1. GENDER AND HEALTH

• Most Common and Curable STIs

  • Chlamydia
  • Syphilis
  • Gonorrhea
  • Trichomoniasis
• Chlamydia


  • Can cause infection among both men and women
  • Can cause permanent damage to a woman's reproductive system, making it difficult or impossible to get pregnant later
  • Can potentially lead to a fatal ectopic pregnancy
• Chlamydia symptoms can include pain or burning while peeing, pain during sex, lower belly pain, abnormal vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, pus or a watery/milky discharge from the penis, swollen or tender testicles, and pain, discharge and/or bleeding around the anus
• Gonorrhea often has no symptoms but can cause serious health problems
• Gonorrhea symptoms in women can include painful or burning sensation when peeing, increased vaginal discharge, and vaginal bleeding between periods
• Gonorrhea symptoms in men can include a burning sensation when peeing, a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis, and painful or swollen testicles (although this is less common)
• Rectal gonorrhea infections may either cause no symptoms or cause symptoms in both men and women that may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, and painful bowel movements
• Trichomoniasis


  • Caused by a parasite
  • Discharge usually has a strong, unpleasant, and sometimes fishy smell
• In women, trichomoniasis can cause a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, genital itching and painful urination. Men who have trichomoniasis typically have no symptoms
• Vulnerable Populations


  • Young people
  • People who engage in transactional sex or commercial sex
  • People who are sexually abused
  • People who are at risk of violence within their sexual relationships
• Unsafe Abortion


  A procedure for terminating an unintended pregnancy either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment lacking the minimal medical standards, or both
• Unsafe abortions account for 13% of all maternal deaths worldwide. It is estimated that 66,500 women died from the complications of unsafe abortion in 2003 alone
• Factors influencing the incidence of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions

  • Access of young women and young men to information on contraception
  • The legality of supplying contraceptives to unmarried young people
  • The legality of abortion
  • Sociocultural norms and practices with regard to sex outside marriage
  • Unintended pregnancies and the provision of safe abortion
  • The influence of gender-power relations on the ability of girls and women to use contraceptive methods, or to reject sexual relations with men
  • The readiness of the health service to provide safe abortions to the full extent of the law
• Sexual problems


  • Low sexual desire
  • Male erectile dysfunction
  • Inability to achieve orgasm
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Pain during intercourse
  • Vaginismus
• Violence related to gender and sexuality


  • Rape
  • Coerced sex
  • Child sexual abuse
  • Sexualized forms of domestic violence
  • Intimate partner violence
  • FGM
  • "Honour" crimes
  • Forced prostitution
• The global understanding of sexual health has evolved over time, including in its relationship to reproductive health.
• In 1974 – the WHO convention in Geneva
• Sexual Health ― the integration of the somatic, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of sexual being, in ways that are positively enriching and that enhance personality, communication, and love. (WHO, 1975)
• Reproductive Health (ICPD,1994) - "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes (ICPD Report, Sept. 1994)"
• Global health burden

  • extensive mortality and morbidity
  • HIV
  • STIs
  • unwanted pregnancies
  • unsafe abortion
  • infertility
  • maternal and genitourinary condition
  • gender-based violence
  • sexual dysfunction
• Implicit in the definition of reproductive health is the ability of people "to have a satisfying and safe sex life" and the capability and freedom to reproduce it and when desired
• The purpose of reproductive health care is the enhancement of life and personal relations, and not merely counselling and care related to reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases
• There was growing awareness about the impact of stigma, discrimination and poor quality of care on people's sexual and reproductive health
• WHO's global Reproductive health strategy named "promoting sexual health" as one of five core aspects of reproductive and sexual health
• Sexual rights


  • The rights to life, liberty, autonomy and security of the person
  • The rights to equality and non-discrimination
  • The right to be free from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
  • The right to privacy
  • The rights to the highest attainable standard of health (including sexual health) and social security
  • The right to marry and to found a family and enter into marriage with the free and full consent of the intending spouses, and to equality in and at the dissolution of marriage
  • The right to decide the number and spacing of one's children
  • The rights to information, as well as education
  • The rights to freedom of opinion and expression
  • The right to an effective remedy for violations of fundamental rights
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)


  A major public health concern, contributing significantly to the global burden of adult disease both because of the acute illness and because of long-term outcomes such as chronic pain, infertility, adverse outcomes of pregnancy (including stillbirth and low birth weight), and cancers of the reproductive tract (including cervical cancer)
• Rates of STIs are very high worldwide. It is estimated that there are over 340 million new cases each year of the four most common and curable STIs (Chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis)
• Effective management of STIs

  • Crucial for controlling the transmission of HIV in some populations
  • Requires commitment to sexual health in the broadest sense of the term
  • A narrow focus on infectious disease control is unlikely to be successful if it takes no account of the many factors that increase the risk and vulnerability of specific individuals and groups
  • A framework for action that places control of STIs within a wider context is more likely to have long-term success
• Populations particularly vulnerable to STIs

  • Young people
  • People who engage in transactional sex or commercial sex
  • People who are sexually abused or at risk of violence within their sexual relationships
• The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) - This organization included sexual health within the definition of reproductive health in 1994.
• Reproductive health is defined according to the ICPD report as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system and its functions.
• in 2002, WHO convened a group of global experts to define sexual health more clearly.
• In 2006, the working definitions of sexual health, sex, sexuality, and sexual rights were published.
• Further updates to the definitions of sexual rights were made in 2010.
• Sexual Health - This is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity.
• Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.
• For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected, and fulfilled.
• Sex refers to the biological characteristics that define humans as female or male. While these sets of biological characteristics are not mutually exclusive, as there are individuals who possess both, they tend to differentiate humans as males and females.
• Sexuality - This is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction.
• Sexuality - It is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. not all of them are always experienced or expressed.