Sexual Health
498 peer-reviewed studies indexed
Attitudes toward sexual and reproductive health and rights and their associations with reproductive agency: a population-based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
Findings suggest an association between SRHR and gender equality values and attitudes and the level of reproductive agency, and underscore the importance of addressing values and attitudes in context-specific interventions.
A Previsit Mobile Health App (Health-E You/Salud iTu) for Male Adolescents to Promote Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Receipt: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.
This protocol describes a two-stage study to adapt and evaluate a previsit mobile health app (Health-E You/Salud iTu) for male adolescents to improve sexual and reproductive health care receipt and condom use in primary care settings.
Attitudes and knowledge of pain specialists in Israel regarding sexual health in chronic pain patients.
This study reveals a gap between physicians' awareness of sexual health issues in chronic pain patients and their translation of this awareness into clinical practice, with time constraints, discomfort, and insufficient training serving as key barriers.
"Unintended pregnancy and attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health among young people in Benguela Province, Angola".
Young people's SRH decisions in Benguela are shaped not only by individual attitudes but by social norms, gender inequality, systemic barriers, and restrictive policies, with early motherhood often reflecting constrained agency rather than choice.
Sexual health in patient care: shortcomings in medical training and experienced barriers in sexual history taking.
A survey of 167 medical residents revealed several shortcomings in medical training in sexual history taking, with dissatisfaction regarding adequacy of training, lack of skills and knowledge, discomfort, biases, and practical barriers undermining comprehensive sexual history assessments.
Sexual Health of Patients in Treatment for Lung Cancer: An Undercover Concern for Patients and Oncologists.
Sexual dysfunction is common among lung cancer patients, with less than half reporting recent sexual activity and many expressing little to no interest or satisfaction, yet it remains an underassessed concern in oncology care.
Community-engaged strategies to improve sexual health services for adults aged 45 and above in the United Kingdom: a qualitative data analysis.
Middle-aged and older adults can co-create compelling strategies to enhance sexual health services, with findings suggesting a multi-leveled approach is required to improve accessibility and inclusivity of sexual health services for adults aged 45 and over in the UK.
Sexual networks, sexual practices, and sexual health among youths in WHO-South East Asia Region: a scoping review protocol.
This paper describes a scoping review protocol to map available evidence and identify gaps in sexual health interventions related to sexual networks, sexual practices, and sexual health among youths aged 18-24 years across the WHO South-East Asia Region.
A Multipronged, Community-Partnered Intervention (The TALK) to Improve Parent-Adolescent Communication About Sexual Health and Racial Discrimination Among Black Male Adolescents and Young Adults and Their Caregivers: Protocol for a Feasibility and Acceptability Study.
This paper describes the protocol for developing and testing The TALK, a nurse-led, parent-centered eHealth intervention designed to improve parent-adolescent communication about sexual health and racial discrimination among Black male adolescents and young adults and their caregivers.
Stated preferences of adolescents and young adults for sexual and reproductive health services in Africa: a systematic review.
AYAs' preferences for SRH services in Africa were mainly influenced by cost, treatment effectiveness, and incentive distribution methods, suggesting policymakers need to develop affordable and effective SRH programmes with tailored incentives to improve service uptake.
Approach to lubricant use for sexual activity.
Lubricant use during sexual activity has numerous benefits, minimal harms, and can play a role in managing many common sexual health concerns encountered in primary care, and this review provides practical tools to help clinicians integrate counselling on lubricant use into routine sexual health discussions.
A policy brief: improving access and utilization of adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in Southern Ethiopia.
Adolescents in Southern Ethiopia face substantial barriers to accessing and utilizing sexual and reproductive health services, including knowledge gaps, socio-cultural stigma, inadequate infrastructure, and provider-level obstacles, requiring a multi-faceted policy approach to improve outcomes.
Sexual and reproductive health needs and barriers among youth living with HIV/AIDS in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Youth living with HIV/AIDS in Lagos State face significant barriers to sexual and reproductive health services, particularly fear of HIV disclosure and transportation costs, with only 41% demonstrating good SRH knowledge despite high awareness of condoms.
Attitudes towards models of abortion care in sexual and reproductive health: perspectives of Australian health professionals.
Most health professionals working in sexual and reproductive health care perceive that nurse-led models of care are viable and acceptable, although doctors feel there are additional benefits to the current doctor-led model, and self-administered abortion is overwhelmingly perceived as unsafe.
Sexual health and behaviors in homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual Danes: baseline findings in the Project SEXUS cohort study.
In this Danish cohort study, lesbians exhibited no unusual burden of sexual risk indicators and had fewer sexual dysfunctions, whereas gay men and bisexuals of both sexes reported significantly more risky sexual behaviors, sexual victimization, sexual dysfunctions, and other adverse outcomes.
[Sexual health in cancer care: A cross-section of patients and professionals from a patient association].
Sexual health is important to cancer patients but remains underdiscussed, with 44% of patients having spoken to a professional about it and more than half of professionals not raising the topic with their patients.
School nurse-involved sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents' students in high-income countries: a mixed-methods systematic review.
School nurse-involved sexual and reproductive health educational interventions can effectively enhance adolescents' SRH knowledge (SMD=1.36), but show no significant changes in attitudes or behaviours, with effective programs relying on active learning, consistent education, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Exploring and improving sexual health literacy: Insights from sexual health experts.
A qualitative study of sexual health experts identified perceived gaps in, facilitators and barriers to promoting, and considerations for assessing sexual health literacy, with findings intended to guide development of a sexual health literacy scale.
A Digital Intervention to Address Sexual Health in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Survivors.
The SHIFT digital app to address sexual dysfunction demonstrated feasibility and promising preliminary efficacy in improving sexual health outcomes, QoL, and psychological distress for HSCT survivors.
Knowledge and attitudes on sexual and reproductive health among adolescents and youths in Refugee Settlements: A case of Palorinya, Uganda.
Knowledge of family planning and STIs was high among refugee adolescents and youths in Palorinya settlement (75% and 94.5% respectively), but knowledge of menstruation was very low (6.5%), with knowledge of SRH increasing with age, income, marital status, and education level.
Reflections on using Talanoa methodology to engage with Pacific youth in Aotearoa New Zealand about their sexual and reproductive health.
Talanoa, a Pacific storytelling methodology, requires researcher positionality, cultural sensitivity, flexible communication strategies, and relationship-building to appropriately engage Pacific youth in Aotearoa New Zealand in discussions about sexual and reproductive health.
Sexuality and sexual health in older adults-recommendations from the Fifth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM 2024).
This first ICSM position paper on sexual health in older adults finds that despite extensive literature on prevalence and risk of sexual challenges in adults over 65, there is limited evidence regarding quality of treatment modalities, particularly scant data on women, and recommends a comprehensive, non-judgmental, couple-centered approach that accounts for multifactorial challenges.
[Exploring the sexual and reproductive health of migrant adolescents in Chile: insights from the 10th National Youth Survey].
Migrant adolescents in Chile show significant differences from Chilean adolescents in health insurance coverage, sexual behaviors, contraceptive use, and having children, with one-third of migrant adolescents not registered in the health insurance system.
Self-administered sexual health testing in an open prison setting: a pilot health impact assessment and social return on investment analysis.
For every £1 spent on a sexual health self-sampling service in an open prison setting, a potential social value of £4.14 was created, demonstrating both direct return on investment and wider social value of providing such a service to prisoners.
Sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes and practices among adolescents in rural Thatta, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study.
No significant differences in sexual and reproductive health knowledge and attitudes were found between male and female adolescents in rural Thatta, Pakistan, though marital status, parental occupation, household income, and mother's education were significantly associated with KAP scores.
Training needs of German healthcare professionals regarding sexual health and sex workers: results of a nationwide, cross-sectional survey.
A substantial share of German healthcare professionals reported inadequate training regarding sexual health problems in general and sex workers' health issues specifically, with results indicating 'that sexual health issues and sex workers' specific healthcare requirements are not sufficiently addressed in the curricula of German healthcare professionals.'
Cognitive testing in 19 countries to refine WHO's Sexual Health Assessment of Practices and Experiences.
A questionnaire exploring sexual practices, experiences and health-related outcomes can be comprehensible and acceptable by the general population in diverse global contexts, and rigorous processes for translation and cognitive testing of such a questionnaire are critically important.
Sexual and Reproductive Health in Sickle Cell Disease: A Qualitative Analysis of Pediatric Hematologist Perspectives.
While all participants acknowledged the priority of SRH care for adolescents with SCD, clearly outlined guidelines are needed to enhance counseling and the provision of SRH care.
Penile cancer treatment and sexuality: a narrative review.
Penile cancer significantly impacts patients' sexual activity, sexual function, sexual sensations, cosmesis and sexual wellbeing, and while considerable proportions of patients resume sexual activity following treatments including penectomy, rigorous prospective studies assessing valid and reliable patient reported outcome measures for sexual wellbeing besides sexual functioning are needed.
Exploring sexual health in people with mild intellectual disabilities: A concept mapping study on the perspectives of relatives and support staff.
Relatives and support staff of people with mild intellectual disabilities identified sexual preferences, sexual behaviour, and support and education as key aspects of sexual health, while differing in their priorities: relatives emphasised relationships and support staff emphasised sexual identity.
Sexual myths and sexual health attitudes among health profession students in Turkey.
Health profession students in Turkey generally had moderate belief levels in sexual myths and positive attitudes toward sexual health, with significant differences based on gender and education level, highlighting the need for integrating sexual health education into health curricula.
Exploring youth information seeking on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Senegal.
The internet is a favored SRHR information source among youth in Senegal due to its accessibility and anonymity, while parent-adolescent communication remains limited, necessitating new SRHR communication strategies that integrate family dynamics with digital platforms.
The influence of gender norms on post-migration men's sexual and reproductive health: A scoping review.
Thematic analysis of 36 articles revealed that migrant men largely carried pre-established beliefs of sex and gender roles from their home country to their host country, which had mainly negative repercussions on their relationships and SRH behaviours post-migration.
Quality of Life, Mood Disturbance, and Sexual Health in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators Recipients.
Lower quality of life was significantly associated with higher mood disturbance and lower sexual health in ICD recipients, underscoring the importance of addressing emotional and sexual well-being in ICD patient care.
Sexual and reproductive health awareness and practices among adolescents and adults in a rural farming community in Baja California, Mexico: a quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional study.
Participants had low knowledge about SRH but high motivation to educate children and adolescents on these topics, indicating potential for SRH campaigns in this rural, mostly indigenous community in northern Mexico.
Implementation of a sexual health clinic in an oncology setting: patient and provider perspectives.
Findings highlight significant challenges in addressing sexual health in an oncology setting, underscoring the need for specialized sexual health clinics that are integrated with, but distinct from, routine oncology care.
Integrating sexual and reproductive health education with sports for young people: a global scoping review.
Integrated sport and SRH interventions show promise as a way to attract and engage youth in SRH programming, with significant improvements reported by most studies measuring HIV-related outcomes and all three studies reporting contraception or pregnancy outcomes, though less than half of studies measuring gender roles, gender norms, or gender-based violence reported positive outcomes.
Migration and access to sexual and reproductive health from the perspective of health agents in northern Chile.
There are gaps in the access and use of sexual and reproductive health services by migrants, whose central axis is associated with the lack of information on their right to health in Chile and ignorance of sexual and reproductive health services.
Infection, inflammation, and sexual function in male and female patients-recommendations from the Fifth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM 2024).
Infections and inflammation, particularly sexually transmitted infections and non-communicable chronic diseases, dramatically affect sexual and reproductive health, and early detection, comprehensive treatment, and preventive measures are recommended to mitigate their effects.
Young people with disabilities and their sexual health: a descriptive review of needs, recommendations and interventions.
Very few studies have been done to understand the needs and to develop relevant interventions for promoting the sexual health of young people with disabilities, and none of the interventions identified were designed, co-constructed, or facilitated by young people with disabilities themselves.
"Not just about the pump"-providing sexual and reproductive health information to adolescents with heart disease.
Discussing sexual and reproductive health is universally accepted among healthcare providers caring for adolescents with heart disease, but prioritization varies, and providers need enhanced knowledge, skills, and strategies to customize information while upholding adolescents' rights.
What About Well-Being? Measuring What We Really Care About in Sexual and Reproductive Health.
A multidisciplinary expert group endorsed a draft definition of sexual and reproductive well-being and outlined a pathway for developing a concise measure assessing people's holistic experiences of sexuality and reproduction that can monitor the extent to which people are having the sexual and reproductive lives they wish to have.
Tackling sexual health in specialized pediatric consultations with adolescents: challenges, barriers, and local perspectives.
This qualitative study highlights the complexity of addressing adolescent sexual health in pediatric subspecialty settings, identifying multi-faceted barriers among practitioners, adolescents, and logistics, and underscores the need for in situ training and dedicated adolescent consultations.
Exploring barriers and solutions in sexual health services: a qualitative study from Iran.
This qualitative study reveals that sexual health clinics in Iran face structural, socio-cultural, professional/organizational, and service-related challenges, while identifying opportunities and solutions including resource development, evidence-based practices, and de-labeling efforts to reduce stigma.
Sexual and reproductive health information and service needs and preferences of adolescents and young adults in Sri Lanka: a systematic review.
Young people in Sri Lanka face multiple barriers relating to availability, accessibility, and quality when accessing formal youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, with preferences for informal sources of information over formal healthcare providers and schools.
Lower urinary tract symptoms and male sexual function: recommendations from the fifth international consultation on sexual medicine (ICSM 2024).
BPH/LUTS significantly affect sexual health, and each intervention carries varying risks of sexual dysfunction, requiring specific tailored treatment plans and a multidisciplinary approach to management.
Sexual health of female breast cancer survivors and their partners.
Sexual satisfaction did not differ between breast cancer survivors and their partners, but satisfaction with partner sexuality was lower after diagnosis for both patients and partners, and 75% of study participants reported not having received information about sexual health issues related to breast cancer.
Sexual health of LGBTQ+ patients undergoing colorectal surgery for benign disease and their experience with healthcare: A scoping review.
Colorectal surgery for benign disease negatively impacts LGBTQ+ patients' sexual health and relationships, while these patients face discrimination, stigma, and challenges accessing care and information, with existing literature remaining scarce and lacking data stratification by sexual orientation or gender identity.
Male hypogonadism: recommendations from the Fifth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM 2024).
The Fifth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM 2024) generated clinically effective recommendations for 14 categories concerning hypogonadism diagnosis and 15 categories on testosterone therapy, based on a narrative review of peer-reviewed literature combined with expert consensus.
Sexual health literacy and education programs for culturally and linguistically diverse young people living in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom: a scoping review of content evaluations.
No academic or grey literature reports were identified that described the assessment of sexual health literacy program content or resources targeting young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.