Sexual Health Article Feed
February 9th, 2025
Bots and nots: Safeguarding online survey research with underrepresented and diverse populations.
Bybee S; Cloyes K; Ellington L; Baucom B; Supiano K; Mooney K pubmed id: 36439051Researchers used online surveys to include diverse groups in a study, but they had to watch out for fake responses from bots. They checked the answers carefully, stopped new entries a bit, and made new plans to find and stop the fake ones, to make sure the study was fair and safe.
Recruiting Cisgender Female Couples for Health Disparity-Focused Daily Diary Research: Challenges, Successes, and Lessons Learned.
Lewis RJ; Dawson CA; Shappie AT; Braitman AL; Heron KE pubmed id: 36439050Researchers studied women who are in same-sex relationships to learn about their health and alcohol use. They used a company to find lots of different couples for the study. Many couples joined and followed the study rules well.
Gender norms and family planning amongst pastoralists in Kenya: a qualitative study in Wajir and Mandera.
Kenny L; Lokot M; Bhatia A; Hassan R; Pyror S; Dagadu NA; Aden A; Shariff A; Bacchus LJ; Hossain M; Cislaghi B pubmed id: 36416930In Kenya, many people think it's important to have big families, especially in nomadic communities, because of their beliefs and way of life. Even though they like having many children, they also believe in giving space between kids by breastfeeding and not having sex for a while. People in these communities usually don't like modern family planning methods, unless it's needed for health reasons.
Understanding the role of race in abortion stigma in the United States: a systematic scoping review.
Brown K; Laverde R; Barr-Walker J; Steinauer J pubmed id: 36416664This study looked at how people from different races feel about abortion and the stigma around it. They found that women of color often experience abortion stigma differently than White women. The researchers think it's important to look more into how race and culture affect these experiences to better support people.
Restrictions on contraceptive services for unmarried youth: a qualitative study of providers' beliefs and attitudes in India.
Shukla A; Kumar A; Mozumdar A; Acharya R; Aruldas K; Saggurti N pubmed id: 36416064Unmarried young people in India have a hard time getting help with sex health because talking about it is awkward and some healthcare workers don't want to give them contraception. Many of the workers are worried about what the community might think, and some even think it's illegal to help, even though it's not. This study found that personal beliefs often get in the way of providing the help that's needed.
Attachment and Sexuality: Impact of Confinement by COVID-19.
Torres-Cruz D; Aznar-Martínez B; Pérez-Testor C pubmed id: 36415482The study looked at how being stuck inside during COVID-19 affected people's feelings about themselves in relationships and intimacy. Some people had more trouble with these feelings, especially feeling sad about their sexual lives. Overall, being confined made some people feel worse about their sexual experiences.
Intimate relationships after receiving versus being denied an abortion: A 5-year prospective study in the United States.
Upadhyay UD; Foster DG; Gould H; Biggs MA pubmed id: 36414233The study looks at how not being able to get an abortion can change a woman's relationships with her partner and future romantic partners. Researchers wanted to see the differences in women's relationships if they get an abortion versus if they are denied one, up to 5 years later.
Supporting young women with menstrual pain - Experiences of midwives working at youth clinics.
Eldestrand L; Nieminen K; Grundström H pubmed id: 36413880Menstrual pain is common in young girls, and many of them visit youth clinics to get help for these problems.
Health literacy levels among women in the prenatal period: A systematic review.
Meldgaard M; Gamborg M; Terkildsen Maindal H pubmed id: 36413879This study looks at how well pregnant women understand health information. If they don't understand it well, it can lead to problems during pregnancy and birth. The researchers wanted to see what is already known about this topic.
Sexual activities and condom use among heterosexual men and women engaged in mixed-gender group sex events in Melbourne, Australia.
Lew C; Fairley CK; Tran J; Phillips TR; Ong JJ; Aung ET; Maddaford K; Bradshaw CS; Chen MY; Chow EPF pubmed id: 36411061This study looked at people who like to have group sex but are straight. The researchers wanted to learn more about who these people are and what they do in these situations.
Dose selection for a phase III study evaluating gepotidacin (GSK2140944) in the treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhoea.
Scangarella-Oman NE; Hossain M; Perry CR; Tiffany C; Powell M; Swift B; Dumont EF pubmed id: 36411033Gepotidacin is a new type of antibiotic that works against bacteria in a different way. Scientists used lab and clinical data to help pick the right dose for gepotidacin to test in people with a kind of infection.
Improving access to quality contraceptive counselling in community pharmacy: examining the knowledge, attitudes and practices of community pharmacists in Australia.
Buckingham PLM; Hussainy S; Soon J; Norman WV; Bateson D; Mazza D pubmed id: 36410765In Australia, the job of community pharmacists in helping with contraception hasn't changed much since 2004. The study looked at what these pharmacists know about contraception and how they feel about helping people with it.
Why women choose self-managed telemedicine abortion in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national mixed methods study.
Cui N; Gemzell-Danielsson K; Gomperts R pubmed id: 36410763The COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for people to visit abortion clinics in the Netherlands. Women on Web is a service that helps with medical abortions through the internet.
Another perspective: Reflections on using qualitative video-recall procedures in sexual communication research with partnered gay men.
Gendron MR; Jordan S pubmed id: 36408124This study used video-recall methods to learn about how gay male couples talk about their sexual relationships. Couples talked about things they wanted to explore or change, then watched their videos to reflect. This helped researchers understand more about sexual communication and relationships.
Examining perceived effects of same-sex marriage legalization among sexual minority women: Identifying demographic differences and factors related to alcohol use disorder, depression, and self-perceived health.
Drabble LA; Mericle AA; Munroe C; Wootton AR; Trocki KF; Hughes TL pubmed id: 36407656When same-sex marriage becomes legal, it helps people who are in same-sex relationships feel better mentally and physically. But it might not help as much for women in these relationships.
Responding to "Don't Say Gay" Laws in the US: Research Priorities and Considerations for Health Equity.
Kline NS; Griner SB; Neelamegam M; Webb NJ; Morales JJ; Rhodes SD pubmed id: 36406660Some new laws in the USA try to stop people from talking about being LGBTQ+ in schools, like Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law. Even though LGBTQ+ people have more legal rights now, some states are still making laws against them.
Meaning in Life, Death Anxiety, and Spirituality in the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community: A Scoping Review.
Ledesma GCM; Reyes MES; Delariarte CF pubmed id: 36405399The research looked at how people in the LGB community find meaning in life, feel about death, and connect spiritually. It found that many LGB people find meaning through family, work, and relationships, and they see spirituality as separate from religion. The studies suggest we need more research to understand these feelings and ideas today.
Abortion incidence and service availability in the United States, 2020.
Jones RK; Kirstein M; Philbin J pubmed id: 36404279This study looks at how often abortions happened and how they were done before Roe v. Wade was changed.
Effects of Flibanserin on Subdomain Scores of the Female Sexual Function Index in Women With Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder.
Simon JA; Clayton AH; Goldstein I; Kingsberg SA; Shapiro M; Patel S; Kim NN pubmed id: 36400683Flibanserin helps some women want to have sex more and feel better about their sex life. Scientists are still learning more about how it affects other parts of sexual health and how quickly it works.
Developing a symptoms-based risk score for infectious syphilis among men who have sex with men.
Nieuwenburg SA; Hoornenborg E; Davidovich U; de Vries HJC; Schim van der Loeff M pubmed id: 36400527More men who have sex with men are getting syphilis. A new online tool can help these men find out if they are at higher risk, so they can go to the doctor sooner. This study worked on creating a risk score based on symptoms for syphilis.
An in-depth analysis of the sexuality needs of Barcelona's youth: a holistic view using mixed method.
Forcadell-Díez L; Benlliure JB; Martínez C; Pérez G pubmed id: 36399103The study looked at the sexual health needs of young people in Barcelona. It found that young people want more information to safely enjoy their sexuality and deal with unexpected situations. Additionally, it suggested that sex education needs improvement to be more helpful.
Impact of Migration and Acculturation on Turkish Men Who Have Sex with Men in Germany: Results from the 2010 European MSM Internet Survey.
Schmidt AJ; Ross MW; Berg RC; Altan P pubmed id: 36396921The study looked at how Turkish men who have sex with men changed when they moved to Germany. It found that the longer they stayed in Germany, the more they knew about HIV, felt better about being gay, and shared their sexual orientation with others. Also, they were less likely to have certain cultural practices from Turkey, like circumcision.
Understanding sexual transmission dynamics and transmission contexts of monkeypox virus: a mixed-methods study of the early outbreak in Belgium (May-June 2022).
Vanhamel J; Laisnez V; Liesenborghs L; Brosius I; Berens-Riha N; Vanbaelen T; Kenyon C; Vercauteren K; Laga M; Hammami N; Lambricht O; Mahieu R; Lecompte A; Vanden Berghe W; Vuylsteke B pubmed id: 36396173The research talks about the spread of monkeypox and how it may be related to sexual contact. It focuses on understanding how people behave when they have the virus and looks closely at the situation in Belgium.
Which interventions improve HPV vaccination uptake and intention in children, adolescents and young adults? An umbrella review.
Bennett C; Edwards D; Sherman SM; Baker P; Waheed DE; Vorsters A; Sarıca Çevik H; Karafillakis E; Prue G; Kelly D pubmed id: 36396162The HPV vaccine helps protect people from cancers caused by a virus. But, not everyone gets the vaccine in the same way everywhere. This paper looks at different ways to get more people to take the vaccine and how well those ways work.
Perceptions of Sexual Risk, PrEP Services, and Peer Navigation Support among HIV-Negative Latinx and Black Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) Residing in Western Washington.
Jaramillo J; Pagkas-Bather J; Waters K; Shackelford LB; Campbell RD; Henry J; Grandberry V; Ramirez LF; Cervantes L; Stekler J; Andrasik MP; Graham SM pubmed id: 36387840HIV medicine that can stop the virus from spreading is not used enough by Latinx and Black men in the U.S. who are at risk. Scientists are trying to find the best ways to help these men take the medicine regularly.
Effects of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Use on T-cells and Immune Markers on Men Who Have Sex with Men.
Park JW; Arah OA; Martinez-Maza O; Dobs AS; Ho KS; Palella FJ; Seaberg EC; Detels R pubmed id: 36387612This study looks at how using erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs might affect certain immune cells, called CD4 and CD8 T-cells, in men who have sex with men. It aims to understand the relationship between these drugs and immune markers.
Do Beliefs About Sexual Orientation Predict Sexual Identity Labeling Among Sexual Minorities?
Morandini JS; Menzies RE; Moreton SG; Dar-Nimrod I pubmed id: 36385682The study looked at how beliefs about sexual orientation affect how people label their own identities. It found that people who identify as gay or lesbian have stronger beliefs in the naturalness and importance of sexual orientation than bisexuals or those identifying as queer or pansexual. Also, people with stronger beliefs about sexual orientation often chose labels like gay, lesbian, or pansexual depending on those beliefs.
Long Term Recidivism Rates Among Individuals at High Risk to Sexually Reoffend.
Hanson RK; Lee SC; Thornton D pubmed id: 36382622This study followed 377 men with a history of sexual offending in Canada for 20 years to see if they would commit crimes again. They found that some people could be identified as high risk using tests and that many did reoffend, with 40% to over 50% committing new sexual crimes. The study shows that high-risk individuals can be spotted and they often commit more crimes over time.
Relating 'to her Human Side': a Grounded Theory analysis of cosmetologists' and aestheticians' relationships with clients in Black American beauty salons to inform sexual health interventions.
Morehead-Gee A; Üsküp DK; Omokaro U; Shoptaw S; Harawa NT; Heilemann MV pubmed id: 36377185Researchers studied Black American women stylists and their chats with clients in salons. They found that these stylists create a safe and comfortable space where clients talk about personal topics like sex and relationships. This trusting relationship makes salons a good place for important health talks.
Gender Identification Beyond the Binary and Its Consequences for Social Well-Being.
Wickham MI; van Nunspeet F; Ellemers N pubmed id: 36376744Researchers studied why some people don't fit into the categories of just "man" or "woman" and how that affects their well-being. They found that non-conforming people often feel less true to themselves and less happy. Moving away from strict gender categories might help many people feel better about themselves.
The Impact of Household Context on Self-Perceived Changes in Solo and Partnered Sexual Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a U.S. Probability Survey.
Hensel DJ; Rosenberg M; Luetke M; Fu TC; Herbenick D pubmed id: 36376743Researchers studied how living situations affected changes in sexual behaviors during the early COVID-19 pandemic by surveying U.S. adults. They found that living without a partner often led to less affection, while those without jobs reported doing more activities like sexting or consuming explicit materials. The study suggests that understanding these changes can help with planning for sexual health in future health emergencies.
Ageing in obscurity: a critical literature review regarding older intersex people.
Berry AW; Monro S pubmed id: 36369786Intersex people often face unfair treatment and get medical procedures without agreeing to them, especially when they're young. Older intersex people also face many challenges, but not much is known about their specific issues. There's a need to change medical practices and create better healthcare and awareness for intersex people.
"": a qualitative, community-led medication abortion study with Black and Latinx Women in Georgia, USA.
Mosley EA; Ayala S; Jah Z; Hailstorks T; Hairston I; Rice WS; Hernandez N; Jackson K; Scales M; Gutierrez M; Goode B; Filippa S; Strader S; Umbria M; Watson A; Faruque J; Raji A; Dunkley J; Rogers P; Ellison C; Suarez K; Diallo DD; Hall KS pubmed id: 36368036A study was done to understand how Black and Latinx women feel about medication abortion in Georgia. They found that many people face challenges like not enough support or information and unfair policies. To help, they suggest using social media, making clinics more welcoming, and better education.
Changes in Sexual Behavior Over the COVID-19 Pandemic Among a Community-Based Cohort of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Columbus, Ohio.
Ricks JM; Spahnie M; Matthews A; Copen CE; Rushmore J; Bernstein KT; Miller WC; Turner AN pubmed id: 36367583The study looked at what men who have sex with men thought about COVID-19 and how their sexual behavior changed during three times: April-July 2020, August-December 2020, and January-May 2021.
Australian sexually transmitted infection (STI) management guidelines for use in primary care 2022 update.
Ong JJ; Bourne C; Dean JA; Ryder N; Cornelisse VJ; Murray S; Kenchington P; Moten A; Gibbs C; Maunsell S; Davis T; Michaels J; Medland NA pubmed id: 36356948The guidelines for managing sexually transmitted infections in Australia were updated by experts to help doctors give the best care. The rules cover different parts of care, like regular check-ups and tracing contacts, and are now better for various groups and places. This paper explains what was changed and why.
Uncertainty and Confusion Regarding Transgender Non-discrimination Policies: Implications for the Mental Health of Transgender Americans.
Hughto JMW; Meyers DJ; Mimiaga MJ; Reisner SL; Cahill S pubmed id: 36352892Some new rules have taken away rights from transgender people in the US. We need to learn what transgender people know and feel about these rules and how they affect their mental health.
Disruptions and opportunities in sexual and reproductive health care: How COVID-19 impacted service provision in three US states.
VandeVusse A; Castillo PW; Kirstein M; Mueller J; Kavanaugh M pubmed id: 36351551The COVID-19 pandemic suddenly made it hard for people in the United States to get the health care they need for sexual and reproductive issues.
Modus Operandi in Sexual Assaults of Female Strangers Does Not Change Over Time.
Beauregard E; Chopin J; Andresen M pubmed id: 36350246The study looked at how ways of committing sexual crimes in France changed from 2003 to 2017. Even though there were some changes, the main ways these crimes were done stayed mostly the same. The researchers talked about what this could mean for understanding crime.
Testing a psychosocial model of sexual communication and sexual risk-taking: A cross-sectional, online survey study of Australian University students.
Anderson LE; Dingle GA; Moran C; Gullo MJ pubmed id: 36347168This study looked into why young people might take sexual risks, like not using protection. It checked things like how people feel, act, and talk with others, plus what is common in society or happens in certain situations.
When Staying Home Is Not Safe: An Investigation of the Role of Attachment Style on Stress and Intimate Partner Violence in the Time of COVID-19.
Gottlieb L; Schmitt DP pubmed id: 36344792The study looked at how COVID-related stress affects people being mean to their partners. It found that people who were usually secure in their relationships might become mean if they had COVID-related stress, but those who were already insecure stayed mean no matter what. This research helps us understand why more people might be having trouble at home and how we can help them.
The Impact of First UK-Wide Lockdown (March-June 2020) on Sexual Behaviors in Men and Gender Diverse People Who Have Sex with Men During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey.
Nadarzynski T; Nutland W; Samba P; Bayley J; Witzel TC pubmed id: 36344786During the COVID-19 lockdown, most men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men reported having fewer casual sex partners, but a few still had multiple partners. Some people continued to be sexually active because they used apps, were less worried about getting COVID, or used medicines to prevent STIs. There's a need to give health support and check for STIs in groups that stayed active during this time.
Provision of cervical screening for transmasculine patients: a review of clinical and programmatic guidelines.
Nicholls EJ; McGowan CR; Miles S; Baxter L; Dix L; Rowlands S; McCartney D; Marston C pubmed id: 36344235Regular check-ups can stop most cervical cancers. However, transgender men often face challenges and don't get checked as much as cisgender women. To help them, we need better guidelines for these check-ups.
'I did not have sex outside of our bubble': changes in sexual practices and risk reduction strategies among sexual minority men in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daroya E; Grey C; Lessard D; Klassen B; Skakoon-Sparling S; Gaspar M; Perez-Brumer A; Adam B; Lachowsky NJ; Moore D; Sang JM; Lambert G; Hart TA; Cox J; Jollimore J; Tan DHS; Grace D pubmed id: 36336339This research looked at how COVID-19 rules changed the way gay, bisexual, and queer men in Canada had sex. The men used their experience with HIV/STI safety to create new ways to stay safe, like making "sex bubbles" and using masks during sex.
Factors associated with never-use of long-acting reversible contraception among adult reproductive-aged women in Ohio.
Chakraborty P; Chettri S; Gallo MF; Smith MH; Hood RB; Bessett D; Casterline JB; Norris AH; Turner AN pubmed id: 36336335More women are using long-term birth control like IUDs and implants, and about 14% of people who use birth control in the U.S. choose these methods. This study looked at why some women in Ohio have never used these long-term options.
Service delivery at Title X sites in Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Burke KL; Sierra G; Lerma K; White K pubmed id: 36336334Title X sites helped people with reproductive healthcare during COVID-19 when many faced money problems and changed their views on having children. This study looked at how Texas Title X sites changed their services in the first year of the pandemic.
Perception of coercion during contraceptive counseling among individuals with HIV.
Lazenby GB; Sundstrom BL; Momplaisir FM; Badell ML; Rahangdale L; Nissim OA; Tarleton JL; Dempsey AR pubmed id: 36334506The research looked at how people with HIV feel when getting advice about having babies and using birth control. Sometimes they felt like they were being forced to make certain choices. The study wanted to understand these feelings and how they affect the decisions they make after having a baby.
Identifying Predictors of Anal HPV Status in HPV-Vaccinated MSM: A Machine Learning Approach.
Ocagli H; Bottigliengo D; Lorenzoni G; Fontana F; Negri C; Moise GM; Gregori D; Clemente L pubmed id: 36332152This study looked at why some men who have sex with other men get a virus called HPV even after getting a vaccine. They found that age, when they first had sex, and having HIV were important factors, but things like drug use and having many partners weren't as important. This means health campaigns should focus more on preventing HPV.
Causal Influences of Same-Sex Attraction on Psychological Distress and Risky Sexual Behaviors: Evidence for Bidirectional Effects.
Oginni OA; Lim KX; Purves KL; Lu Y; Johansson A; Jern P; Rijsdijk FV pubmed id: 36331682The study looked at whether being attracted to the same sex causes people to feel more distress or take more risks. Results showed that same-sex attraction is connected to feeling stressed and taking risky actions, but stress and risky actions can also affect same-sex attraction. More research is needed to understand why this happens.
Choosing Castration: A Thematic Analysis of the Perceived Pros and Cons of Genital Injuries and Ablation by Men Who Voluntarily Sought Castration.
Wibowo E; Wong STS; Wassersug RJ; Johnson TW pubmed id: 36327012Some men choose to be castrated even when there's no medical need. This study looks at why they make this choice and finds that they have different reasons, like wanting to change their appearance or being non-sexual. People learn about castration from things like media or seeing animals being castrated, and their views on its good and bad sides vary a lot.
Feasibility of e-commerce pharmacy provision and acceptability of levonorgestrel 1.5 mg for pericoital use in urban and peri-urban settings in Kenya: a prospective cohort study.
Odwe G; McCann B; Liambila W; Vandermark J; Mwanga D; Anab E; Wanami M; Ramarao S pubmed id: 36323492Researchers studied if women in Kenya could use an 'on-demand' birth control pill easily through online pharmacies. They looked at the use of a medicine called levonorgestrel for women who don't have sex often.