The Pleasure Revolution

Everyone should enjoy a pleasure-filled and healthy sex life, free from violence, shame or criminalization. We are celebrating sex and sexuality by promoting well-being, safety, pleasure, desire and joy, all while helping people feel empowered to know what they want, and ask for it too.

Why Pleasure?

Let’s be honest … young people don’t just have sex for reproduction. They have sex because it feels good! New research shows that including sexual pleasure in sexual health education improves condom use and increases knowledge and positive attitudes about sex, ultimately leading to better, safer sex and saving lives in the process.

The Pleasure Principles

We’re tired of standard prevention framing in sex education that only focuses on avoiding pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. That’s why we’ve endorsed the Pleasure Project’s Pleasure Principles, which promote a sex-positive, pleasure-based approach to sex and sexual health.

"We must do more to help people understand the spectrum of pleasure so they can better understand their own needs and wants, and we hope, have a better, safer and healthier sex life."

"Pleasure, love and desire are key reasons people have sex and relationships. Yet health services have been focused on stopping disease or preventing pregnancy for too long, limiting their appeal and impact."

When it comes to consenting adults engaging in safe sex, pleasure is the name of the game.

Pleasure Resources

How to masturbate if you have a penis

How to masturbate if you have a vagina

5 great reasons to use lube

How well do you know the vulva and vagina?

A guide to safe and pleasurable oral sex

In 2022, IPPF Africa Region launched a digital campaign on safer sex and the importance of pleasure. Learn more about Treasure Your Pleasure below!

Featured Perspectives

Explore our selection of blogs from experts on all things sex and pleasure!

5 ways to normalize pleasure and disability

Disability advocate Vita Bernik shares her insights into creating a world where pleasure knows no boundaries, and where inclusivity reigns supreme.

Abortion, Sex and Pleasure

How is abortion linked to sexuality and desire?

Sexual Pleasure in Precolonial Africa

Has Africa always been conservative towards sex? The answer is no!

Check out these tips from award-winning human rights activist, Chanel Contos.

Amidst the different dos and don’ts of sex and desire, have you ever paused and thought - what does ‘pleasure’ mean to me?

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More Resources

Which #ReproHero are you?

The Repro Heroes have unique superpowers to help power the fight for equality and rights. Take our personality quiz to find yours!

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How do you navigate the pleasure experience?

We all have the capacity to feel pleasure if we want to. However, the experience often times depends on where we are, who we're with, and many other factors.

The Pleasure Revolution