Sexual Health Article Feed

February 9th, 2025

Femmephobia Is a Uniquely Powerful Predictor of Anti-Gay Behavior.

Hoskin RA; Blair KL; Holmberg D pubmed id: 37783952

The study found that negative attitudes towards femininity in men can predict anti-gay behaviors. This was a stronger predictor than other factors like social dominance. Future research should look at how this type of thinking affects behavior towards people with different gender identities.

Sex on screens: the language of sexting and amateur pornography.

James A; Waling A; Dowsett GW; Power J pubmed id: 37772618

Adults over 25 in Australia often find it hard to talk about sharing sexual pictures and videos, using words like "sexting." The study shows people sometimes avoid using common terms because of their negative meanings. This can make conversations about consent and desire difficult, which is important for understanding and teaching digital safety and respect.

Facilitators influencing midwives to leadership positions in policy, education and practice: A systematic integrative literature review.

Sattar SMRU; Akeredolu O; Bogren M; Erlandsson K; Borneskog C pubmed id: 37769484

Midwives need to become leaders to help improve health care for mothers and babies around the world. They often don't get to make important decisions, and we need changes to let them be part of policy-making. By including midwives in these processes, they can better help achieve global health goals.

Sexual and reproductive health literacy of culturally and linguistically diverse young people in Australia: a systematic review.

Lirios A; Mullens AB; Daken K; Moran C; Gu Z; Assefa Y; Dean JA pubmed id: 37755697

The study looked at young people in Australia from different cultures and languages and how they learn about sexual health. It found that they often don't know much, and talking about these topics is hard because of family and cultural rules. They need more support and ways to learn that respect their culture.

Adaptations to comprehensive abortion care during the COVID-19 pandemic: case studies of provision in Bolivia, Mali, Nepal, and the occupied Palestinian territory.

Sorhaindo AM; Castle S; Flomen L; Lathrop E; Mohagheghpour S; Dabash R; Toedtli FK; Wilkins R; Läser L; Titulaer P; Nyamato E; Dakouo ML; Awadallah A; Shrestha R; Morales M; Rehnström Loi U pubmed id: 37747711

The COVID-19 pandemic affected access to abortion care, so different places like Bolivia, Mali, Nepal, and the Palestinian territory changed how they provided services. They used new methods like digital tools, home visits, and better health worker use to keep helping people. These changes might help improve care even after the pandemic.

Yarning as a method for building sexual wellbeing among urban Aboriginal young people in Australia.

Bryant J; Bolt R; Martin K; Beadman M; Doyle M; Treloar C; Bell S; Murphy D; Newman C; Browne A; Aggleton P; Beetson K; Brooks M; Wilms J; Leece B; Stanbury L; Botfield J; Davis B; Graham S pubmed id: 37740584

The paper talks about how Aboriginal young people in Australia talk and communicate to stay healthy and safe in their relationships. They use talking to give advice, choose safe partners, agree on consent, and get out of bad relationships. They also use self-talk to feel good about themselves and their culture.

Safety of Longer-Term Doxycycline Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With Implications for Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infection Chemoprophylaxis.

Chan PA; Le Brazidec DL; Becasen JS; Martin H; Kapadia J; Reno H; Bachmann L; Barbee LA pubmed id: 37732844

The number of infections like syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia has gone up a lot in the last 10 years in the U.S. This study looks at how safe it is to use a medicine called doxycycline for a longer time to help prevent these infections.

Changes in Oral and Anal Sex With Opposite-Sex Partners Among Sexually Active Females and Males Aged 15 to 44 Years in the United States: National Survey of Family Growth, 2011-2019.

Katz DA; Copen CE; Haderxhanaj LT; Hogben M; Goodreau SM; Spicknall IH; Hamilton DT pubmed id: 37732840

This study looks at how often people have oral and anal sex with different-sex partners and if they use condoms. It also tries to understand how these behaviors have changed over the past ten years when some infections went up and others went down.

Fertility preservation and protection: young women's decision-making about contraceptive use in Zimbabwe.

Mavodza CV; Mackworth-Young CRS; Nyamwanza R; Nzombe P; Dauya E; Dziva Chikwari C; Tembo M; Ferrand RA; Bernays S pubmed id: 37729466

The study looked at why young women in Zimbabwe weren't using family planning methods much. Even though free long-acting contraception was available, many women still chose short-term methods due to social norms. Better information and understanding of local beliefs are needed to help more women use family planning options.

Evaluating a youth-designed sexual and reproductive health mass and social media campaign in Côte d'Ivoire: triangulation of three independent evaluations.

Silva M; Loll D; Ezouatchi R; Kassegne S; Nagbe RY; Babogou L; Moussa F; Werwie TR; Portillo E; Adou D; Vondrasek C; Rajan R; Dougherty L pubmed id: 37728549

Merci Mon Héros is a campaign developed by young people to help improve health outcomes for youth in nine countries. Researchers studied its impact in Côte d'Ivoire by looking at social media, doing surveys, and holding group discussions. They found that the campaign helped people talk more about family planning and changed how youth and adults communicate about these topics.

Expanding access to early medical abortion services in Ghana with telemedicine: findings from a pilot evaluation.

Adu J; Roemer M; Page G; Dekonor E; Akanlu G; Fofie C; Teye MD; Afriyie PO; Affram AA; Ohemeng F; Tabong PT; Dwomoh D pubmed id: 37728548

In Ghana, telemedicine for early medical abortion (EMA) is a new option and it helps people who might not have other choices for safe abortion access. A project showed that most people found telemedicine easy and helpful, with many saying they would use it again or recommend it to others. It can make getting safe health services easier in places where resources are limited.

Emotional, informational, and decision-making support needs among people seeking abortion in the US: perspectives from All-Options Talkline callers.

Seymour JW; Goode BA; Guerrero P; Campos AM; Kyles K; Dreyfus-Pai P; Baum SE pubmed id: 37728428

The study looked at a phone support line called the All-Options Talkline, which helps people who need support before, during, and after an abortion. They found that people called for help with making decisions, getting a neutral opinion, talking about feelings, and learning about the abortion process. This Talkline was very helpful when other support was not available or was not enough.

Beautiful vulvas: expanding illustrative visual imagery of female genital cutting types.

Chaisson N; Johnson-Agbakwu CE; Finch A; Salad M; Connor JJ; Chen M; Robinson BBE pubmed id: 37721173

Pictures have been used to teach people about female genital cutting and how to fix it. But there aren't enough pictures that show what women's bodies look like after experiencing this in a way that is accurate and includes many different cultures.

Factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in Maharashtra, India: a mixed-methods study.

Shukla S; Castro Torres AF; Satish RV; Shenderovich Y; Abejirinde IO; Steinert JI pubmed id: 37712990

This study looked at why some girls in Maharashtra, India, had babies as teenagers, especially after COVID-19. It found that older girls, those who were married, or had economic struggles were more likely to become pregnant, while those with more education were less likely. The study also identified that challenges like early marriage, safety concerns, and not knowing about birth control played a role.

The preventable burden of mortality from unsafe abortion among female sex workers: a Community Knowledge Approach survey among peer networks in eight countries.

Willis B; Church K; Perttu E; Thompson H; Weerasinghe S; Macias-Konstantopoulos W pubmed id: 37712508

The study looked at how unsafe abortions affect female sex workers in eight countries. It found many deaths because of unsafe abortions, leaving over a thousand children without mothers. The research shows a need for better healthcare and safe practices for these women.

Key normative, legal, and policy considerations for supporting pregnant and postpartum adolescents in high HIV-burden settings: a critical analysis.

Laurenzi CA; Toska E; Tallarico R; Sherr L; Steventon Roberts KJ; Hansen M; Tolmay J; Jochim J; Ameyan W; Yates R pubmed id: 37712411

In sub-Saharan Africa, more teens are becoming mothers, and this brings health and safety challenges for them and their children. There are important issues like violence, no access to health services, and lack of support that make life hard for these young mothers. Solutions include making it easier for them to get health care, letting them go back to school, and giving them more social help.

Promising practices for the design and implementation of sexuality education programmes for youth in India: a scoping review.

Pattathil N; Roy A pubmed id: 37712401

This paper looks at how sexuality education can help young people in India understand and take care of their bodies to prevent health problems. It found that programs should be fun, friendly, and work with local groups to help all kids, especially those who might face barriers. The paper highlights the need for these programs to fit well within the culture and needs of young people in India.

'It feels meaningful': How informal mental health caregivers in an LGBTQ community interpret their work and their role.

Worrell S; Waling A; Anderson J; Lyons A; Pepping CA; Bourne A pubmed id: 37705445

LGBTQ people often help each other with mental health problems, which is very important and can even stop someone from feeling so sad they want to hurt themselves. This help makes both the person getting help and the person giving it feel good because it strengthens friendships and communities. Understanding how this works can help others who want to support LGBTQ people better.

Egocentric sexual network analysis among gay and bisexual men who have sex with men with and without mpox infection.

Sönmez İ; Martínez Riveros H; Folch C; Suñer C; Díaz Y; Alonso L; Agusti C; Mendoza A; Tarín-Vicente EJ; Oller X; Alemany A; Rivero À; Orviz E; Silva-Klug A; Mitjà O; Casabona J pubmed id: 37704363

Researchers studied how the mpox virus spreads among gay and bisexual men in Spain. They looked at their health and behavior to understand how the virus is passed in their communities.

Sexual Offending: Adverse Childhood Experiences, Shame, and Self-Compassion Explain the Variance in Self-Harm and Harm Towards Others?

Garbutt K; Rennoldson M; Gregson M pubmed id: 37695944

The research looked at how tough childhoods, feelings of shame, and being kind to oneself can affect people later in life. It studied adults who did sexual offenses to see if these factors can explain why they might hurt themselves or others. The study found that these things could help explain why some people cause harm and suggested they could change to help people grow stronger and do better.

Integrating testing for sexually transmissible infections into annual health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people: a cross-sectional analysis.

McCormack H; Wand H; Bourne C; Ward J; Bradley C; Mak D; Guy R pubmed id: 37690512

Researchers looked at how well STI testing was being included in yearly check-ups for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people due to a rising syphilis outbreak. They studied this from 2018 to 2020 in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

Effects of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health services access in the Asia-Pacific region: a qualitative study of expert and policymaker perspectives.

Marzouk M; Lam ST; Durrance-Bagale A; Nagashima-Hayashi M; Neo P; Ung M; Zaseela A; Aribou ZM; Agarwal S; Howard N pubmed id: 37682084

The COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for people to get healthcare for things like having babies and family planning in countries like the Philippines and Vietnam. Services were limited because of restrictions and safety worries, but some countries found creative ways to help, like using online education and social media. To keep these services going during tough times, governments need to plan better and work with different groups.

"Discrimination is harder to live with than the disease": an interview study of the perceptions and experiences of sexual and reproductive health and rights among women living with HIV in Sweden.

Nkulu-Kalengayi FK; Hurtig AK; Linander I pubmed id: 37671828

The study talks about women in Sweden living with HIV and how it affects their lives. It found that these women face more problems from how people treat them than from the disease itself. The research suggests that it is important to change old beliefs and make sure everyone has the right information so these women can make the best choices for themselves.

Feasibility and economic costs of syphilis self-testing to expand test uptake among gay, bisexual and transgender men: results from a randomised controlled trial in Zimbabwe.

Nhamo D; Mangenah C; Chapwanya G; Mamvuto T; Mahaka I; Sri-Pathmanathan C; Ferrand RA; Kranzer K; Terris-Prestholt F; Marks M; Tucker JD pubmed id: 37666490

Researchers wanted to see if it was easier and cheaper for men in Zimbabwe, who have sex with men, to test themselves for syphilis at home or go to a clinic. They did a study to compare the two ways of testing.

Prostate cancer-related sexual dysfunction - the significance of social relations in men's reconstructions of masculinity.

Talvitie AM; Ojala H; Tammela T; Pietilä I pubmed id: 37665659

Talking about being sick in a way that fits with a person's culture is important for feeling better after finding out you have prostate cancer. The study looked at how men use different ways to think about their manhood and life after they have had treatment. Things like being older, having a supportive family, and having good health helped men feel better about themselves, while younger men or those with new relationships found it harder.

Counselling on physical activity in Danish antenatal care: A qualitative study of experiences from both the pregnant woman's and the care provider's perspective.

Brændstrup N; Roland CB; de Place Knudsen S; Bendix JM; Clausen TD; Molsted S; Stallknecht B; Løkkegaard E; Jespersen AP pubmed id: 37660544

Many pregnant women do not get enough exercise, which is good for moms and babies. This study looks at how doctors can help pregnant women exercise more by talking to both the women and the doctors to learn more.

Exploring the effect of early menarche on sexual violence among adolescent girls and young women in southeastern Ghana: a longitudinal mediation analysis.

Ibitoye M; Sommer M; Davidson LL; Sandfort TGM pubmed id: 37656485

The study looked at girls in Ghana and found that those who started their periods early were more likely to face sexual violence. At first, 27% of the girls had experienced sexual violence, and this number grew to about 50% by three years later. The researchers think it's important to help protect girls during this time to keep them safe.