Why a theme issue on Sexual Health

Abstract

Men and women are indispensable partners in sexual relationships/marriage and family building. Despite this, the sexual health needs of men, beyond their roles as women's partners, have not received enough attention. A wide range of societal and individual factors shapes, and often constrains, men's aspirations towards sexual health and their behaviour as sexual partners.Sexual relationships are, among other issues, important goals for most men worldwide. Providing more information to meet men's needs for the medical and counselling services that are relevant for their sexual and reproductive health would be an appropriate measure given the important interdependence that exists between men's wellbeing and that of their partners, children and societies. Much more could be achieved if appropriate information, support and services were more readily available for men. Women's needs for sexual and reproductive health care services have long received more attention than have men's. The reasons for this imbalance are understandable: only women become pregnant and bear children, and the number, timing and safety of pregnancies and birth are directly relevant to women's health and wellbeing. Moreover, because most of the available contraceptive methods are designed to be used by women, related systems of serviceprovision target women. Research on sexual and reproductive health has also focused mainly on women [1].This jmhg theme issue aims to contribute to various aspects of sexual health. Improving men's knowledge and skills is essential for increasing the likelihood that men will engage in protective behaviours to the benefit of their own health and that of their partners. Furthermore, facilitating equitable communication between partners and within couples about sexual health is crucial! The last years have seen an explosion of interest in both men's and women's sexual function and dysfunction. Three eminent models of men's sexual problems have developed rapidly, particularly after the NIH Consensus Conference on Impotence in 1992 [2]. In this issue, Ian Eardley [3], in his editorial 'Erectile dysfunction: where are we going?'

Constructing the ‘gender-specific body’: A critical discourse analysis of publications in the field of gender-specific medicine

“…Sharpley and Christie, 2007). Since sexuality is put forward as a 'gate' to men's general health (Meryn, 2006b), it receives quite a lot of attention, particularly in relation to 'erectile dysfunction' and its health sequelae, such as depression and anxiety (e.g. Hartmann, 2007).…”

Science, medicine and virility surveillance: ‘sexy seniors’ in the pharmaceutical imagination

“…As the keynote speech at the 2006 World Congress on the Aging Male put it, ‘Sexual Health is the Portal to Men’s Health’ (Shabsigh 2006). An editorial in the Journal of Men’s Health and Gender similarly proclaimed that ‘…sexual health is one of the gates to men’s health in general!’ (Meryn 2006: 318). The press release for the 2007 North American Congress on the Aging Male was headlined ‘Failure to treat sexual dysfunction can pose serious risk for aging males’ and warned that ‘leading research scientists and clinicians from around the world are reaching the consensus that failure to treat decreased sexual function in aging males may actually put them at greater risk for heart disease and cancer’ (Canadian Society for the Study of the Aging Male 2007).…”

Rejuvenation’s Return: Anti-aging and Re-masculinization in Biomedical Discourse on the ‘Aging Male’

“…In contemporary sexual medicine, 'sexual health' is referred to as the 'portal to men's health' (Shabsigh 2006) and 'one of the gates to men's health in general' (Meryn 2006). Both physicians and the media are warned via a press release for a conference that 'Failure to treat sexual dysfunction can pose serious risk for aging males' (Canadian Society for the Study of the Aging Male 2007).…”