Sexual Health
498 peer-reviewed studies indexed
Sexual and reproductive health challenges among adolescents and young people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus disability in Uganda: A qualitative study.
Adolescents and young people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in Uganda face numerous sexual and reproductive health challenges—including sexual violence, stigma, incontinence, coerced contraception, and lack of accessible information—that are 'often overshadowed by the negative knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices within the society.'
Gender-transformative HIV and SRHR programme approaches for adolescents and young people: a realist review to inform policy and programmes.
Youth-focused interventions that address context-specific economic and social determinants of HIV and SRH risk have proliferated recently, with encouraging impacts on both HIV/SRH and gender-related outcomes, though most interventions prioritise individual rather than structural change, impeding their 'gender transformative' potential.
Preferences for models of sexual health service delivery among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Australia: a discrete choice experiment.
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Australia have heterogeneous preferences for sexual health service delivery, with most preferring specialist sexual health clinics or GPs with expertise in LGBTQ+ health, supporting investment in both service types.
Unravelling complexity: a realist approach to youth participation in sexual and reproductive health research.
This realist review develops an initial program theory explaining the mechanisms through which youth participatory research can create meaningful outcomes in sexual and reproductive health and rights research, synthesised in a Causal Loop Diagram.
Baseline sociodemographic and sexual and reproductive health characteristics of the AdSEARCH adolescent cohort study participants in rural Bangladesh: a cohort profile.
The AdSEARCH adolescent cohort study presents baseline sociodemographic and sexual and reproductive health characteristics of 2713 adolescents in rural Bangladesh, documenting gender differences in school attendance, income-generating activities, depression prevalence, SRH knowledge, gender attitudes, and violence exposure.
Strengthening intersectoral collaboration for adolescent sexual and reproductive health: a community-embedded intervention in Ebonyi state, Nigeria.
This research underscores the potential of community-embedded interventions to strengthen intersectoral collaboration for the acceptability and adoption of ASRH strategies through three predominant collaboration models: horizontal integration between healthcare and education sectors, horizontal integration between governmental and non-governmental organizations, and diagonal integration bridging community stakeholders and service providers.
Sexual health among Danish cancer survivors and individuals with no history of cancer: Baseline findings from the nationwide Project SEXUS cohort study.
Cancer survivors experienced significantly more sexual challenges than individuals without cancer, both overall and in the first 5 years after diagnosis, across multiple cancer sites and regardless of age at diagnosis.
Differences in Sexual Health Clinic Services by Age and Gender in Metropolitan Boston.
Young people presenting for sexual health services in a Boston metropolitan area were more likely to be unaware of PrEP, and among those with indications, younger females were less likely to be prescribed PrEP.
Interventions addressing impacts of climate change on sexual and reproductive health and rights in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review.
There is limited evidence on interventions at the intersection of climate change and SRHR in sub-Saharan Africa, with only seven documents meeting inclusion criteria, revealing a siloed approach to programming that impedes effective integration.
A review of self-care deficit theory to sexual reproductive health and rights on adolescents and young people living with HIV.
Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory can be applied to understand and address the self-care needs and sexual and reproductive health and rights outcomes of adolescents and young people living with HIV by fostering autonomy and theory-informed interventions.
Sexual and reproductive health challenges among street adolescents in Sylhet city, Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study.
Street adolescents in Sylhet City face severe sexual and reproductive health challenges, including high rates of sexual abuse, low contraceptive use, and limited STD knowledge, with significant gender disparities, which should be addressed through appropriate and urgent interventions.
Understanding sexual and reproductive health need of unmarried adolescents and youth in urban slums: evidence from a formative study in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Unmarried adolescents and youth in urban slums of Uttar Pradesh, India face limited and often inaccurate sexual and reproductive health knowledge, gendered access to information, and structural barriers to services, highlighting a clear need for multi-faceted strategies targeting sexual health education, adolescent-responsive SRH services, and expanded digital outreach with verified content.
Genital Psoriasis in Asians: Impact on Quality of Life and Sexual Health.
Genital psoriasis significantly impacts quality of life and sexual health in Asian patients, with females reporting greater symptom severity and embarrassment yet being less likely to receive treatment, and younger patients showing worse depression scores.
Sexual and reproductive health outcomes and parent-child communication among youth in western Kenya.
Parent-child communication about sexual and reproductive health was significantly and positively associated with intention to abstain from sex and consistent condom use among youth in western Kenya, though such communication was generally low.
A Systematic and Practical Framework on Gender and Sexual Diverse (GSD) Health for Internal Medicine Residents.
A practical, evidence-based curriculum for internal medicine residents improved knowledge, confidence, and attitudes toward gender and sexual diverse (GSD) health care, offering 'one of the first systematic frameworks, with immediately useable materials, to address GSD health.'
Pleasure-Inclusive Sex Education, Sexual Agency, and Sexual Well-Being in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Scoping Review.
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.
Understanding sociocultural influences in sexual health promotion and HIV protection among Latinx sexually minoritized men: A qualitative study.
Stigma and structural factors shape the opportunities of Latinx sexually minoritized men to engage in sexual health promotion and HIV self-protection, emphasizing the need to address structural barriers such as sexual health education, access to care, and healthcare provider bias.
Sexual and reproductive health knowledge and behaviors and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among adolescents and young adults from Angola.
Among adolescents and young adults in Benguela province, Angola, SRHK was higher than expected but in-depth knowledge was uncommon, unsafe sexual behavior was widespread, and HBV prevalence was higher than expected, suggesting the need for targeted sexual education campaigns and HBV vaccination promotion.
Barriers and facilitators to accessing sexual health services among middle-aged and older adults in the UK, including those with disabilities: a qualitative analysis.
Physical inaccessibility and stigma are persistent barriers to accessing sexual health services for older disabled people, and increasing training for healthcare providers, further research, and supportive policies are needed to improve delivery and access.
Are facility service delivery models meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa? A qualitative evidence synthesis.
Facility-based SRH service delivery models can improve access to information and services for adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa when complemented with community-based interventions, adolescent-friendly providers, and assurance of service accessibility, but significant gaps including healthcare providers' negative attitudes, privacy concerns, financial constraints, and transportation challenges limit their effectiveness.
Health policy challenges in Lebanon's healthcare system: on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Lebanon's SRHR policies are hindered by political fragmentation, societal conservatism, and insufficient prioritisation, resulting in inadequate services and systemic inequities that require a gender-sensitive, inclusive healthcare policy positioning SRHR as a foundational pillar of public health.
Factors influencing access and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by adolescents in Namibia: Insights from nurses.
Factors influencing adolescent access to and utilisation of sexual and reproductive health services in Namibia's Rundu District include lack of comprehensive SRH services, cultural factors, distance to health facility, insufficient information, stigma, nurses' attitudes, and lack of privacy.
Barriers to Adolescent Pre-exposure prophylaxis and Sexual Health Care in Pediatric Versus Family Medicine Providers.
FM providers were 32 times more likely to prescribe PrEP than pediatric providers, highlighting the crucial need for educational interventions for pediatric providers around PrEP provision and adolescent sexual health care more widely.
Sexual and reproductive health consequences of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: an infodemiological survey.
The COVID-19 pandemic considerably influenced internet search behavior related to sexual and reproductive health in Nigeria, with increased interest in sexual violence, emergency contraception, erectile dysfunction, and pornography, alongside decreased search interest for contraception, abortion, and STIs.
Low Knowledge, Awareness, and Availability of Sexual Health Services: An Assessment of a Diverse North Dallas Community.
An exploratory community assessment in an underserved North Dallas community found wide lack of awareness of sexual health services as the primary barrier (57%), low knowledge of prevention options like PrEP and doxycycline PEP, and that ethnic and sexual minorities disproportionately affected by HIV/STI epidemics lack access to sexual health services in their communities.
Evolution of sexual health of patients with head and neck cancer before, during, and 1 year after treatment.
Sexual interest and enjoyment in head and neck cancer patients were compromised at diagnosis, further diminished during treatments, showed partial recovery post-treatment, and subsequently declined again, with a significant association between sexual well-being and overall quality of life impairments.
Development and content validation of a survey assessing domains of sexual and reproductive health in adults with spina bifida.
Content validity, clarity, and functionality of a novel survey probing five domains of sexual and reproductive health in adults with spina bifida was established using a modified Delphi method and cognitive interviews.
No Nut November, temporary abstinence, and sexual wellbeing: a study of the short-term abstinence-based internet trend.
A period of abstinence during No Nut November may not be associated with improved or worsening sexual wellbeing, though NNN participants reported increased sexual flexibility compared to those who had never participated.
Recruiting participants via social media for sexual and reproductive health research.
Social media platforms, primarily Meta's Facebook and Instagram, can be effective tools for recruiting participants in sexual and reproductive health research, but require considerable flexibility, iterative adjustment, and awareness of platform-specific challenges and pitfalls.
Barriers to access and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services among young Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
Substantial barriers limit SRH service access for young Rohingya refugees, especially unmarried individuals, requiring services tailored to marital status, gender, age, and prevailing community norms.
Effect of Parent-Based Sexual Health Education on Parent-Adolescent Communication and Adolescent Sexual Behavior: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Parent-based sexual health education interventions positively impact various aspects of parent-adolescent sexual health communication and behavior, suggesting the effectiveness of the intervention in different social, cultural, and economic contexts.
Exploratory Qualitative Study to Investigate Factors Influencing Men's Utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Seven themes emerged as barriers and three themes as enablers to men's sexual and reproductive health service utilization, with participants' reluctance attributed to lack of awareness, cultural and religious influences, financial constraints, relationship dynamics, perceived low individual risk, and negative healthcare worker attitudes.
Sexual health survey recruitment approaches among patients in community health centers.
Response rates to an online sexual health survey among urban Federally Qualified Health Center patients were low using sequential multimodal virtual recruitment approaches, particularly among those without recent healthcare engagement.
The Sexual Health and Well-being of Individuals With Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS).
Most individuals with CAIS reported positive body image and the ability to engage in fulfilling sexual activity, with vaginal lengths largely comparable to the general population.
HIV and Sexual Health Awareness Among University Students: Findings from a World AIDS Day Survey in Milan.
HIV and sexual health knowledge among undergraduate medical students was incomplete, with awareness of PrEP, PEP, and U=U each below 50%, and HIV stigma persisting, with knowledge significantly associated with prior sexual health education.
Climate change, resource insecurities and sexual and reproductive health among young adolescents in Kenya: a multi-method qualitative inquiry.
Climate change exacerbated resource insecurities that may drive sexual and reproductive health outcomes among young adolescents in Kenya, with food, water, and sanitation insecurity linked to school absenteeism, sexual violence, transactional sex, unplanned pregnancy, and STI risks.
Improving access and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by migrant women in Morocco: A qualitative study.
Migrant women in Morocco face significant barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services, including lack of information, stigmatization, language and cultural barriers, and administrative and economic difficulties, while facilitators include quality welcome, NGO support, and free access to certain services.
How do social norms influence the sexual and reproductive health-related attitudes and behaviours of very young adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa? A scoping review.
Social and gender norms in Sub-Saharan Africa limit very young adolescents' (aged 10-14) SRH knowledge and access, heightening their vulnerabilities, and interventions to shift these norms show mixed results, underscoring the need for tailored, multifaceted, culturally sensitive, gender-responsive/gender-transformative interventions.
Sexual health among older adults in Nigeria: a systematic review of evidence, gaps, and opportunities for intervention.
Sexual health in older Nigerians is shaped by a complex interplay of cultural norms, structural neglect, and limited policy attention, with older adults remaining sexually active but facing significant barriers to sexual wellbeing.
Policies, programmes and research on adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health in South Sudan: a systematic scoping review.
Quality research has been done on adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH) in South Sudan, however there are many key areas that have not been addressed, and robust programme evaluation processes or evidence of follow-through or implementation of government strategies are lacking.
Sexual health of patients with lung cancer: a systematic review.
Lung cancer significantly impairs patients' sexual health across several domains, including sexual function, sexual satisfaction, and communication about sexual issues, underscoring the necessity for healthcare professionals to initiate conversations about sexuality with patients at various stages of treatment.
British Association of Sexual Health and HIV UK National Guideline for the Management of infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 2025.
This 2025 BASHH guideline updates the 2018 UK national recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment, and health promotion principles needed for the effective management of infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Sexual health outcomes following gender-affirming phalloplasty: a systematic review.
This systematic review revealed differences in sexual function based on phalloplasty technique and identified significant knowledge gaps due to variability in outcome measures and absence of pre-surgical data.
The Importance of Sexual History-Taking Within Surgery.
Sexual history-taking remains critically deficient among surgical trainees, and while an educational intervention did not increase the likelihood of taking a sexual history, it did result in trainees asking significantly more sexual health questions when they did take one.
Associations Between State Laws Regulating Minors' Access to Confidential Sexual Health Services and Lifetime HIV Testing Among U.S. Male High School Students.
Certain confidentiality-promoting state laws are associated with increased lifetime HIV testing among sexually active male adolescents, regardless of sexual behavior (YMSM vs. YMSWO).
Shaping the WHO Sexual Health Assessment of Practices and Experiences questionnaire: a descriptive study on the real-world example from Portugal.
Portugal was the first country to implement the WHO SHAPE questionnaire with a nationally representative sample, demonstrating its feasibility with a 30.9% overall response rate, 94% valid responses, and an average completion time of 17.7 minutes.
Bridging knowledge and practice: Adolescent sexual reproductive health in Northern Vietnam's mountainous ethnic communities.
Although many adolescents in Northern Vietnam's mountainous ethnic communities knew where to access contraceptives, they lacked the confidence to use them, driven by fear of judgment from family, peers, and healthcare providers, revealing a critical gap between knowledge and action.
Norms of masculinity: community voices on sexual and reproductive health communication in rural southwestern Uganda.
Masculinity norms in rural southwestern Uganda leave boys to navigate sexual and reproductive health issues independently, as fathers avoid SRH discussions and fear-based communication pushes boys toward secrecy and misinformation from peers and media.
The Digital Transformation and the Right to Health of Young Adults in Bangladesh and Colombia: A Community-Engaged Study.
Young adults in Bangladesh and Colombia reported that digital transformation has transformed their access to sexual and reproductive health and HIV information, with both positive impacts from social media influencers and harms from misinformation, lack of confidentiality, and widespread stigma.
Sexual health experiences and care utilization of males with cystic fibrosis.
Males with cystic fibrosis report suboptimal STI prevention and counseling compared to males in the general population, highlighting an urgent need to encourage sexual health counseling and care in the CF model and partnerships with primary care providers and other specialists.