Sexual Health | Approach to patient | Sexual Behaviour and Infection Risk

Sexual Behaviour and Infection Risk
Session Overview
Description
This session will examine sexual practices and highlight the relative risks of sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition and unplanned pregnancy associated with sexual behaviours at a population level.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Explain the difference between sexual identity and behaviour
• Describe the prevalence of sexual practices within Britain
• Describe the aspects of sexual behaviours at a population level which increase the vulnerability of subgroups to STIs

Sexual behaviour is a major determinant of sexual and reproductive health. Individual and population patterns of sexual behaviour are major determinants of sexually transmitted infections and HIV transmission.

In Western societies the majority of men and women are sexually active for most of their adult life. The ability to take a sexual history and discuss sexual lifestyles is relevant to many clinical scenarios. These include management of genitourinary symptoms, reproductive and contraceptive advice, sexual dysfunction, and resumption of sexual activity following childbirth or major surgery.

This session describes population patterns of sexual behaviour and examines the associated risks at an individual and population level.