Current Sexual Health Reports最新文献

Purpose of the review: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health remains a major public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Comprehensive sex education (CSE) has been hailed as a key strategy to inform young people about sexual health and wellbeing and prevent negative health outcomes. This paper presents an overview of the trends and challenges around sex education in SSA and puts forth key recommendations for future research and policy initiatives.

Recent findings: This review employed a narrative approach to synthesize evidence on the implementation of comprehensive sex education in SSA. The literature review elicited four key themes: (i) comprehensiveness of CSE curricula, (ii) gender norms in CSE, (iii) prominence of 'fear' narratives in CSE implementation, and (iv) CSE delivery methods. Additionally, the authors propose a fifth theme-'Future-proofing CSE programs', based on their learnings from implementing sex education interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. These five themes are presented through a narrative description of current research accompanied by reflections from the authors on the implementation of a parent-focused sex education program in Uganda.

Summary: Based on the insights from the literature review and the authors' reflections, three recommendations are put forward to guide the design of further CSE initiatives: (i) stakeholder engagement in determining CSE priorities and strategies, (ii) diverse delivery pathways for CSE programs, and (iii) active engagement of both boys and girls to challenge gender norms in CSE.

Purpose of review: Semen analysis serves as the initial step in the evaluation of male infertility. However, given the difficulty in interpreting abnormal findings, physicians and patients often struggle with understanding the results. In this review, we aim to review the normal physiology of ejaculation and create an accessible resource for interpreting abnormal semen volume, viscosity, liquefaction, pH, appearance, and color.

Recent findings: Emerging evidence has revealed that men with genitourinary tract infections have a greater number of seminal leukocytes, which may result in clumping of motile sperm and altered morphology. Hence, these patients may have abnormal sperm parameters secondary to their health status. Recent findings have further characterized the semen liquefaction process, suggesting that increased levels of semenogelin and decreased levels of proteases and plasminogen activators (e.g., urokinase and chymotrypsin) may be associated with the failure of semen to convert to a watery consistency.

Summary: This article creates a resource which may be referenced when abnormalities in semen analysis are encountered. We offer a comprehensive overview of normal ejaculation physiology and abnormal variants in male ejaculate volume-including aspermia, anejaculation, retrograde ejaculation, and hypo- and hyperspermia-and their potential etiologies. Additionally, we discuss several processes (infection, inflammation, and dysfunction of male sex glands) which may affect semen viscosity, liquefaction, and pH. Finally, our discussion of the potential colors of male ejaculate is meant to reduce the anxiety of both patient and provider. Through a better understanding of the process and varying characteristics of ejaculation, physicians may adequately counsel their patients on abnormal findings and concerns regarding infertility.

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on out-of-hospital births (at home or in an independent birth center) in high-income countries in the time of coronavirus. Qualitative studies published between 2020 and 2022 providing findings on women's and health providers' perspectives and experiences, as well as policies and practices implemented, are synthetized.

Recent findings: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of women choosing the home or a birth center to deliver has grown considerably. Main reasons for this choice include fear of contagion in facilities and restrictions during delivery and the post-partum period, especially women's separation from their companion of choice and their newborn. Findings suggest that homebirth within a public model has several advantages in the experience of birth for both women and professionals during the pandemic period, maintaining the benefits of biomedicine when needed.

Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the interest in out-of-hospital birth increased in high-income countries, and the number of women choosing the home or a birth center to deliver has grown considerably. This review aims to give a more in-depth understanding of women's and health providers' perspectives on and experiences of out-of-hospital birth services during this period. Twenty-five studies in different countries, including the USA, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, Croatia, and Norway, were reviewed. Findings stress that out-of-hospital birth has allowed women to deliver according to their wishes and needs. In addition, the pandemic experience represents an opportunity for policy to better support and integrate out-of-hospital services in the health care system in the future.