Sexual health and intimacy

أَئِنَّكُمۡ لَتَأۡتُونَ ٱلرِّجَالَ شَهۡوَةࣰ مِّن دُونِ ٱلنِّسَآءِۚ بَلۡ أَنتُمۡ قَوۡمࣱ تَجۡهَلُونَ

How can you lust after men instead of women? What fools you are!’

إِنَّكُمۡ لَتَأۡتُونَ ٱلرِّجَالَ شَهۡوَةࣰ مِّن دُونِ ٱلنِّسَآءِۚ بَلۡ أَنتُمۡ قَوۡمࣱ مُّسۡرِفُونَ

You lust after men rather than women! You transgress all bounds!’

What! Do you read a-innakum pronouncing both hamzas or by not pronouncing the second and inserting an alif between the two in both cases come unto men in lust instead of women? Nay but you are truly a people in ignorance’ of the consequence of your action.

Do you read a-innakum pronouncing both hamzas or by not pronouncing the second one but in both cases inserting an alif between the two; a variant reading has innakum ‘indeed you … ’ come lustfully to men instead of women? Nay you are a wanton folk’ transgressing the bounds going from what is lawful to what is unlawful.

And (remember) Lut! When he said to his people: "Do you commit immoral sins while you see? (54)"Do you practice your lusts on men instead of women? Nay, but you are a people who behave senselessly. (55)There was no other answer given by his people except that they said: "Drive out the family of Lut from your city. Verily, these are men who want to be clean and pure! (56)So, We saved him and his family, except his wife. We destined her to be of those who remained behind (57)And We rained down on them a rain. So, evil was the rain of those who were warned (58) Lut and His People Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger Lut, peace be upon him, and how he warned his people of Allah's punishment for committing an act of immorality which no human ever committed before them – intercourse with males instead of females. This is a major sin, whereby men are satisfied with men and women are

And (remember) Lut, when he said to his people: "Do you commit lewdness such as none preceding you has committed in all of the nations (80)"Verily, you practice your lusts on men instead of women. Nay, but you are a people transgressing beyond bounds. (81) Allah said, We sent, وَ (And) لُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ (Lut, when he said to his people..) Lut (Lot) is the son of Haran the son of Azar (Terah), and he was the nephew of Ibrahim, peace be upon them both. Lut had believed in Ibrahim and migrated with him to the Sham area. Allah then sent Lut to the people of Sadum (Sodom) and the surrounding villages, to call them to Allah, enjoin righteousness and forbid them from their evil practices, their sin, and wickedness. It this area, they did things that none of the children of Adam or any other creatures ever did before them. They used to have sexual intercourse with males instead o

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ مِنَ الرَّضَاعِ مَا حَرَّمَ مِنَ النَّسَبِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَأُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَلِيٍّ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

Ali (bin Abi Talib) narrated that The Messenger of Allah said:“Indeed Allah has made unlawful through suckling whatever He made unlawful through lineage.”

حَدَّثَنَا بُنْدَارٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانُ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ مَا حَرَّمَ مِنَ الْوِلاَدَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ لاَ نَعْلَمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ اخْتِلاَفًا ‏.‏

Aishah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:“Indeed Allah has made unlawful through suckling whatever He made unlawful through birth.”

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كُنْتُ أُرَجِّلُ رَأْسَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha:While in menses, I used to comb the hair of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَنَّ ابْنَ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَهُمْ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي هِشَامٌ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ أَتَخْدُمُنِي الْحَائِضُ أَوْ تَدْنُو مِنِّي الْمَرْأَةُ وَهْىَ جُنُبٌ فَقَالَ عُرْوَةُ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌ، وَكُلُّ ذَلِكَ تَخْدُمُنِي، وَلَيْسَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ فِي ذَلِكَ بَأْسٌ، أَخْبَرَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تُرَجِّلُ ـ تَعْنِي ـ رَأْسَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهِيَ حَائِضٌ، وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَئِذٍ مُجَاوِرٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، يُدْنِي لَهَا رَأْسَهُ وَهْىَ فِي حُجْرَتِهَا، فَتُرَجِّلُهُ وَهْىَ حَائِضٌ‏.‏

Narrated `Urwa:A person asked me, "Can a woman in menses serve me? And can a Junub woman come close to me?" I replied, "All this is easy for me. All of them can serve me, and there is no harm for any other person to do the same. `Aisha told me that she used to comb the hair of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) while she was in her menses, and he was in I`tikaf (in the mosque). He would bring his head near her in her room and she would comb his hair, while she used to be in her menses

أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ، - رضى الله عنه - عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ نُرَى إِلاَّ الْحَجَّ فَلَمَّا كُنَّا بِسَرِفَ حِضْتُ فَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا أَبْكِي فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَا لَكِ أَنَفِسْتِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ هَذَا أَمْرٌ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى بَنَاتِ آدَمَ فَاقْضِي مَا يَقْضِي الْحَاجُّ غَيْرَ أَنْ لاَ تَطُوفِي بِالْبَيْتِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that 'Aishah said:"We went out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with no intention other than Hajj. When he was in Sarif I began menstruating. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered upon me and I was weeping. He said: 'What is the matter with you? Has you Nifas begun?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'This is something that Allah the Mighty and Sublime has decreed for the daughters of Adam. Do what the pilgrims do but do not perform Tawaf around the House

أَخْبَرَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ سَمَاعَةَ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ قَيْسٍ، مِنْ بَنِي أَسَدِ قُرَيْشٍ أَنَّهَا أَتَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَتْ أَنَّهَا تُسْتَحَاضُ فَزَعَمَتْ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَهَا ‏ "‏ إِنَّمَا ذَلِكِ عِرْقٌ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَتِ الْحَيْضَةُ فَدَعِي الصَّلاَةَ وَإِذَا أَدْبَرَتْ فَاغْتَسِلِي وَاغْسِلِي عَنْكِ الدَّمَ ثُمَّ صَلِّي ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Fatimah bint Qais from Banu Asad Quraish that she came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and mentioned that she suffered from Istihadah. She said that he said to her:"That is a vein, so when the time of menstruation comes, stop praying, and when it goes, take your bath and wash the blood from yourself then pray

ونضرب لك مثالا، فنقول: إذا افتقر الإنسان إلى الصبر عن شهوة الجماع، وقد غلبت عليه بحيث لا يملك فرجه ولا عينه ولا قلبه، فعلاج ذلك بثلاثة أشياء:

وقصر بقوم في خلطة الناس حتى اعتزلوهم في الطاعات كالجمعة والجماعات والجهاد وتعلم العلم وتجاوز بقوم حتى خالطوهم في الظلم والمعاصي والآثام

وقال أيضا : من ترك قراءة القرآن ولزوم الجماعات وحضور الجنائز وعيادة المرضى وادعى بهذا الشأن فهو مدع

قال وربما شغله بوسواسه حتى تفوته الجماعة وربما فاته الوقت ويشغله بوسوسته في النية حتى تفوته التكبيرة الأولى وربما فوت عليه ركعة أو أكثر ومنهم من يحلف أنه لا يزيد على هذا ثم يكذب

وكذلك عزمه على تحريق المتخلفين عن الصلاة معه في الجماعة ولم يقل لو قضى لهم الصلاة لكانت

وأعمال الجوارح كالصلاة والجهاد ونقل الأقدام إلى الجمعة والجماعات ومساعدة العاجز والإحسان إلى الخلق ونحو ذلك

Gender differences in pornography use and sexual health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.: Background: Pornography consumption is increasingly prevalent worldwide, yet its gender-specific associations with sexual health outcomes remain poorly understood. Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate gender differences in pornography use and its associations with sexual function, sexual satisfaction, masturbation frequency, and psychological parameters among adult men and women. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 statement, systematic searches were conducted across PubMed

Couple-Based Psychosexual Support Following Prostate Cancer Surgery: Results of a Feasibility Pilot Randomized Control Trial.: Introduction: Surgery for prostate cancer can result in distressing side effects such as sexual difficulties, which are associated with lower levels of dyadic functioning. The study developed and tested an intervention to address sexual, relational, and emotional aspects of the relationship after prostate cancer by incorporating elements of family systems theory and sex therapy. Aims: To develop and test the feasibility and acceptability of relational psychosexual treatment for couples with pros

INFERTILITY AND SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW.: This study aimed to investigate whether infertility and its treatment affect couple sexuality. A systematic literature review was performed, focusing on female and male sexual dysfunctions due to infertility. The method was descriptive, using a meta-synthesis of scientific research published between 2012 and 2017 in the English language. The search for suitable studies was carried out with the research databases Medline, CINAHL, PubMed and ScienceDirect using the following keywords: infertility,

Sexual dysfunction related to psychiatric disorders: a systematic review.: Background: Sexual dysfunction is thought to be highly prevalent in patients with psychiatric disorders. Factors such as the use of psychotropic substances (ie, psychopharmaceuticals and drugs), age, or somatic diseases may contribute to sexual problems, but the extent to which psychopathology itself affects sexual functioning is not well understood. Aim: The study sought to provide an overview of the literature on the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in psychotropic-free and somatic disease-fre

Psychological and Interpersonal Dimensions of Sexual Function and Dysfunction.: Introduction: Psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural factors play a significant role in making one vulnerable to developing a sexual concern, in triggering the onset of a sexual difficulty, and in maintaining sexual dysfunction in the long term. Aim: To focus on psychological and interpersonal aspects of sexual functioning in women and men after a critical review of the literature from 2010 to the present. Methods: This report is part 1 of 2 of our collaborative work during the 2015 Int

Meta-analysis of Results of Testosterone Therapy on Sexual Function Based on International Index of Erectile Function Scores.: Context: The interpretation of available clinical evidence related to the effect of testosterone (T) treatment (TTh) on sexual function has been inconsistent, in part due to the use of different and self-reported measures to assess outcomes. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) is the most frequently used validated tool to assess male sexual function. Objective: To perform a meta-analysis of available data evaluating the effect of TTh on male sexual function using IIEF as the prim

Actives, passives and power: heteronormative gender norms and their implications for intimate partner violence among men who have sex with men in Tajikistan.

Global research reveals that gender-role norms have a profound effect on socio- and psycho-sexual expression (e.g. sexual positioning) among gay and bisexual men, which in turn may affect mental health and sexual risks. However, little is known about these factors among gay and bisexual men in Muslim-majority countries such as Tajikistan. Using a combination of in-depth individual interviews and focus-group assessments, this exploratory, qualitative study examined how gender roles might function as a social determinant for the practice of sexual positioning, which in turn may influence intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual risk and relational power. Results suggest that being the 'active' partner in sexual relationships closely aligns with the construct of hegemonic masculinity, affording actives more power in male-male relationships which may in some cases result in IPV directed again…

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Knowledge, information needs and behavior regarding HIV and sexually transmitted infections among migrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in Germany: Results of a participatory health research survey.

Background: A total of 3,419 new HIV diagnoses were reported in Germany in 2016, with migrants from sub-Saharan Africa (misSA) accounting for 14.1%. To understand the driving factors behind the epidemiological situation, we conducted a quantitative cross-sectional survey on knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and practices regarding HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among misSA living in six German cities utilizing participatory health research. Methods: Participants were recruited by peer researchers. Levels of knowledge, information needs, and preferred methods of information dissemination were analyzed to inform future prevention planning. Additionally, we analyzed sexual behavior and other risk factors for contracting HIV and STIs. The results may facilitate the formulation of targeted prevention messages in the future. Results: We included 2,432 participants in the analysis…

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"The things that people can't see" The impact of TBI on relationships: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Objective: To explore the impact of TBI on couple relationships, from the perspective of both injured and uninjured partners in the relationship. Method: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six uninjured women and five of their male partners living with TBI for between four and eight years who had attended a tertiary neurorehabilitation service. The principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) were used to analyze the data. Results: The three major themes emerged. Broken Bonds: "those special things just between the two of us" captures the emotional fallout from TBI on each individual and on the relationship; New Dynamics: "like oil and water" describes the effect of individual changes on relationship dynamics in general, on sexuality, conflict and family life; Moving Forward Together: "We figure it out" describes coping strategies in maintaining rela…

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Sexuality (mesh)

Older Adults' Coping Strategies With Changes in Sexual Functioning: Results From Qualitative Research.

Introduction: Research has consistently documented changes in sexual functioning as people age. Aim: To examine the ways older men and women cope with changes in sexual functioning. Methods: In-depth interviews with 47 Israelis over the age of 60 were conducted and analyzed thematically. Main outcome measure: The main outcomes of interest in this study were the coping strategies employed by older men and women to address changes in their sexuality. Results: 7 coping strategies that were differentially employed by men and women were identified. These strategies were classified along a continuum of internal (involving only the person being affected by the change) vs external (involving others) strategies. External strategies involved other people and services, such as a primary care provider or a counselor, whereas internal strategies were confined to intrapsychic experiences, such as an a…

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"When He Asks for Sex, You Will Never Refuse": Transactional Sex and Adolescent Pregnancy in Zambia.

Pregnancy among adolescent girls in Zambia is a significant concern on its own and as a factor in school dropout and early marriage, with one-third of girls aged 15-19 having experienced pregnancy. Using qualitative and quantitative data from the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program, we explore transactional sex as a driver of adolescent pregnancy. In qualitative interviews, transactional sex was repeatedly discussed as the main driver of pregnancy, as respondents indicated that when a girl feels that she "owes" a man sex, it prevents her from declining sex or using condoms. In addition, multivariate Cox proportional hazards models using four rounds of longitudinal data from a sample of unmarried and never pregnant adolescent girls (n=1,853) show that girls who have engaged in transactional sex face a hazard of first premarital pregnancy almost 30 percent greater than their peers who hav…

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Prevalence and Psychosocial Predictors of Homophobic Victimization among Adolescents.

Bullying and discrimination seriously damage the development and health of adolescents with non-heteronormative sexual orientation. Adolescents from sexual minorities are more likely to be the object of bullying. This research aims to know more about the prevalence, frequency, and some associated factors and predictors of homophobic victimization in adolescents, depending on their sexual orientation. A total of 820 Secondary Schools students took part in this study (average age = 14.87; SD = 1.72; 48.3% were boys and 51.7% were girls) by filling in a self-report questionnaire. The results showed that adolescents suffer homophobic victimization, regardless of their sexual orientation; however, homosexuals and bisexuals suffered it more frequently than heterosexuals. Homophobic victimization could be associated-in heterosexuals and people with doubts about their sexual orientation, positiv…

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Determinants of adolescent pregnancy and access to reproductive and sexual health services for married and unmarried adolescents in rural Lao PDR: a qualitative study.

Background: Early marriage and pregnancy is a risk factor for poor maternal and child health and socio-economic outcomes. Bokeo and Luang Namtha provinces in northern Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) has high rates of teenage pregnancy. The purpose of this research was firstly to explore factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in rural Lao. Secondly, to understand the specific challenges adolescent mothers face in accessing maternal health services. Methods: Qualitative interviews were undertaken with adolescent mothers and unmarried adolescents aged 12 to 19 years, living in rural areas, and from different ethnic groups. In total, we undertook six focus group discussions with adolescents aged 13-19 years, twenty in-depth interviews with unmarried/married adolescents aged 12-19 years. In addition, we interviewed husbands of the adolescent mothers (N = 8) and mothers-in-law of bot…

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Sexual orientation disparities in the co-occurrence of substance use and psychological distress: a national population-based study (2008-2015).

Purpose: Although strong evidence documents the elevated prevalence of both substance use and mental health problems among sexual minorities (i.e., gay, lesbian, and bisexuals), relatively less research has examined whether risk of the co-occurrence of these factors is elevated among sexual minorities compared to heterosexuals. The object of this study was to (1) explore sexual orientation-based differences in substance use, psychological distress, and their co-occurrence in a representative sample in Sweden, and (2) examine if greater exposure to stressors, such as discrimination, victimization/threats, and social isolation, could explain these potential disparities and their co-occurrence. Methods: Data come from the cross-sectional Swedish National Public Health Survey, which collected random samples of individuals (16-84 years of age) annually from 2008 to 2015, with an overall respo…

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New Findings on Child Marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Despite increasing global attention and commitments by countries to end the harmful practice of child marriage, each year some 15 million girls marry before the age of 18. The preponderance of the evidence produced historically on child marriage comes from South Asia, where the vast majority of child brides live. Far less attention has been paid to child marriage in sub-Saharan Africa, where prevalence rates remain high. The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) recently conducted research in Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia to contribute to greater understanding of the drivers of child marriage in each of these contexts. Synthesizing findings from 4 diverse countries provides a useful opportunity to identify similarities and differences, as well as understandings that may be applicable to and helpful for preventing child marriage across these and other settings. Across the…

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Willingness to Engage in Consensual Nonmonogamy Among Emerging Adults: A Structural Equation Analysis of Sexual Identity, Casual Sex Attitudes, and Gender.

Research on consensual nonmonogamy (CNM) has increased over the past decade. However, willingness to engage in CNM is an understudied phenomenon within this body of literature. Little research has examined the correlates of this aspect of CNM or focused on individuals in the developmental period of emerging adulthood. This study used multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) to test a conceptual model of emerging adults' (ages 18 to 29; N = 890) willingness to engage in CNM. Results indicated that emerging adult experimentation/possibilities, sexual identity exploration, and permissive attitudes toward casual sex were all related to willingness to engage in CNM. Results also showed that the pathway from emerging adult experimentation/possibilities to willingness to engage in CNM was differentially mediated across gender. Specifically, for women there was an indirect (and positive) pa…

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How Is Sexual Communication Different from Nonsexual Communication? A Moment-by-Moment Analysis of Discussions Between Romantic Partners.

Our goal was to investigate whether systematic differences exist in how couples discuss sexual versus nonsexual conflicts in their relationships and to explore the nature of these differences. We compared sexual and nonsexual conflict discussions on two key dimensions of interpersonal behavior: warmth and dominance. Past theoretical work suggests that there are unique barriers to sexual communication that lead partners to perceive such communication as being more threatening to the relationship and to the self (Metts & Cupach, 1989). Empirical findings have supported this perspective by demonstrating that sexual communication tends to be avoided by couples (e.g., Byers, 2011). Extending this notion further, we reasoned that relationship partners should behave in ways to mitigate the increased perceived threat associated with sexual communication, leading to observable differences in how …

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Sexual Partners (mesh)

Power and the association with relationship quality in South African couples: Implications for HIV/AIDS interventions.

Introduction: Power imbalances within sexual relationships have significant implications for HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa. Little is known about how power influences the quality of a relationship, which could be an important pathway leading to healthy behavior around HIV/AIDS. Methods: This paper uses data from 448 heterosexual couples (896 individuals) in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa who completed baseline surveys from 2012 to 2014 as part of a couples-based HIV intervention trial. Using an actor-partner interdependence perspective, we assessed: (1) how both partners' perceptions of power influences their own (i.e., actor effect) and their partner's reports of relationship quality (i.e., partner effect); and (2) whether these associations differed by gender. We examined three constructs related to power (female power, male equitable gender norms, and shared power) and four …

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Sexual Partners (mesh)

The effects of pre-operative menopausal status and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on sexuality and quality of life after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy.

Objectives: Investigate the effects of pre-operative menopausal status and HRT use on sexual outcomes following risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO). Study design: Cross-sectional study of 119 women who underwent RRSO between 2009 and 2014. Main outcome measures: Data was collected via a questionnaire and serum test for testosterone and free androgen index (FAI). The questionnaire comprised demographic data and validated measures of sexual function, sexual distress, relationship satisfaction, body image, psychological stress, menopause quality of life and general quality of life. Results: Rates of sexual issues were similar despite menopause status at operation. Women who were pre-menopausal at operation (mean age=44 years ± 5) had significantly higher rates of sexual distress (p=0.020), dissatisfaction with sex life (p=0.011) and bothersome sexual menopause symptoms (p=0.04) than …

matched on Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological (mesh), Sexuality (mesh)

Empowering communities and strengthening systems to improve transgender health: outcomes from the Pehchan programme in India.

Introduction: Transgender populations face inequalities in access to HIV, health and social services. In addition, there is limited documentation of models for providing appropriately tailored services and social support for transgender populations in low- and middle-income countries. This paper presents outcomes of the Global Fund-supported Pehchan programme, which aimed to strengthen community systems and provide HIV, health, legal and social services to transgender communities across 18 Indian states through a rights-based empowerment approach. Methods: We used a pre- and post-intervention cross-sectional survey design with retrospective analysis of programmatic data. Using stratified sampling, we identified 268 transgender participants in six Indian states from a total of 48,280 transgender people served by Pehchan through 186 community-based organizations. We quantified the impact o…

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Sexual Partners (mesh)

Investigating the Islamic Perspective on Homosexuality.

In his 2006 article in the Journal of the Islamic Medical Association of North America (JIMA), Dr. Ahmed qualified the predominant psychiatric view on homosexuality by recourse to opinions prevalent within reparative therapy circles. Conservative Muslim thinkers, online counselors, and other professionals continue to hold opinions similar to those delineated by Dr. Ahmed in his journal article. We use his article as a focal point to critique the general opinions upheld by conservative Muslim thinkers by alluding to the harms associated with reparative therapy and by rejecting the unreasonable prescription of permanent celibacy. We critique Dr. Ahmed's association of homosexuality with mental health issues, fatal diseases, alcoholism, and illicit sexual intercourse. Investigating the Muslim tradition, we encourage conservative Muslim leaders to facilitate Muslim gays and lesbians in their…

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Sexual Partners (mesh)

Future directions in research on sexual minority adolescent mental, behavioral, and sexual health.

This article describes current knowledge on sexual, mental, and behavioral health of sexual minority (SM) youth and identifies gaps that would benefit from future research. A translational sciences framework is used to conceptualize the article, discussing findings and gaps along the spectrum from basic research on prevalence and mechanisms, to intervention development and testing, to implementation. Relative to adults, there has been much less research on adolescents and very few studies that had longitudinal follow-up beyond 1 year. Due to historical changes in the social acceptance of the SM community, new cohorts are needed to represent contemporary life experiences and associated health consequences. Important theoretical developments have occurred in conceptualizing mechanisms that drive SM health disparities and mechanistic research is underway, including studies that identify ind…

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Reproductive Health (mesh)

Sexual debut before the age of 14 leads to poorer psychosocial health and risky behaviour in later life.

Aim: This study investigated the relationship between sexual debut before 14 years of age and socio-demographics, sexual experience, health, experience of child abuse and behaviour at 18 years of age. Methods: A sample of 3432 Swedish high school seniors completed a survey about sexuality, health and abuse at the age of 18. Results: Early debut was positively correlated with risky behaviours, such as the number of partners, experience of oral and anal sex, health behaviours, such as smoking, drug and alcohol use, and antisocial behaviour, such as being violent, lying, stealing and running away from home. Girls with an early sexual debut had significantly more experience of sexual abuse. Boys with an early sexual debut were more likely to have a weak sense of coherence, low self-esteem and poor mental health, together with experience of sexual abuse, selling sex and physical abuse. A mult…

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Sexual Partners (mesh)

Factors associated with physical or sexual intimate partner violence perpetration by men attending substance misuse treatment in Catalunya: A mixed methods study.

Background: Prevalence of intimate partner violence perpetration is higher among male substance misusers than men in the general population. Previous studies have included few risk factors, limiting their capacity to inform interventions. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine factors associated with intimate partner violence by male substance misusers. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-five men in treatment for substance misuse completed surveys that included the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale and the Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory (PMWI). Variables significant in bivariate analyses were entered into multiple logistic regression analyses. Seventeen in-depth interviews were conducted with perpetrators and analysed using a framework approach. Results: Just over a third of the men (34%) had been violent in the last year to their current/most recent partner. After excluding …

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Sexual Partners (mesh)

Characteristics of youth sexual and reproductive health and risky behaviors in two rural provinces of Cambodia.

Background: The global number of youths has risen with a majority living in Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, rural youths often face difficult barriers to health, which include lack of sexual and reproductive health knowledge, information, and services. Risky behaviors are a threat to the health of many young people in Cambodia. Methods: We studied a sample of 300 youths to describe sexual and reproductive health characteristics and risky behaviors in two rural provinces of Cambodia. Using a multi-staged sampling method, 30 villages were selected for interviewing. A peer-to-peer interviewing criterion was used that matched interviewer to interviewee based upon sex. Logistic regression models were used to compare risk between sexes and assess for associations between reproductive health variables, gender, youth attitudes, and risky youth social behaviors. Results: A majority (90%) stated that…

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Reproductive Health (mesh)

Minimum Marriage Age Laws and the Prevalence of Child Marriage and Adolescent Birth: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Context: The relationship of national laws that prohibit child marriage with the prevalence of child marriage and adolescent birth is not well understood. Methods: Data from Demographic and Health Surveys and from the Child Marriage Database created by the MACHEquity program at McGill University were used to examine the relationship between laws that consistently set the age for marriage for girls at 18 or older and the prevalence of child marriage and teenage childbearing in 12 Sub-Saharan African countries. Countries were considered to have consistent laws against child marriage if they required females to be 18 or older to marry, to marry with parental consent and to consent to sex. Associations between consistent laws and the two outcomes were identified using multivariate regression models. Results: Four of the 12 countries had laws that consistently set the minimum age for marriage…

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Pregnancy in Adolescence (mesh)

Are medical students confident in taking a sexual history? An assessment on attitude and skills from an upper middle income country.

Background: Sexual history training during undergraduate education is essential for preparing future doctors to handle patients' sexual health concerns. The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes and perceptions of final-year medical students in Malaysia toward sexual history taking and the training they receive from their medical schools. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional survey of 379 final-year medical students from three medical schools in Malaysia. Students were asked to rate their attitudes and perceptions regarding training on taking sexual histories using a newly developed questionnaire with good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.73). Ethics approval was obtained from the relevant medical schools, and the statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, Version 20.0. Results: The mean age of participants was 23.58 ± 0.65 SD. Participants reported high in…

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Reproductive Health (mesh)

Correlates of internalized homonegativity among black men who have sex with men.

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) carry a disproportionate burden of HIV in the United States. Such disparities cannot be attributed to individual behavioral risk factors alone, prompting the exploration of social and contextual factors experienced by minority MSM. Societal homonegativity and the internalization of those attitudes by Black MSM may play an important role in understanding racial and ethnic disparities in HIV incidence and prevalence. This study explores the correlates of internalized homonegativity in a large multi-site sample of Black MSM. Findings reveal a number of significant contextual and psychosocial factors related to internalized homonegativity including religiosity, resilience, and gay community acculturation, which have important implications for HIV risk, HIV testing, and social and psychological wellbeing for Black MSM.

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Sexual Partners (mesh)

A minority stress--emotion regulation model of sexual compulsivity among highly sexually active gay and bisexual men.

Objective: Sexual compulsivity represents a significant public health concern among gay and bisexual men, given its co-occurrence with other mental health problems and HIV infection. The purpose of this study was to examine a model of sexual compulsivity based on minority stress theory and emotion regulation models of mental health among gay and bisexual men. Method: Gay and bisexual men in New York City reporting at least nine past-90-day sexual partners (n = 374) completed measures of distal minority stressors (i.e., boyhood gender nonconformity and peer rejection, adulthood perceived discrimination), hypothesized proximal minority stress mediators (i.e., rejection sensitivity, internalized homonegativity), hypothesized universal mediators (i.e., emotion dysregulation, depression, and anxiety), and sexual compulsivity. Results: The hypothesized model fit the data well (RMSEA = 0.05, CF…

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Sexual Partners (mesh)

Contraceptive non-use and associated factors among university students in 22 countries.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate contraceptive non-use and associated factors (socio-demographics, sexual behaviour, internal assets and mental health) among undergraduate university students in 22 countries. Methods: Using anonymous questionnaires, data was collected from 16979 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.8, SD=2.8) from 23 universities in 22 countries. Results: Of the total sample of 16979 undergraduate university students, 7032 (41.9%) reported to have been sexually active in the past 12 months. Of those who had been sexually active, 42.6% reported never (42.7% among male and 42.6% among female students) using contraceptives in the past 12 months. In multivariate regression analysis, among both men and women, younger age, religious affiliation (Hindu; and among women only being Muslim), intrinsic religiosity, and sexually protective behaviour wer…

matched on Sexual Behavior (mesh), Contraception (mesh)

Sexual functioning and sex hormones in men who underwent bariatric surgery.

Background: The relationship between obesity and impairments in male sexual functioning is well documented. Relatively few studies have investigated changes in sexual functioning and sex hormones in men who achieve significant weight loss with bariatric surgery. The objective of this study was to assess changes in sexual functioning, sex hormones, and relevant psychosocial constructs in men who underwent bariatric surgery. Methods: A prospective cohort study of 32 men from the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery-2 (LABS) investigation who underwent a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (median body mass index [25th percentile, 75th percentile] 45.1 [42.0, 52.2]) and completed assessments between 2006 and 2012. Bariatric surgery was performed by a LABS-certified surgeon. Sexual functioning was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Functioning (IIEF). Hormones were assessed by bloo…

matched on Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological (mesh), Sexuality (mesh)