Sexual Health

Sexual Health publishes contributions on sexual health from the widest perspectives including HIV/AIDS, STIs, issues of sexuality, and reproductive health. Read more about the journalMore

Editors-in-Chief: Jason Ong and Joseph Tucker

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Sexual Health has moved to a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 14 May 2024

SH23197Adapting an artificial intelligence sexually transmitted diseases symptom checker tool for Mpox detection: the HeHealth experience

Rayner Kay Jin Tan

, Dilruk Perera, Salomi Arasaratnam

and Yudara Kularathne

Prior to the global Monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak, we developed a smartphone app (HeHealth) where users can take pictures of their penises with a smartphone to screen for symptomatic sexually transmitted diseases. We further developed the Mpox tool that involved formative research, stakeholder engagement, rapid consolidation of Mpox images, a validation study, and implementation. Artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches can be initiated by smaller datasets and refined along the way, which is important in the event of global pandemics or outbreaks.

SH23197 Abstract | SH23197 Full Text | SH23197PDF (907 KB) Open Access Article

Published online 14 May 2024

SH24026Analysis of pelvic floor muscle electromyography parameters in women with or without sexual dysfunction

Chunyan Wang

, Yan Che, Yumei Zhang, Tingfeng Guan, Jie Wang and Xinying Du

Female sexual dysfunction brings great trouble to women. Evidence suggests that women with greater pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength have better sexual function. Sexually active women have better PFM endurance than inactive women. However, it has also been reported that PFM strength is not correlated with sexual function. Here, we assessed female PFM function with electromyography, and explored the relationships between electromyography parameters and sexual dysfunction, in an attempt to provide an objective basis for sexual dysfunction diagnosis and treatment.

SH24026 Abstract | SH24026 Full Text | SH24026PDF (199 KB) Open Access Article

Published online 13 May 2024

SH23176The impact of socio-environmental factors on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis awareness in the US: a cross-sectional study

Krishen D. Samuel, Matthew S. Ellis and Mance E. Buttram

Bacterial STIs are on the rise in the US. Although people assigned male at birth can benefit from taking an antibiotic soon after sex (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent STIs, we found that only one-quarter of participants surveyed were aware of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis; those living in places with LGBTQ inequality were less likely to be aware. Increased awareness of new prevention approaches among those most at risk is crucial to increased uptake.

Published online 06 May 2024

SH23185Turkish women’s perception of low sexual desire, its causes and consequences: an online qualitative survey

Sinan Tetik

and Özden Yalçinkaya Alkar

Our research indicates that women’s sexual desire is frequently ignored and suppressed, which can have negative consequences when not expressed within socially acceptable contexts. The causes and solutions for decreased desire in women extend beyond individual factors, and encompass relational and social influences. Sexual desire plays a crucial role in motivating sexual behaviour, and as such, it should be incorporated into health education, health promotion and public health policies.

Published online 29 April 2024

SH23194Client and staff perceptions of acceptability of MyCheck: a direct-to-pathology telehealth and e-testing service for comprehensive bloodborne virus and sexually transmissible infection screening

Lise Lafferty

, Clinton Rautenbach, Anna McNulty

, Nathan Ryder

, Carolyn Slattery, Rebecca Houghton, Aurelie Kenigsberg, Carolyn Murray, Nigel Carrington and Prital Patel

Sydney Sexual Health Centre (SSHC) piloted MyCheck, a direct-to-pathology pathway that facilitated bloodborne virus/sexually transmissible infection testing at participating pathology collection centres located across New South Wales. This qualitative study sought to understand perspectives of acceptability of the MyCheck intervention among SSHC clients and providers’. The MyCheck intervention was perceived by both SSHC clients and staff as an acceptable bloodborne virus/sexually transmissible infection testing pathway. However, further work is required to address stigma experienced by some clients when attending pathology collection centres.

SH23194 Abstract | SH23194 Full Text | SH23194PDF (213 KB) Open Access Article

Published online 29 April 2024

SH24028The use of suboptimal antiretroviral therapy when applying for migration to Australia: a case series

Daniel Tran

, Brent Allan, Alexandra Stratigos, Darryl O’Donnell, Dash Heath-Paynter, Aaron Cogle and Jason J. Ong

Even in the modern day, people living with HIV (PLHIV) are often subjected to poorer physical and mental health outcomes. Such health outcomes were identified in this case series, whereby six patients were noted to be experiencing significant stress, anxiety and medication side effects from electing to receive cheap, suboptimal HIV treatments to remain below Australian visa medical cost thresholds. These findings reinforce the need to review Australian migration laws which currently discriminate against PLHIV.

SH24028 Abstract | SH24028 Full Text | SH24028PDF (199 KB) Open Access Article

Published online 29 April 2024

SH23210The influence of home versus clinic anal human papillomavirus sampling on high-resolution anoscopy uptake in the Prevent Anal Cancer Self-Swab Study

Jenna Nitkowski

, Timothy J. Ridolfi, Sarah J. Lundeen, Anna R. Giuliano, Elizabeth Y. Chiao, Maria E. Fernandez, Vanessa Schick, Jennifer S. Smith, Bridgett Brzezinski and Alan G. Nyitray

Anal cancer disproportionately affects men who have sex with men living with HIV. We examined whether anal HPV sampling at home versus in a clinic impacts uptake of high-resolution anoscopy (HRA), an in-clinic procedure. Anal cytology history and insertive anal sex position were associated with higher HRA uptake, and attendance differed by race and HIV status in the clinic arm. Given that people living with HIV and Black men who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by anal cancer, interventions are needed to support their clinic attendance.

Published online 22 April 2024

SH23206Pre-exposure prophylaxis and telemedicine during coronavirus (COVID-19): a qualitative study of the experiences of health care professionals in Mexico

A. Cruz-Bañares

, A. Rojas-Carmona

, S. Aguilera-Mijares

, A. Martínez-Dávalos, S. Bautista-Arredondo

and H. Vermandere

Telemedicine, involving the use of technologies for remote healthcare services, was used by health care providers in Mexico to facilitate access to HIV prevention services, including pre-exposure prophylaxis. From their experiences, it became evident that telemedicine improved access to HIV-prevention counselling and enhanced time management for providers; at the same time, they struggled with inadequate infrastructure and concerns about privacy. They advocated for clear guidelines to establish procedures and provide support when delivering pre-exposure prophylaxis services remotely.

Published online 16 April 2024

SH23094Bacterial vaginosis after menopause: factors associated and women’s experiences: a cross-sectional study of Australian postmenopausal women

Linde L. Stewart

, Lenka A. Vodstrcil

, Jacqueline Coombe

, Catriona S. Bradshaw and Jane S. Hocking

Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of vaginal discharge in reproductive age women, yet little is known about it in postmenopausal women. This survey of Australian postmenopausal women found that women continue to report bacterial vaginosis after menopause, it affects their quality of life, and it is associated with sexual activity. Women of all ages are susceptible to bacterial vaginosis, research should not be limited to younger women, and developing an appropriate testing method should be a research priority.

SH23094 Abstract | SH23094 Full Text | SH23094PDF (280 KB) | SH23094Supplementary Material (746 KB) Open Access Article

Published online 16 April 2024

SH23202Associations between receiving non-consensual image and video sexts and average sleep duration among adolescents and young adults

Kyle T. Ganson

, Carolyn O’Connor, Jason M. Nagata, Alexander Testa, Dylan B. Jackson, Nelson Pang and Faye Mishna

Sexting is common among adolescents and is largely considered a part of contemporary adolescent and young adult relationships. However, receiving non-consensual sexts can have adverse mental health effects, despite little known about the effects on sleep. This study found that receiving non-consensual sexts was associated with lower sleep duration among girls and young women, underscoring the needs for greater awareness of this behaviour among health and mental health professionals.

Published online 11 April 2024

SH23175Management of acute sexual assault presenting to a large Australian sexual health clinic in 2012–2021: a retrospective clinical audit

Aleah Kink

, Janet M. Towns

, Christopher K. Fairley

, Tiffany R. Phillips

, Catriona S. Bradshaw

and Eric P. F. Chow

The incidence of sexual assault continues to rise in Australia. However, there is a paucity of literature examining the nature of assault and subsequent management for victims of all genders. The findings of this large, retrospective clinical audit determined that the nature of assault differs between male and female victims, with varying detail of clinical documentation. There is need for a standard primary care protocol for clients presenting with acute sexual assault.

SH23175 Abstract | SH23175 Full Text | SH23175PDF (560 KB) Open Access Article

Published online 28 March 2024

SH23191Effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination on male fertility

Fei Chen

, Yunfei Zhang, Yingze Zhang, Yuqi Li, Jiao Ma, Yining Qin, Shuwen Deng, Yuhan Zhang, Deyang Wang, Haiying Wang and Juan Lin

Since the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has already had a widespread impact on fertility. This study comprehensively assessed the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the testis, semen parameters, sex hormone levels and erectile function, and discussed possible transmission routes during sexual intercourse and the effect of vaccination on male fertility. It provides a reference for maintaining male reproductive health under the background of normalised prevention and control of COVID-19.

Published online 26 March 2024

SH23205Catching lightning in a bottle: the STI and HIV 2023 World Congress Participatory Designathon

Ronnie M. Gravett

, Rayner K. J. Tan

, Weiming Tang

, Steph Niapauri, Barbara Van Der Pol

and Joseph D. Tucker

The International Society for STD Research (ISSTDR) STI/HIV 2023 World Congress hosted a participatory designathon. Global experts and practitioners attending an international sexual health conference were tasked with engaging in a design-thinking, participatory crowdsourcing event to create innovative solutions for improving the control of sexually transmitted infections. This manuscript reports the processes, challenges, and successes of the designathon.

Published online 26 March 2024

SH24003Could late-latent syphilis be treated with a single subcutaneous infusion of long-acting penicillin?

Thel K. Hla

, Sam Salman, Joseph Kado, Brioni R. Moore and Laurens Manning

Painful intramuscular injections of long-acting penicillin remain the mainstay of treatment for syphilis. They are distressing to clients and caregivers and are thought to interfere with treatment acceptance, especially if more than one dose is required. We present a novel method of delivering the same penicillin treatment into the fat, which obviate the need for multiple doses and is associated with less reported pain – a potential gamechanger to improve syphilis treatment adherence and care cascade.

SH24003 Abstract | SH24003 Full Text | SH24003PDF (379 KB)

Published online 25 March 2024

SH23114Characterisation of social media conversations on syphilis: an unobtrusive observational study

Abby C. Dawson, Alyssa K. Fitzpatrick, Janet M. Matthews, Andrew A. K. Nguyen, Kelly Papanaoum and Justine R. Smith

This study used data sourced from Twitter to characterise social media conversations about syphilis. Accurate medical information was limited, whereas tweets about personal experience generated the most engagement. Coupling medical resources and personal experiences may support public health education on social media.

SH23114 Abstract | SH23114 Full Text | SH23114PDF (416 KB) | SH23114Supplementary Material (1022 KB) Open Access Article