Sexual health

Sexual health is influenced by a complex web of biological and social factors. It requires a positive, responsible approach to sexuality and sexual relationships as well as pleasurable, safe sexual experiences that are free from coercion, discrimination or violence.

• Defining sexual health
• Key conceptual elements
• Sexual health issues

The proposed indicators cover the following areas of sexual health: healthy sexuality, sexual dysfunction and sexual vulnerability, adolescent sexual health and sexual violence. The indicators range from process/activity (e.g. policy and services related) through outcome (e.g. behavior change) to impact indicators (e.g. prevalence of certain sexual health conditions in different populations).

• More information

In 2010, WHO convened an expert consultation on sexual health to make recommendations on strategic directions. One of the priorities was the development of sexuality counselling guidelines for health care providers. The guidelines would be used as a tool to facilitate the integration of counselling into health services, mainly in primary health care.

• More on the development of this guide