A closer look at sexual health evidence: a list of Cochrane Reviews
Back to feature: Taking care of your sexual health
People of all ages and backgrounds have concerns and questions about sexual health. Why? Because sexual health is directly linked to people's overall health and happiness. There are many aspects of sexual health, including birth control, pregnancy options, sexually transmitted infection prevention and treatment, self-image, sexual orientation and health services.
As discussing sexual health has become less taboo, researchers and health professionals have begun to focus more on educating patients and preventing sexual problems before they begin. Sharing knowledge, building awareness and testing the effectiveness of existing interventions can help to generate positive health outcomes.
The Cochrane Library is a key resource, containing more than 5,300 Cochrane Reviews that systematically find and synthesize evidence from research on health. Below are a few examples that highlight sexual health research:
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The workplace provides an important avenue to prevent HIV
HIV/AIDS is a chronic infectious disease with a high mortality rate. A Cochrane Review reports that workplace-oriented HIV/AIDS interventions create the possibility to easily reach people and can reduce risky sexual behaviour to a moderate degree. In fact, peer influence has a positive effect on voluntary counseling and acceptance towards testing measures amongst employees. -
Computer programmes for sexual health promotion
Cochrane Review on sexual health promotion showed that improving sexual health knowledge through face-to-face behavioural interventions seems to be less successful than computer based interventions. Internet and mobile phone access is increasing rapidly worldwide and therefore provides huge potential for the delivery of health promotion. Interactive computer-based interventions are programs that provide information and also decision support, behaviour-change support, and/or emotional support for health issues. Anonymity, repetition, and convenience are other advantages to this style of new age health intervention. -
Psychosocial interventions for erectile dysfunction
Recent evidence suggests that psychological factors are often involved, either alone or in combination with physical factors, in erectile dysfunction (ED). A Cochrane Review found that group psychotherapy can improve erectile function in selected individuals. Integrating sex therapy and other psychological techniques into office practice will improve effectiveness in treating ED. -
Emergency contraception for pregnancy prevention
Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy when taken within 120 hours of unprotected intercourse. Several barriers discourage widespread and timely use of emergency contraception, including limited knowledge among women and a lack of routine counseling by providers and/or willingness to prescribe the medication. Researchers have studied whether or not providing emergency contraception to women before they need it can help overcome these barriers. However, a Cochrane Review concludes that advance provision does not reduce unintended pregnancy rates. The review recommends that future research include the behavioral issues surrounding failure to use emergency contraception when needed, even when it is readily available. -
Preventing cervical cancer through behavioural intervention
Cervical cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide and is caused by several strains of the Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through skin-to skin contact. There is great interest in reducing the spread of HPV and educating young women about the risk of infection. But a Cochrane Review shows that, while behavioural interventions promoting safer sexual behaviours can increase condom use and decrease the number of sexual partners young women have, few of these interventions directly discuss HPV or cervical cancer.