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Sex education might be a topic that’s thought of most frequently through the lens of how people educate children (or indeed, fail to) about some vital aspects of life, but the truth is that there’s no upper age limit on getting a bit more knowledge about your body, relationship, sex life and the many other factors that make up a complex part of most peoples’ lives.
So if you’ve got questions, goals, desires…or need a bit of coaching, here are 7 Android and iOS sex education apps to check out. Naturally, as SEXTECHGUIDE is aimed at adults only, the apps below aimed at teenagers are for potential perusal on your kids’ behalf – you can always check them out yourself and then recommend them as you see fit.
iOS Sex Education Apps
Juicebox
- iOS only
- Free & Premium options
Perhaps one of the best known sex-ed apps out there, Juicebox is essentially a personal sex coach in your pocket. It promises a shame-free, non-judgemental space to evaluate your sex life.
The app provides access to licensed sex therapists and other certified educators, as well as experts from the ‘real world’, instead of relying on chatbots. It also lets you set and monitor your sex and relationship goals.
Juicebox comes in three versions. The free one has polls and other basic community features. Next up is the Juicepack, which for $2 a week gives you two monthly answers from their dedicated roster of sex coaches.
Then there’s the Unlimited Chat package at $24 a week for bottomless private messages, how-to guides, daily sex tips and one live monthly chat with your coach. This may sound a little steep at first, but it’s actually pretty good value when compared to the price of an hour with the average sex therapist for an in-person consultation, roughly $100 p/h and up.
When you first access it, you’re greeted by a chatbot which gathers info about your specific needs through a series of questions and a detailed ‘sexual interest survey’, which gets fed back to a coach who aims to respond to these within 24 hours. There’s a ‘resource of the day’ too, which is basically a tip.
The interface can be a little confusing at times, making it easy to get lost in the menus, but an array of fruit-themed imagery keeps thing fresh and suitably juicy – and there are no distracting ads.
The ‘Spill’ and ‘Snoop’ sections let you anonymously read the thoughts, questions, anxieties and issues of the wider Juicebox community, and also share your own and get feedback on them if you wish.
As well as gathering comments from other users, these get voted up, (or not, as the case may be) with those receiving the most love being nominated for expert comment by the sex coaches.
Various scripts, guides (covering topics like having sex while pregnant and dealing with a difficult break-up) and exercises are also available to paying users.
My Sex Doctor
- iOS only
- Free & Premium options
My Sex Doctor is a text-heavy app that’s aimed at teens and uses a simple, bold design.
Users can navigate it in a variety of ways, from quickly looking up a sexual term in the A-Z glossary or using the symptom checker for some swift peace of mind, to accessing 100 questions covering topics as wide-ranging as wet dreams, statutory rape and the perils of sexting.
Most content is delivered in a no-nonsense FAQ style, and it’s written in a very conversational, no-nonsense fashion too, making it accessible to younger users.
The app’s icon and name in ’tile view’ is simply displayed as ‘My SD’, which is a nice, thoughtful touch, saving potential embarrassment when scrolling through your phone in public. The app also operates a strict policy of collecting no user data.
There are three versions to choose from: My Sex Doctor Lite (free, for ages 12+ only), My Sex Doctor (free, for ages 17+ only) and My Sex Doctor Plus (paid, ages 17+ only). All versions are pleasingly ad-free.
The app also has a section for its ‘Ambassador’s Program’, which encourages devotees to spread the word about it in their school or local community. A laudable idea, though we wonder how many users have actually taken them up on the suggestion…
Real Talk
- iOS only
- Free
Real Talk is almost more like a social media platform than a sex-ed app per-se. It aims to give teens a space where they can share true stories from their sex lives to alleviate worry and isolation during what can be a difficult, lonely time for many young people struggling to navigate their nascent sex lives and relationships.
Typical topics under discussion include puberty, sexual orientation, body image, consent and relationships.
Teenagers can learn from their peers, reflect on any cringey moments from their sex lives so far and generally swap stories and learn from each other. This functionality was added in the October 2018 update in response to demand from its user-base of real teenagers, mostly in the US.
The app was the brainchild of two female entrepreneurs in the US, a science teacher and heath academic respectively. They spotted high rates of teen pregnancy and a wider need for reliable sex information which this age group was likely to access on their ‘phones. They worked with over 300 teenagers across the US to deliver the app with ‘middle schoolers’ aged 13 and up in mind.
A simple text chat interface keeps things informal – and, naturally, emoji use is actively encouraged.
You won’t be plagued by ads either, which is nice.
Android Sex Education Apps
Our Confidant
- Android only
- Free
Our Confidant was made in India, a country where frank discussion of sexual activity is still fairly taboo.
The app connects users to doctors and registered consultants, even facilitating detailed consultations when needed, via audio, video or text chat. Admittedly the typical advice cited on its website skews heavily towards male sexual issues, but still, it looks like a step in the right direction.
One interesting aspect of the app is its non-western approach. It looks at sexual wellbeing through a holistic lens, suggesting types of food, herbs and even yoga positions said to aid sexual performance and health. You can also order condoms directly through the app.
Sexual Health Quiz
- Android only
- Free
It seems that practically everything is gamified these days, so why should sexual health miss out on the fun? The educational Sexual Health Quiz allows its users to learn more about themselves by testing their own knowledge via a series of entertaining quizzes.
The questions get increasingly harder while you progress gradually through ten timed levels. Every time you get an answer wrong, you’ll be given a detailed explanation, making it a bit like the Duolingo of sex-ed in a way, no bad thing in our book. All the app’s content has been medically-approved.
The app’s available in both English and Sinhala, which is the native language of Sri Lanka’s largest ethnic group, the Sinhalese. Sri Lanka is another country with notable gaps in the provision of its sex education.
Ask Without Shame
- Android only
- Free
Ask without Shame (AWS) is another sex-ed app aimed largely at younger users. In fact, AWS is far more than a simple app, it’s actually an NGO which has its origins in a project to combat HIV, debunk myths and prevent unwanted pregnancies in east Africa. Last year its founder Ruth Nabembezi won a Leader Award from HM the Queen no less, such is its international reputation.
Since launching in 2015 it’s fielded 80,000 questions from some 50,000 users, many in east Africa. It provides anonymous emergency sex advice, covering topics such as body changes, STDs, pregnancy and contraception.
Anyone can use AWS, and even if you don’t have a need for its advice you can also use it to make a donation to support AWS’s sex education projects in Uganda.
Men Sexual Health
- Android only
- Free
While it may be called Men Sexual Health [sic], this app is really aimed largely at men with sexual stamina problems, with much of the content centring on nutrition to that end. It provides information on food, diets and meal plans, all with the end goal of helping men improve their sexual performance.
The app also explores some of the more psychological aspects of male sexuality, such as attitudes towards safer sex, the importance of non-coercive behaviour and building positive and respectful sexual relationships.
It’s free, but contains some ads.
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