International Journal of Sexual Health最新文献

Objectives: This report summarizes the key discussions and outcomes of the inaugural World Sexual Health Assembly, which culminated in the development of the Porto Proclamation on Sexual Health, Rights, and Justice. It aims to identify global challenges and emerging opportunities in sexual health, highlight new insights and capacities generated through the Assembly, and outline strategic actions to guide international efforts over the next five years.

Method: The report draws on the proceedings of the Assembly held in Porto, Portugal, which convened leaders from the United Nations, civil society organizations, professional associations, and academic institutions. Through plenary sessions, working groups, and multi-stakeholder dialogues, participants collaboratively examined intersections of research, policy, service delivery, and advocacy.

Results: Deliberations revealed widespread concern about escalating global threats to sexual rights, justice, and evidence-based practice, while also surfacing innovative models of collaboration and advocacy. Participants underscored the value of cross-sector and cross-regional dialogue as essential for translating research into action and fostering shared accountability. The Porto Proclamation emerged as a unifying framework articulating a shared global agenda for advancing sexual health, rights, and justice.

Conclusions: The Assembly marked a pivotal moment for global sexual health, demonstrating the power of inclusive, multidisciplinary collaboration. Moving forward, sustained solidarity and coordinated strategies across sectors will be critical to defending scientific integrity, advancing rights, and promoting sexual health and justice worldwide.

Objectives: Sleep-related eating disorder and sexsomnia are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) parasomnias, characterized by reward-seeking behaviors during NREM sleep. These conditions are likely underpinned by specific patterns of sleep-wake dissociation and appear to be more common than expected, leading to significant health risks, psychological distress and even forensic consequences.

Methods: We briefly review recent literature on sleep-related eating disorder and sexsomnia, and present three cases of each; for illustrating their clinical features and complexity.

Results: Genetic predisposition may set the stage for sleep-related eating disorder and sexsomnia; stress, alcohol-use and sleep-disruption promoting the episodes. While sharing the common pathophysiology of sleep-wake dissociation, the dissociation-patterns underlying sleep-related eating disorder, sexsomnia, and other NREM parasomnias might be different. One of our cases (sex without consent of the partner) points to the potential forensic consequence of sexsomnia; and two cases highlight the side-effect of Quetiapine and Zolpidem (alike several additional psychoactive drugs) provoking sleep-related eating-episodes. Rarely, these drug-related side-effects may have unexpected therapeutic benefits.

Conclusion: Sleep-related eating disorder and sexsomnia are under-recognized NREM parasomnias. Sexsomnia often leads to legal consequences with hard questions of responsibility; given its challenging multidisciplinary aspects. Regular sleep-schedule and other lifestyle-improvements help managing these conditions treated by Melatonin, certain antidepressants and, sedatives. Understanding their mechanism may provide meaningful data on reward-seeking during sleep.

Objectives: Ernst Burchard (1876-1920) worked as a neurologist and sexologist in early 20th century Berlin. He was a respected sexologist and court expert who researched extensively on transvestitism and homosexuality. Due to his early death, however, he soon fell into oblivion. Only recently has his scientific work been reviewed and, among other things, his Lexikon des gesamten Sexuallebens (Encyclopedia of the Entire Sexual Life) has been identified. The encyclopedia appeared in 1914 and thus comparatively early in a phase in which sexual science was beginning to establish itself as a German-dominated science. This study examines the originality of this work.

Methods: The study analyses Burchard's work and by comparing it with other standard works of the sexual sciences that also appeared in this era, the monograph can be historically classified.

Results and conclusions: Burchard's book appears to be the first sexological encyclopedia ever. It was published much earlier than other works, which had previously been recognized as pioneering achievements in sexual science research.and made an important contribution to the sexual education of the general population.

Background: Parenthood is a significant life transition, providing couples with a new identity. However, as they work to develop this identity, infertile couples may encounter difficulties related to their sexual and mental well-being. Couples with and without children have different relationship perspectives based on a number of personality traits and interpersonal attitudes. When taking into account the relationship viewpoint in the context of infertility, such factors that affect intimacy, communication, and sexual satisfaction, may be extremely significant. This study explores the differences in personality, temperament, and interpersonal attitudes between couples with and without infertility.

Method: The present investigation employed a nonequivalent comparison group design and included 408 participants (102 infertile couples and 102 fertile couples) drawn from two districts in Bihar, India. The recruitment of participants was made through purposive sampling method. The couples completed the Eyesenck Personality Questionnaire- S, Formal Characteristics of Behavior Temperament Inventory, and Sack's Sentence Completion Test.

Results: The results reveal that infertile couples group scored significantly higher on neuroticism and psychoticism trait. Further, infertile group scored significantly higher on sensory sensitivity temperament pattern. Additionally, the infertile couples experience significantly greater conflict in family, sexual, interpersonal and self-area.

Conclusion: Couples going through infertility may be more susceptible to experiencing negative emotions. They may have disturbed family relationships, sexual conflicts, and a poor sense of self-worth in comparison to couples who have achieved parenthood. However, further research is needed to explore the directionality of these associations, as it is also possible that preexisting emotional or relational difficulties contribute to challenges in achieving parenthood.

Sexual aggression (SA) perpetration poses a significant threat to public health and safety. Despite increased attention toward prevention of SA perpetration, empirical research and prevention programming have focused primarily on perpetration by cisgender men against cisgender women. This heteronormative framework neglects the needs of non-heterosexual populations who experience elevated rates of SA victimization and likely compounds existing inequities in mental health outcomes and access to care.

Objectives: To address this critical gap, this study presents a narrative review of the quantitative literature on SA perpetration in non-heterosexual populations.

Method: This narrative review identified seven quantitative studies on SA perpetration in LGBQ populations and (a) describes the methodology across studies, (b) describes the demographics across studies, and (c) summarizes prevalence rates and risk factors.

Results: There was a reasonable degree of consistency in the studies' measurement of SA perpetration. Differences included the specific measure, victim gender, and classification systems for SA. The samples identified were exclusively from wealthy, Western, industrialized nations and were predominantly White. Perpetration rates varied by gender and sexual orientation and classification system. Identified risk factors included variables related to early adverse events, sexuality and gender roles, aggression, and substance use.

Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that SA perpetration is not a public health problem exclusive to heterosexual individuals and that LGB populations would benefit from the development of etiological models and evidence-based intervention. Future research should attempt to replicate and extend findings, particularly among more diverse samples.

Objective: Eating disorders (EDs) are frequently associated with sexual dysfunction; however, research has not tested this relationship while adjusting for the known effects of anxiety and depression on sexual functioning. Furthermore, there is a notable lack of research on sexual functioning problems and ED symptoms among men.

Method: Undergraduate cisgender women (n = 1488) and men (n = 646) completed measures of ED psychopathology and sexual functioning problems. Hierarchical linear regressions predicting sexual functioning problems were conducted separately by gender including BMI, age, sexual attraction, anxiety and depression symptoms in Step 1 and an ED psychopathology variable (e.g., global score, dietary restraint, preoccupation and eating concern, or shape/weight overvaluation) in Step 2.

Results: For women, changes in proportion of the variance in sexual functioning problems when adding global score, dietary restraint, and preoccupation and eating concern to the models were statistically significant, but effect sizes were very small. Change in variance when adding weight and shape overvaluation was not significant. For men, all ED psychopathology variables accounted for significant, but small, changes in the proportion of variance in sexual functioning problems.

Discussion: Sexual functioning problems observed in women may be better explained by depressive symptomology, as variance explained by ED variables, while statistically significant, was small and likely of lower clinical relevance. Sexual functioning problems in men may be minorly influenced by ED psychopathology, independent of depression and anxiety symptoms. Results suggest the importance of screening for sexual functioning problems and developing interventions that target potential mechanisms related to psychopathology.

Objective: Menopausal women often experience changes in sexual function, including reduced desire, arousal difficulties, and increased sexual distress, which can impact their overall well-being. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have emerged as a potential approach to enhancing sexual function and reducing distress, yet their effectiveness remains uncertain. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of MBIs on sexual function, desire, arousal, sexual distress, and satisfaction in menopausal women.

Methods: We searched Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to February 2025. Studies were included if they evaluated the effects of MBIs on sexual function outcomes in menopausal women. In total, seven RCTs, involving 609 participants from the United States, Iran, India, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong, met the inclusion criteria. Intervention durations ranged from 8 to 12 weeks, with various validated measures used to assess sexual function and related outcomes. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists.

Results: Mindfulness demonstrated positive effects on sexual desire, arousal, and sexual distress in menopausal women. A significant reduction in sexual distress was consistently reported across studies. However, the effects on overall sexual function varied, with some studies showing improvements in satisfaction while others reported inconsistent findings. The heterogeneity in study design, intervention types, and outcome measures contributed to variations in reported effects.

Conclusions: Mindfulness appears to be beneficial in reducing sexual distress and improving aspects of sexual function in menopausal women. However, the variability in study outcomes highlights the need for further high-quality, standardized research to determine the long-term effectiveness and clinical applicability of these interventions. Given the increasing interest in nonpharmacological strategies for menopause-related health concerns, mindfulness may offer a promising complementary approach for sexual well-being in this population.

Objectives: Research on the association of childhood traumatic experiences and attachment styles with symptoms of Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) so far showed inhomogeneous results. This study aims to investigate the associations of these factors and their interaction with gender.

Methods: Within a cross-sectional study design, we collected a German convenience sample (n = 154, 73.4% women) online and tested the association of attachment style (Experiences in Close Relationships Revised, ECR-R), childhood traumatic experiences (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, CTQ), gender as predictor variables and CSBD symptoms (CSBD-19) as outcome in a linear regression analysis.

Results: Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were associated with CSBD symptoms in both genders. Women, but not men, who reported more pronounced childhood traumatic experiences, especially for the subscale of physical neglect in childhood, also reported more severe CSBD symptoms.

Conclusions: The results have implications for psychotherapy with individuals presenting with CSBD symptoms.

Objectives: This study aims to describe sexual behaviors and access to health care services among self-identified bisexual men and to examine differences between those who reported recent sexual intercourse with a woman (MSMW) and those who did not (MSM).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 560 self-reported bisexual men who responded to a semi-structured survey. Those who reported having intercourse with a woman in the year prior to the survey were classified as MSMW.

Results: MSMW behavior (48.9%) was associated with being 36 years or older and engaging in sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol (OR: 2.90, 95% CI: 1.65 - 5.10, p < 0.01; OR: 3.33, 95% CI: 2.13 - 5.21, p < 0.01; respectively). Conversely, MSM behavior was significantly associated with self-reporting HIV positive status and engaging in unprotected anal intercourse with any male sexual partner (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.19 - 0.95, p: 0.037; OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.46-1.02, p: 0.04; respectively).

Conclusion: Bisexual self-identification does not necessarily correlate with intercourse with both men and women. Instead, it relates to various psychosocial factors that result in distinct behavioral patterns and health needs. It is crucial to develop prevention strategies targeting bisexual men, considering their limited access to health services, sociodemographic characteristics, and the prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviors.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) remain significantly affected by HIV/AIDS due to high-risk sexual behaviors. The adoption rate of preventive measures like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use and HIV testing among MSM is insufficient in China, which requires more effective prevention strategies.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model-based digital health intervention in promoting healthy behaviors and reducing high-risk activities among MSM in China.

Method: A real-world exploratory study in a naturalistic setting without strict control over participants' daily behaviors was conducted using the Blued platform (a popular online geosocial networking platform in China) to deliver the self-developed IMB-based intervention materials to MSM in 3 cities in China, with 3 additional cities as the controls. A questionnaire including items on healthy behavior adoption was administered pre- and post-intervention and finally generated an unmatched pseudo-panel dataset. Multiple logistic regression, linear regression, and structural equation modeling analyses were used to examine the association between the IMB model and outcomes. The χ² test, Fisher's exact test, and two-sample independent t-test were utilized to identify potential confounders for further adjustment, and were applied in both the intention-to-treat (ITT) and as-treated (AT) analyses to explore the effectiveness of the intervention.

Results: Post-intervention, the intervention group showed a significant increase in HIV testing rates and PrEP awareness compared to the control group. The willingness to use oral PrEP was also improved. The intervention materials were favorably received, with most of the MSM perceiving the form and content of these materials as useful and attractive.

Conclusion: The IMB model-based digital health intervention effectively increased HIV testing rates and PrEP awareness among MSM. The high acceptance of the intervention materials suggests that such digital platforms can be a cost-effective strategy for HIV prevention in hard-to-reach populations.