Ignorance is a bliss – this has been the deal. The long been promulgated idea has been inculcated in the minds of people and has dictated their actions since time immemorial. Politicians, in general, use this concept as they swiftly circumvent every charge filed against them - now, that was just for a few laughs. They say that the lesser you know, the lesser the dangers to your life. But this is not always the case.

What are we discussing? You don't know? Well, it's about ignorance.

Ignorance doesn't always put us on the “safe” side. Instead, ignorance can sometimes spell danger. Contrary to popular belief, there is no better defense to life's toxic predicaments than a handful of knowledge, and a dose of good, old-fashioned common sense.

Again, to clarify things...the ignorance we are referring to is the sheer lack of knowledge and understanding about sexuality. Sexuality is still one of the most talked about topics in society even if it is responsible for perpetuating human life. But even more rare are the avenues for lengthy and tedious discussion about healthy sexuality. This issue is really a matter of life and death. As a student goes to school for academic nourishment, so must adults go to constantly rendezvous with health professionals in the sexual health clinic.

The sexual health clinic, contrary to what the name suggests, isn't only geared towards the treatment of sexually-related diseases and sex-related ailments. It is a place where people can get information about sexual health. Genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics and sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics are just some of the other names that are attributed to sexual health clinics. These institutions are manned by, at the very least, one medical staff who can discuss sexually-related issues. The staff on duty can also refer patients to other health-related institutions which, in their stead, can provide further health service to the patient. Some sexual health clinics target specific types of populations while other clinics cater to all kinds of patients of sexual orientation or preference. According to www.wikipedia.org, there are some clinics that operate specifically to cater to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.

These medical institutions provide, with the aide of medical breakthroughs, a wide-array of up-to-date treatments and procedures. Male sexual health clinics have long been providing medical assistance to treat erectile dysfunctions, infertility, premature ejaculation, prostate cancer, prostate gland enlargement, prostatitis, testicular cancer and other male sexual problems.

Female sexual health clinics, on the other hand, provide medical attention to treat a number of sexual and non-sex related illnesses such as menopausal symptoms, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness. Treatments like hormone therapy are provided to address cases of loss of sexual desire or drive, problems with arousal or orgasm, and pain or discomfort during intercourse.

These institutions do not only give positive and fast assistance to patients with sexual problems but assure the patients of their anonymity. All transactions are treated with strict confidentiality. The social nature of their health problem makes its important for these clinics to maintain a degree of confidentiality in handling the records of their patients. By being sensitive to the privacy needs of their patients, medical personnel are able to lessen the feeling of uneasiness or embarrassment usually felt by people with sexually transmitted disease or other non-sex related illnesses that are highly contagious.

Promoting sexual health is a serious matter. Ignorance about sexual health only leads to more health problems and illnesses that pose life-threatening consequences. Ignorance can do nothing but prevent us from gaining the right information we need to protect us from the lethal repercussions of sex-related predicaments. Instead of keeping us away from the problem, ignorance only fuels the craving of the people to try the “untested.”

Ignorance jeopardizes lives instead of bringing bliss. Therefore, there is a need for enlightenment and education about sexual health. No amount of ignorance can equal what a handful of knowledge - with the aide of sexual health clinics – can provide.