Keep calm and contracept! Addressing young women’s pleasure in sexual health and contraception consultations

Abstract

a centre of Gender and Women's Studies, Lancaster university, Lancaster, uK; b division of Health Research, Lancaster university, Lancaster, uK

Sources of Sex Information Used by Young British Women Who Have Sex with Women (WSW) and Women Who Have Sex Exclusively with Men (WSEM): Evidence from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles

“…In addition to a greater percentage of WSW reporting wanting to know about 'other sexual practices' and 'homosexuality/lesbianism' compared to WSEM, this group were also more likely to report wanting to know more about 'being able to say no' which given the number of WSW who also had male partners may relate to opposite-sex interactions. Whilst sex education has focused on giving young women information about negotiating safe sex in heterosexual intercourse (Hanbury & Eastham, 2016), there is also the need for focus on the negotiation of unwanted sexual advances. Ingham (2005) argues that sexuality education focusing on a wider range of sexual practices (and not just heterosexual intercourse) and inclusion of discussion on values, desire, pleasure, and respect will increase young women's negotiation abilities through making them feel more comfortable in their own bodies.…”

“…The unmet need for sex information is high in Great Britain, with two-thirds of young people reporting that at the time they first felt ready for some sexual experience, they would have liked to have known more about sex . Sex education tends to focus on safe sex in terms of heterosexual intercourse (Pound, Langford, & Campbell, 2016), and the focus on young women to make 'responsible choices' is argued to not recognize the importance of pleasure and disempowers young women (Hanbury & Eastham, 2016). Young people have expressed the desire for a more positive approach to sex education that focuses more on psychosexual aspects such as pleasure, relationships, and emotions, as well as information on a wider range of sexual practices (Pound et al, 2016;Tanton et al, 2015).…”

“One Blood Clot Is One Too Many”: Affected Vocal Users’ Negative Perspectives on Controversial Oral Contraceptives

“…Most importantly, “scientific and public attention to thromboembolism and the pill has had dramatic consequences,” where the historic focus on VTE risk has changed norms on informed consent and regulatory processes (Lackie & Fairchild, 2016, p. 297). However, recent studies (Hanbury & Eastham, 2016; Littlejohn, 2013; Littlejohn & Kimport, 2017) looking at contraceptive counseling have shown that significant power imbalances still exist within the clinical encounter, where the risk information presented to users emphasizes professionals’ efficacy concerns over other patient worries. Medical contraceptive assessments portray pregnancy as dangerous through cultural mechanisms that deem the female body as inherently more prone to risk (Brown, 2015; Geampana, 2016; Marks, 2000; Oudshoorn, 1999; Van Kammen & Oudshoorn, 2002).…”

“…Drospirenone has been marketed heavily on the basis of such benefits. To stress the cultural environment in which women make contraceptive choices, scholars (e.g., Fennell, 2011; Geampana, 2016; Hanbury & Eastham, 2016; Littlejohn, 2013; Mamo & Fosket, 2009; Watkins, 2012) have discussed the problematic advertising of pills. Gendered appearance expectations are critical to women’s contraceptive decision-making (Littlejohn, 2013).…”

‘I tell them that sex is sweet at the right time’ – A qualitative review of ‘pleasure gaps and opportunities’ in sexuality education programmes in Ghana and Kenya

“…This is because, compared with American teens, Dutch teens were more likely to receive Comprehensive Sexuality Education, which focused on consent, pleasure and responsibility in relationships. Another study also argues that pleasure-inclusive counselling and sexuality education can increase young women's agency and reduce the rates of STIs and unwanted pregnancy, drawing on their experience of working for a UK sexual health charity for young people (Hanbury & Eastham, 2016). Furthermore, a meta-analysis by Scott-Sheldon and Johnson (2006) examined the effectiveness of safer sex interventions with erotic components.…”