Sexual Health

Emerging healthcare issues and needs of young MSM & TG in India: needs assessment from multi-stakeholders perspective

by Maheswar Satpathy

Tropa: Masculinity and Power in Sexual Health Seeking Behaviors among Male Youth Gangs

by Jeffry Acaba

Teenage sexuality in the media

by Susan Batchelor

Sexual Health, Risk Behaviors, and Substance Use In Heterosexual-Identified Women With Female Sex Partners: 2002 US National Survey of Family Growth

by Greta Bauer

Beyond Assumptions of Negligible Risk: Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Women Who Have Sex With Women

by Greta Bauer

The Evaluation of the National Sexual Health Demonstation of Healthy Respect: Phase 2

by Martine Miller

Transliberación de la corporalidad: Transitando la transexualidad desde la bioética

by Jorge Alberto Álvarez-Díaz

Gaudineau, A., Ehlinger, V., Nic Gabhainn, S., Vayssiere, C., Arnaud, C. & Godeau, E. (2010). Use of emergency contraception pill by 15 years old girls: results from the international health behaviour in school-aged children (HBSC) study. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 117(10), 1197-1204

by Saoirse Nic Gabhainn

Deregulating Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg for EC: Is It Time for a" Plan B"?

by Suzanne Sicchia

Sicchia, S.R., & Kelly, L.M. (2006). University of Toronto Medical Journal, 83(2), 84-86.

Anatomy of a Cargo Cult: Virginity, Relic Envy, and Hallowed Boxes

by Ryan Byrne

Resurrecting the Brother of Jesus, eds. Ryan Byrne and Bernadette McNary-Zak (University of North Carolina Press, 2009) pp. 137-186

Corporalidad y sexualidad. Aportaciones desde la esterilidad

by Jorge Alberto Álvarez-Díaz

Examining African American female adolescent sexuality within mainstream Hip Hop culture using a womanist- ecological model of human development

by Dionne Stephens

Stephens, D. P., Phillips, L .D., & Few, A. L. (2009). Examining African American female adolescent sexuality within mainstream Hip Hop culture using a womanist- ecological model of human development (pp. 160- 174). In S. Loyd, A. L. Few and K. Allen (Eds.) Handbook of Feminist Theory, Methods and Praxis in Family Studies. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

African American Female Adolescent Sexuality: Creating Change Using an Ecological-Womanist Lens

by Dionne Stephens

Few, A. L., & Stephens, D. P. (2009). African American adolescent female sexuality: Creating change using a womanist- ecological lens (pp. 75- 94). In K. Roberto & J. Mancini (Eds.) Pathways of Development: Explorations of Change. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

The Effectiveness of Interventions to Change Six Health Behaviours: a Review of Reviews

by Fiona Harris

An assessment of body appreciation and its relationship to sexual function in women

by Sonya Satinsky

Co-authored with Michael Reece, Stephanie Sanders, Barbara Dennis, and Shaowen Bardzell. Published in Body Image

Objectification theory posits internalization of an observer's gaze may negatively impact women's feelings about their... more Objectification theory posits internalization of an observer's gaze may negatively impact women's feelings about their bodies, which may subsequently affect their sexual function. Subjective body image and body size (i.e., body mass index [BMI]) have mixed relationships to women's sexuality, but assessment of positive body image as a sign of resistance to objectification has not been researched. This study explored relations between body appreciation and sexual function in women and assessed whether body size impacted this relationship. Cross-sectional data were collected online from 247 women, ages 18 to 58. Body appreciation scores were modestly negatively correlated with BMI, while BMI was not related to sexual function scores. After controlling for sexual orientation, partner status, and age, body appreciation predicted the arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction aspects of sexual function. Practitioners’ encouragement of body appreciation may improve sexual function in a way that encouraging a reduction in body size may not.

USA study of sex toy use by HIV-positive men who have sex with other men: implications for sexual health

by Sonya Satinsky

Co-authored with Joshua Rosenberger, Vanessa Schick, David Novak, and Michael Reece

HIV/AIDS disproportionately impacts men who have sex with men (MSM) in the USA. Most existing literature on MSM with... more HIV/AIDS disproportionately impacts men who have sex with men (MSM) in the USA. Most existing literature on MSM with HIV focuses on transmission risk, but does not acknowledge health-promoting sexual behaviours men may undertake. This study examined sex toy use within this population to describe the extent to which using toys is incorporated into their sexual repertoires as a risk reduction practice. Data regarding sociodemographics, sexual/health-related behaviours and sex toy use were collected from 2275 MSM using an online survey. Most participants reported being sexually active (88.5%), and the majority (70.2%) of participants reported sex toy use within the previous year. Sex toy users were more likely to be white, in sexual relationships with others, and reported higher levels of sexual satisfaction. Given that sex toy use is common among this population, room for discussion exists about sex toys as tools to enhance pleasure and reduce HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission.

Risk reduction as an accepted framework for safer-sex promotion among women who have sex with women

by Peta Cox

Co-authored with Ruth McNair, University of Melbourne

Background: Safer-sex information for women who have sex with women (WSW) is often very difficult to locate.... more Background: Safer-sex information for women who have sex with women (WSW) is often very difficult to locate. Girl2girl.info is one of the only websites focussed on safer sex for WSW. The present article describes the predevelopment consultation and evaluation of girl2girl.info. A risk-reduction framework was used to develop the website. Methods: Girl2girl.info was developed in 2004 using questionnaires and focus groups with 36 consumers who were WSW, largely based in Canberra, Australia. In 2006–2007 the site was evaluated using mixed methods of questionnaires with 74 WSW and interviews with 17 health professionals around Australia. Results: This research has identified some key attitudes toward safer sex of WSW participants, in particular a misperception that the majority of WSW are at low risk for sexually transmissible infections and a consistent aversion to using latex for safer sex. Conclusions: The article concludes that the promotion of a risk-reduction approach – including non-latex-based safer-sex practices – for WSW is both a theoretically appropriate and engaging form of health promotion for WSW.

Keywords: attitudes, health promotion, latex, lesbian, safe sex, sexually transmissible infection prevention, website.

Filipino men’s condom use during gay sex: Findings from the 2003 National Demographic & Health Survey

by Eric Julian Manalastas

Manalastas, E.J. (2006). Filipino men’s condom use during gay sex: Findings from the 2003 National Demographic & Health Survey. Philippine Population Review, 5, 86-99.

Using data from the 2003 National Demographic and Health Survey, this report presents baseline findings on Filipino... more Using data from the 2003 National Demographic and Health Survey, this report presents baseline findings on Filipino men’s self-reported condom use during gay sex. A nationally representative sample of N = 4,766 Filipino men ages 15 to 54 indicate that 6.8% of sexually active men had had sex with another man at least once, with a higher proportion among the young adult, 15 to 24 year-old subset (15.5%). Despite prevalent beliefs that condoms could protect against disease, the level of actual condom use during first gay sex was very low (10.1%). Descriptive findings are analyzed using a sexual culture perspective, which points to further sexuality research directions including improved assessment of sexual behaviors and more in-depth investigation of social dynamics and contexts of sex between Filipino men.

HIV Testing as a Sexual Health Behavior among Filipino Men: Findings from a 2003 National Survey

by Eric Julian Manalastas

Manalastas, E.J., Sese, D.A., & Cabrera, N. L. (2007). HIV testing as a sexual health behavior among Filipino men: Findings from a 2003 national survey. Philippine Journal of Psychology, 40, 101-122.

Current reported HIV infection rates among Filipino men may be relatively low, but so is HIV testing, a necessary... more Current reported HIV infection rates among Filipino men may be relatively low, but so is HIV testing, a necessary behavioral step for determining one’s serostatus.  Using data from a nationally representative sample of N = 3,519 sexually active Filipino men ages 15 to 54 who participated in the National Demographic & Health Survey (2003), we explored HIV testing as a sexual health behavior.  Results indicated that overall testing rate was extremely low (4.7%).  HIV tests were more commonly taken as part of a requirement than as voluntary, self-initiated action.  One out of four tested Filipino men failed to return for their test results.  Other sexual health behaviors like recent condom use were associated with having been tested, unlike HIV-related cognitions.  Among those never been tested, half reported wanting to undergo HIV testing, although many did not know where the test was available.  The significance of HIV testing for personal and public health, as well as implications for psychological research and practice, are discussed.

Faceless Sex: Glory Holes and Sexual Assemblages

by Stuart Murray

co-authored with P. O'Byrne & D. Holmes, Journal of Nursing Philosophy, vol. 11, no. 4 (2010): 250-259

According to our previous research, the use of glory holes in public venues such as saunas and bathhouses is very... more According to our previous research, the use of glory holes in public venues such as saunas and bathhouses is very popular.The popularity of glory holes is due in part to the anonymous sex that these architectural elements allow. This post-structuralist theoretical reflection seeks to understand the specific nature of anonymous public sex among bathhouse patrons, focusing on the links between desire–architecture–place– sexual practices. Drawing on interviews with glory hole users gathered during an ethnographic research project in bathhouses, this essay goes beyond traditional public health discourse to offer an original perspective on anonymous public sex. Utilizing the philosophy of Deleuze and Guattari’s concepts of assemblages and machines, we re-theorize glory hole sex – what we call ‘faceless sex’ – and rethink the ways that desire is imbricated with our understanding of architecture, place, and public. Finally, we reflect upon the particular ethical challenges that are posed by these particular sexual practices, and ask whether a post-structuralist ethic might be possible.