SAGE SCIENCE SEX
WHAT IS VVOX
VVOX (pronounced We-Vox) is named after Vatsyayana Mallanaga, the third century Indian sexologist, philosopher and compiler of the world’s oldest treatise on sex, the Kamasutra. The mission behind the platform is to democratise sexual health and knowledge by making it accessible to all and building a community where people can openly talk about sex. The platform will provide information on sex and sexual health, based on the latest scientific research and medical practice as well as introduce doctors, who are trained in sexology, which less than five per cent of doctors in India currently are, as there is no sex education or sexual health training in the Indian medical curriculum.
THE THOUGHTS BEHIND OUR LOGO
The VVOX logo—apple on yoga danda or meditation stick— is a reflection of the ancient Indian philosophy, which believed in the co-existence of eroticism (metaphorically represented by apple) and asceticism (metaphorically represented by yoga danda) for a healthy and happy living. Vatsyayana, the compiler of Kamasutra, the world’s oldest treatise on sex, is said to have worked on it in meditation and chastity. A perfect example of how eroticism and asceticism coexisted in ancient India.
LOVE PEACE HARMONY
THE STORY BEHIND VVOX
While working as a journalist, VVOX founder Sangeeth Sebastian went through a traumatic break-up in his personal life due to a sexual difficulty, which took a toll on his mental health, leaving him lonely, isolated and depressed. Doctors to whom he went for consultation were clueless about sex themselves and were interested only in prescribing unnecessary medicines and providing false and unscientific diagnosis and advice, just for money. He realised this, when he reached out to a trained sexologist in the US and all it took was one good counselling to solve the issue.
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The experience had a profound impact on his life. His subsequent efforts to know more about sexual difficulties made him realise that there are millions of people like him who needs help. Many of them suffered in silence due to shame, stigma, lack of sexual awareness and access to trained sexologists.
For the next 12 years, he spent his time reading, researching and writing on sexuality to bring greater awareness on the subject and to start a conversation around it. In 2015, Sebastian won the inaugural Likho Awards for excellence in media for his investigative expose on Delhi doctors who claim to ‘cure’ homosexuality (three years before the Supreme Court of India decriminalised gay sex) through a highly discredited and unethical practice known as conversion therapy. The connections he built, over the years, with some of the top sexologists, from India and abroad, eventually led to the founding of VVOX.
FOUNDER, VVOX
SANGEETH SEBASTIAN
Sex is a natural function. You can’t make it happen, but you can teach people to let it happen.
Dr William Masters
Influential American sex researcher & gynaecologist
MEET THE EXPERTS
VVOX is vetted and led by a team of globally renowned sexologists with a combined experience of close to 150 years between them.
Dr TSS Rao, MBBS, MD
Sexologist, sex-educator, longest serving editor of Indian Journal of Psychiatry
Dr Lawrence I Sank, Psychologist, PhD
Harvard trained sex therapist, author, most cited researcher on male sexual dysfunction
Dr D Narayana Reddy, MBBS, PhD
Pioneering sexologist, consultant, fellow of American College of Sexologists
Dr Sarita P Naik, MBBS, MD
Urogynaecologist, sexologist, female sexual dysfunction specialist
MEET THE TEAM
Vatsyayana, the fourth century sexologist and philosopher, who compiled the Kamasutra was clear that sex requires to be learned, because a man and a woman depended upon one another to experience it. We couldn’t agree more. Sexual happiness is indeed trainable.
Sangeeth Sebastian
Founder
Dr TSS Rao
Co-Founder
Dr Lawrence I Sank
Co-founder
WHAT WE BELIEVE IN
PARENTS PEERS PARTNERS
We firmly believe that sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of an individual and should never lead to discrimination or abuse.
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We firmly believe in safe sex access to all Indians, including their right to receive contraceptives and to go for abortions, without fear or moral judgements.
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We firmly believe that masturbation is a normal and healthy aspect of an individual’s sexuality.
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We firmly believe in the right of every Indian to receive age-appropriate sexuality education.
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Shivanya Yogmayaa
Intimacy Coach
Jomy Sebastian
Tech Expert