All studies reported positive associations between pleasure-based sex education and sexual agency or sexual well-being, but limitations in the literature prevent definitive conclusions about the added benefits of the pleasure component.
Key Findings
Results
All studies in the review reported positive associations between pleasure-based sex education and sexual agency or sexual well-being.
A total of 33 articles were selected for inclusion from a search across five scientific databases.
The search focused on research from the last two decades.
Despite positive associations, the literature was marked by limitations preventing definitive conclusions about the added benefits of the pleasure component specifically.
Variables related to pleasure-inclusive sex education, sexual agency, and various aspects of sexual well-being were included in the search.
Results
Positive associations were found between sexual agency (and related variables) and sexual well-being.
This was the finding of Part 2 of the scoping review.
Sexual agency appears to be linked to increased sexual well-being.
It remains unclear whether pleasure-inclusive sex education plays a significant role in the relationship between sexual agency and sexual well-being.
The review examined links between sexual agency and multiple aspects of sexual well-being.
Background
The theoretical framework of the review posits that pleasure-inclusive sex education is designed to enhance sexual agency, which in turn may facilitate sexual well-being.
Pleasure-inclusive sex education is described as being designed to enhance sexual agency.
Sexual agency is conceptualized as an intermediary variable between pleasure-inclusive sex education and sexual well-being.
Prior work (e.g., Zaneva et al., 2022) established that incorporating pleasure into sex education can promote condom use.
The review examined whether the pleasure-inclusive approach contributes to sexual agency and sexual well-being more broadly beyond condom use.
Conclusions
The scoping review identified a strong need for high-quality research using innovative evaluation designs that consider other important sources of sex education and contextual factors.
Existing literature was marked by limitations that prevented definitive conclusions.
The authors call for innovative evaluation designs.
Other important sources of sex education and contextual factors need to be considered in future research.
The review covered adolescents and young adults as the target population.
Methods
The scoping review searched five scientific databases using a broad range of variables related to pleasure-inclusive sex education, sexual agency, and various aspects of sexual well-being.
Five scientific databases were searched.
The search focused on research from the last two decades.
A broad range of variables related to pleasure-inclusive sex education, sexual agency, and various aspects of sexual well-being were included.
33 articles were ultimately selected for inclusion after the search and screening process.
The review was structured in two parts: Part 1 examined associations between pleasure-inclusive sex education and sexual agency, and Part 2 examined links between sexual agency and sexual well-being.
What This Means
This research involves a scoping review — a broad survey of existing scientific literature — examining whether sex education that includes discussions of sexual pleasure helps young people develop sexual agency (the ability to make autonomous, confident decisions about their own sexuality) and whether that, in turn, supports their overall sexual well-being. The researchers searched five major academic databases, reviewing studies published over the past two decades, and ultimately included 33 articles in their analysis.
The review found that every study reported positive associations between pleasure-inclusive sex education and either sexual agency or sexual well-being. It also found that sexual agency is positively associated with sexual well-being. However, the researchers caution that the quality and design of existing studies make it impossible to draw firm conclusions about whether the 'pleasure' component itself is specifically responsible for these benefits, or whether other aspects of the education programs account for the improvements observed.
This research suggests that teaching young people about sexual pleasure — not just risks and reproduction — may help them feel more empowered and experience better overall sexual health, but more rigorous research is needed to confirm this. The findings point to a gap in the scientific literature and call for better-designed studies that also account for other sources of sex education in young people's lives, such as peers, family, and media.
van Ditzhuijzen J, Overeem A. (2025). Pleasure-Inclusive Sex Education, Sexual Agency, and Sexual Well-Being in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Scoping Review.. Archives of sexual behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03103-8