Sexual Pleasure Matters (Especially for Women) - Data from the German Sexuality and Health Survey (GeSiD)

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sexual Pleasure Matters (Especially for Women) - Data from the German Sexuality and Health Survey (GeSiD)

AU - Klein, Verena

AU - Laan, Ellen

AU - Brunner, Franziska

AU - Briken, Peer

PY - 2022/12

Y1 - 2022/12

N2 - Introduction Sexual pleasure has been a neglected issue in sexual health policies. Emerging trends in public health, however,emphasize the importance of sexual pleasure in preventing negative sexual health outcomes.Methods Using data from the German Sexuality and Health Survey (GeSiD), we tested the assumption that sexual pleasureis associated with sexual health, including a special focus on the role of gender. Participants were interviewed about theirsexual experiences and health between October 2018 and September 2019. The analytical sample included 3472 partneredand single women and men who had been sexually active with a partner in the past 12 months. We examined if sexual pleasurewas associated with various sexual health indicators (i.e., communication about sexually transmitted infections (STIs),condom use, and absence of sexual problems).Results Women reported less sexual pleasure than men. Results further indicate that sexual pleasure was associated withmore sexual health indicators in women than in men.Conclusions Supporting emerging trends in public health our results emphasize the importance of sexual pleasure in preventingnegative sexual health outcomes.Policy Implications.To promote (especially women’s) sexual health, our results call for the implementation of comprehensive sexuality educationprograms that focus on more positive aspects of sex, such as sexual pleasure and agency.

AB - Introduction Sexual pleasure has been a neglected issue in sexual health policies. Emerging trends in public health, however,emphasize the importance of sexual pleasure in preventing negative sexual health outcomes.Methods Using data from the German Sexuality and Health Survey (GeSiD), we tested the assumption that sexual pleasureis associated with sexual health, including a special focus on the role of gender. Participants were interviewed about theirsexual experiences and health between October 2018 and September 2019. The analytical sample included 3472 partneredand single women and men who had been sexually active with a partner in the past 12 months. We examined if sexual pleasurewas associated with various sexual health indicators (i.e., communication about sexually transmitted infections (STIs),condom use, and absence of sexual problems).Results Women reported less sexual pleasure than men. Results further indicate that sexual pleasure was associated withmore sexual health indicators in women than in men.Conclusions Supporting emerging trends in public health our results emphasize the importance of sexual pleasure in preventingnegative sexual health outcomes.Policy Implications.To promote (especially women’s) sexual health, our results call for the implementation of comprehensive sexuality educationprograms that focus on more positive aspects of sex, such as sexual pleasure and agency.

U2 - 10.1007/s13178-022-00694-y

DO - 10.1007/s13178-022-00694-y

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

VL - 19

SP - 1879

EP - 1887

JO - SEX RES SOC POLICY

JF - SEX RES SOC POLICY

SN - 1868-9884

ER -