Why Pleasure Matters: Its Global Relevance for Sexual Health, Sexual Rights and Wellbeing

Abstract

Much work on sexual health has emphasized adverse outcomes such as sexually transmitted infections/HIV, unintended pregnancy, and sexual violence. Although these objectives are of continued importance, they reflect a global tendency to focus on negative sexual health outcomes. Far less prominent in health promotion, policy, and programing is a sustained recognition that sexual pleasure is an important aspect of sexuality. This commentary centers sexual pleasure within the contexts of sexual rights and sexual health. Our larger objective is to provide a framework for addressing sexual pleasure in law, policy, advocacy, public health, and clinical practice which might reduce the burden of disease.

Keywords:

• Sexual health policy
• sexual health promotion
• sexual rights
• sexual politics

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Notes

1 This commentary paper was commissioned by the World Association for Sexual Health’s was Task Force on Sexual Pleasure, Sexual Health and Sexual Rights for consideration at an Expert Consultation on this topic on May, 28–29, 2019 in New York City. Based upon a preliminary background paper, this commentary was further developed by the authors with input from a group of experts from around the world. This consultation was convened to provide input on developing a WAS Declaration to promote sexual pleasure as a means of promoting sexual health and sexual rights, which will be presented at the World Congress of Sexual Health in Mexico in October, 2019.