Read Time: 4–6 Minutes

Talking About Safe Sex Doesn’t Have to be Awkward

Talking about consent doesn’t have to be uncomfortable — in fact, it can actually strengthen your connection with your partner. Discussing boundaries, preferences and comfort levels can help you and your partner find new ways to value, understand and love on each other.

Consent is the foundation of healthy sexual relationships. It’s all about mutual agreement and understanding. By learning about and talking openly about consent, you’re laying the groundwork for a relationship built on trust and mutual respect.

What Is Consent?

Consent in relationships goes beyond a simple “yes” or “no.” Both you and your partner(s) should fully understand and agree to what’s happening. For consent to truly matter, it needs to be ✔ ️freely given, ✔ ️reversible, ✔ ️informed, ✔ ️enthusiastic and ✔ specific. Here’s a breakdown of each to get a better grasp on what each of these means:

  • Freely Given: Consent must be given without any form of pressure, manipulation or influence from drugs or alcohol. For example, if you ask a friend to borrow their car and they agree only because they fear losing your friendship if they refuse, that’s not genuine consent. In a healthy relationship, consent should be given willingly, without any threats or coercion.
  • Reversible: Either you or your partner can change your minds about what is comfortable at any time. Just because someone agrees to something once doesn’t mean they’re agreeing to it again. In relationships, this means regularly checking in and making sure both partners are still comfortable and agree with the direction things are taking.
  • Informed: Both parties need to have all the necessary information to make a decision. For example, if one partner has an STI, the other must be informed about it before consenting to any sexual activity. Another example is agreeing to do a sexual act without fully understanding what it is or what the other person intended.
  • Enthusiastic: Consent should be given because you genuinely want to, not because you feel obligated or pressured. Enthusiastic consent means that you and your partner are fully engaged and comfortable with what’s happening or could happen. If your partner seems uninterested or uncomfortable, that’s not enthusiastic consent — it’s a sign that it’s time to check in with them to do a temperature check and maybe table the activity.
  • Specific: Just because you are down to do one type of sex act doesn’t mean that you are automatically down to do others or similar ones. It’s important to clearly communicate your boundaries, such as saying, “I’m OK with kissing, but I’m not ready for anything more right now.” You can ask your partner questions like, “How do you feel about this?” to make sure you are on the same page. And, feelings can change, so regularly check in with your partner!

Why Consent Is Essential for Healthy Relationships

When you prioritize consent, you are opening up honest conversations about your needs and boundaries, helping you and your partner feel valued and connected to each other. If one of you oversteps a boundary, you can hurt the other’s feelings, and it could lead to mistrust, which could damage the emotional connection in your relationship.

Without clear communication, misunderstandings and conflicts are more likely, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction. By continuously incorporating consent into the conversation, you can make your relationship more fulfilling and create a nurturing, supportive environment where both of you can feel truly connected and appreciated.

Maintaining Consent in Long-Term Relationships

People can change over time, and so do relationships! So, discussing your and your partner’s likes, dislikes, and boundaries shouldn’t be a ‘one-and-done’ conversation. It should be an ongoing dialogue that evolves with your relationship.

Whether you are in a long-term relationship or a situationship, it’s important to regularly check in with each other to ensure that both partners are still comfortable with the boundaries and expectations set. This is because as the relationship grows or changes, your understanding of consent may need to adapt to new circumstances, making it essential to keep the conversation alive.

Your Sexual Health & FC2

woman's arms holding out a package of FC2 Female Condoms against a turquoise background

When discussing consent, you should also be talking openly about contraception, STI prevention and sexual boundaries. On the topic of safer sex, it’s important to talk about both of your agreed-upon contraception preferences and what type works best for both of you. The FC2 Female Condom (internal condom) is a great tool to consider and discuss during these conversations. It’s specifically designed for vaginas, giving women more control over their sexual health and offering a convenient option for safer sex — among many other added benefits.

Get Started with FC2 Today

Want a solution that lets you take charge of protection without losing any of the passion? FC2 could be just what you’re looking for. When you and your partner are ready to explore options that meet both your desires and needs, FC2 offers a way to keep things exciting while staying protected.

As the only FDA-approved, female-controlled condom that protects against unintended pregnancy and STIs, FC2 gives you another option to confidently manage your sexual health and contraception. Get started today!