services

Sexual Health in Bexar County

Taking care of sexual and reproductive health is important for the well-being of the entire community. Some key factors to address are:

• Access to birth control/contraception and family planning to reduce unintended pregnancies and abortions
• Teaching people about sexual health, including discussing abstinence, contraception and using condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Providing moms with quality prenatal care ensures safer pregnancies and healthier newborns

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in North America. In 2021, there were 14,084 cases of chlamydia reported in Bexar County with a rate of 694 cases per 100,000 population. This is higher than Texas and the U.S.

Between 2016 and 2020, the teen birth rate decreased by approximately 25% in Bexar County. But Bexar County and Texas have higher teen birth rates than the U.S. overall.

Texas schools are not required to teach sex education. Students in health education courses may learn about anatomy, contraception and STI prevention.

University Health Resources

Primary Care

University Health primary care clinics can provide resources, education and care regarding reproductive health. Find a clinic near you.

Healthy Texas Women

Healthy Texas Women, led by University Health’s Women's Health and Preventive Services, offers free health and family planning for eligible Texas women. The program includes appointments for women's health, birth control, cancer screenings and immunizations.

Mujeres Con Confianza

University Health’s Carelink Mujeres con Confianza program helps improve women’s health. It teaches about endometriosis, fibroids and polycystic ovary syndrome while reducing inequalities. For more information, please contact us at 210-644-3538 or cloutreach@uhtx.com.

Mama Bexar & Baby Bexar

Mama Bexar and Baby Bexar are programs designed to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in South Texas.

Teen Health Clinic

The Teen Health Clinic provides care specifically for youths aged 10-24, including education about abstinence and reducing sexual risks.

Family Planning Program

The University Health Family Planning Program helps to reduce unintended pregnancies, improve future pregnancy and birth outcomes and improve general health. Participants must meet certain income and residency requirements. Call 210-358-3350 to learn how to apply.

FFACTS Clinic for HIV/AIDS

The Family-Focused AIDS Clinical Treatment Services (FFACTS) Clinic at University Health provides HIV/AIDS care for people in South Texas.

FAM210 Ryan White Program

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS programs provide care for people in the San Antonio area living with HIV/AIDS. These programs are for people who are low-income, uninsured and underserved. Learn more online.

Operation BRAVE Ryan White Program

Ending the Epidemic, or Operation BRAVE (Bexar County Response and Victory to Ending the Epidemic), seeks to improve access to HIV treatment in Bexar County. Learn more online.

Texas Wears Condoms

Texas Wears Condoms helps stop the spread of HIV/STIs. Texas Wears Condoms offers free condoms to all Texas residents over 18. You can order them online. They also provide at-home HIV testing kits for qualifying individuals. 

Every Body Texas & Title X

Every Body Texas provides health care for people who have a limited amount of money or no insurance. They offer services like family planning and preventative care. The University Health’s Women's Health and Preventive Services leads the organization. They want to reduce unintended pregnancies, HIV, STIs and breast and cervical cancers. The organization is the only one in the state that funds the Texas Title X Family Planning Program.

Community Resources

Reproductive Health & Fertility Center

The Reproductive Health & Fertility Center at UT Health San Antonio provides caring and modern family planning and conception support. The experts offer several services, including fertility evaluations, preservation and treatments, endometriosis treatment, and genetic testing (PGT).

UT Teen Health

UT Teen Health, part of UT Health San Antonio, partners with community youth-serving organizations to provide educational resources, trauma-informed approaches, and parent strategies in support of adolescents and young adults.

The Center – Pride Center San Antonio

The Center in South Texas helps and encourages the LGBTQ+ community with health, education, and activities. It offers free services, group therapy, individual and family counseling and other programs to ensure equal access.

PrEP Clinic

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s PrEP Clinic helps people at high risk of HIV lower their chances of getting it. The clinic accepts walk-ins but encourages people to schedule an appointment.

Empower House Community Health Workers (Promotoras)

Community Health Empower House San Antonio helps women access reproductive health services on the east and west sides of San Antonio. Community health workers, called promotoras, meet with people to educate them and provide health care and resources.

Metro Health STI/HIV Clinic & Mobile Clinic

The Metro Health STI Clinic helps people in Bexar County living with STIs and HIV. They check, treat and counsel residents for a fee. People with no other way to get services may walk in for care.

The mobile clinic goes around San Antonio to test and treat for STIs and HIV. It can help pregnant women test for syphilis to prevent babies from being born with it.