Sexes, Volume 6, Issue 3 (September 2025) – 9 articles

This article examines LGBTQI+ asylum claims in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The data are part of a larger study that has identified 520 LGBTQI+ claims in the U.S. Circuit of Appeals from 1994 to 2023. It focuses on examples from the 115 cases that were granted a review and analyzes the logic that U.S. Circuit Court justices use when deciding to grant a review of a petition that was denied by a lower court, such as the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and immigration courts. This article argues that the U.S. Circuit of Appeals contests lower court rulings from BIA and immigration court judges based on assumptions about credibility, discretion, persecution, and criminalization for LGBTQI+ asylum seekers. By granting reviews, the Circuit Courts provide an opening for the acceptance of queer asylum claims. Full article

Background: Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) encompasses a range of conditions that can profoundly impact quality of life and intimate relationships. The primary classifications of FSD include female sexual interest and arousal disorder (FSIAD), genitopelvic pain and penetration disorder (GPPPD), female orgasmic disorder (FOD), and substance or medication-induced sexual dysfunction (SM-ISD). Despite its prevalence, FSD is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Objectives: This scoping review follows Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to evaluate the existing literature on both U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved and off-label pharmacotherapies for FSD by study type, outcomes, and limitations. Eligibility Criteria: Eligible studies comprised randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and cohort studies involving adult women (≥18 years) with any subtype of FSD. These studies assessed pharmacologic interventions against a comparator and reported at least one treatment efficacy outcome. Studies outside this scope were excluded. Sources of Evidence: A 25-year literature search was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, reference lists of relevant articles, academic handbooks, and targeted journals. Charting Methods: Three independent reviewers screened and extracted data. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Findings were organized into summary tables and categorized by pharmaceutical agent, pertinent study information, outcomes, and limitations. Results: A total of 44 human-based pharmacologic studies met inclusion criteria. FDA-approved agents were the most thoroughly studied pharmacotherapies. Hormonal, topical, and adjunctive agents demonstrated less robust evidence. Heterogeneity in outcome measures and inadequate long-term data were common limitations. Conclusions: Pharmacologic treatment for FSD shows promise but requires further research. Individualized, multifaceted care is essential for optimizing FSD outcomes. Full article

This article examines the impact of everyday life infrastructure on well-being through the lens of feminist economics, with a specific focus on gender disparities within the European context. Combining the capability approach (CA) and subjective well-being (SWB) theory, this study introduces a gender-sensitive well-being budget indicator, the Well-being and Infrastructure by Gender Index, or just WIGI, to assess the differential impacts of public expenditures on women and men. Drawing on feminist critiques of infrastructure planning, it highlights how gendered patterns of access and use shape experiences of well-being. The literature review synthesizes recent contributions on well-being measurement, gendered capabilities, and the role of public infrastructure in supporting everyday life. The research utilizes the Benefits of Gender Equality through infrastructure Provision (BGGEIP) survey from the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) from 28 EU member states in 2015 to evaluate the contribution of key public services—such as transport, childcare, and healthcare—to individual capabilities and subjective well-being outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of integrating gender-sensitive methodologies into infrastructure planning and public policy to promote social inclusion and equitable well-being outcomes. This article concludes by advocating for feminist economics-informed policies to enhance the responsiveness of public investments to the lived experiences of women and men across Europe. Full article

Gender-independent, intersex, non-binary, and transgender (GIaNT) youth have puberty health and sex education needs that are different from cisgender youth. Unfortunately, this population has historically been excluded from curricula pertaining to these issues in schools throughout the U.S. and Canada. While sex education programs are limited for all youth, and navigating puberty can range from exciting to scary for all youth, GIaNT youth are particularly vulnerable to facing negative outcomes by being omitted from such curricula. Because they are not able to access adequate information in schools and in their family/friend networks, a majority of GIaNT youth turn to the internet to seek out resources for education on puberty health and sex education. To this end, our team is in the process of creating an online educational resource (OER) that is age-appropriate and affirming for GIaNT youth to be provided with resources that are personalized to users’ unique needs. This literature review discusses content suggestions for inclusion of comprehensive puberty health and sex education that caters to GIaNT youth and their unique needs. Full article

This study aims to explore the associations between menstrual health, lifestyle behaviors, biological traits, and coping strategies among female students at a Vietnamese medical university. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 884 female students across five academic majors. Data on demographics, menstrual patterns, biological characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and coping mechanisms were collected. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation, and logistic regression to identify significant predictors of self-reported menstrual changes post university admission. Of the 884 participants, 49.8% reported menstrual changes after entering university. Among the lifestyle-related factors, increased daily electronic use (mean = 5.83 h) and later bedtimes (mean = 23:58) were associated with menstrual change (p < 0.01). Older age and higher academic year emerged as significant predictors of menstrual changes (p < 0.001). Additionally, students with blood groups A and B exhibited a higher risk compared to those with group O (p < 0.05), and Rh-positive status was also significantly associated with menstrual changes (p = 0.05). In terms of knowledge and coping practices, students who had premenstrual syndrome awareness since school were significantly less likely to report menstrual changes (p = 0.003). Although use of pain relief, particularly painkillers, correlated with higher reported pain severity, it was not directly linked to menstrual change. On the other hand, clinic consultations were positively associated with menstrual changes (p = 0.003), while students who relied on their mothers as counselors exhibited a protective association (p = 0.001). Menstrual health in university-aged women is influenced by a complex interplay of lifestyle behaviors, biological traits, and menstrual knowledge. Early education and structured coping support may serve as protective factors. The findings call for targeted menstrual health programs in university settings. Full article

This study examines the trends, impacts, and challenges of HIV in Bangladesh from 2000 to 2024, with a focus on its epidemiology, demographic distribution, and socioeconomic determinants. Despite maintaining one of the lowest HIV prevalence rates globally (<0.1%), Bangladesh faces a concentrated epidemic among high-risk populations, including people who inject drugs (PWID), men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, transgender individuals, and migrant workers. Analysis reveals a steady increase in reported infections, attributed to enhanced diagnostic capacities and public awareness. The 25–49 year age group remains the most affected, accounting for over 65% of cases, underscoring the vulnerability of the economically active population. Gender disparities persist, with males representing the majority of infections but lower ART coverage among females and transgender individuals. While interventions such as PMTCT programs, ART expansion, and targeted awareness campaigns have contributed to improved outcomes, barriers such as stigma, healthcare inequities, and limited rural access hinder progress. The study also evaluates Bangladesh’s progress toward the 95-95-95 targets, highlighting significant strides in treatment and viral suppression but gaps in diagnosis. Future research must address behavioral trends, stigma reduction, and integration of HIV services for marginalized populations. This paper emphasizes the need for evidence-based strategies to ensure equitable healthcare delivery and sustainable progress in combating HIV. Full article

Objectives: This study examined the association between three sexual motivations—rewarding, intimacy, and enhancement—and their relationship to sexual and relationship satisfaction. A novel conceptualization of sexual reward was introduced and tested. Methods: The sample included 675 individuals in steady intimate relationships (12+ months). Participants completed measures assessing sexual motives and satisfaction levels. A newly developed scale for sexual reward motivation was validated. Findings: The rewarding motive was present among many participants, with approximately 10% reporting frequent use. Rewarding was negatively associated with both relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction. It also showed a negative correlation with enhancement motivation and no significant correlation with intimacy motivation. Conclusions: While occasional sexual reward may not impact relationship dynamics, frequent use of this motive appears to undermine both sexual and relational well-being. The findings suggest that sexual reward is a distinct and measurable motivation with potential implications for couple dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Full article

Despite having the world’s largest HIV burden, South Africa has yet to attain the 95-95-95 targets. Accurate, complete, and timely data are critical for monitoring a country’s HIV progress. The integration of unique identifier codes (UICs) for key populations (KPs) into routine health information management systems (RHIMS) strengthens data accuracy and completeness, facilitating more targeted HIV interventions and greater accountability. This systematic review assessed how Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have integrated KPs’ UICs into RHIMS, highlighting key enablers, challenges, and opportunities. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, PLOS ONE, and various government and non-government websites to identify the published and grey literature relevant to the study objective from June 2013 to December 2024. References were managed using Zotero version 6.0.36. Two authors independently screened studies using Covidence software. The review was done in accordance with the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered with the “International Prospective Register of PROSPERO) Systematic Reviews” with the registration number CRD42023440656. Out of 1735 studies screened, 361 duplicates were removed. The review found that only nine of the fifty-three SSA countries have incorporated UICs for KPs into their RHIMS through alphanumeric codes. They include Burundi, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Kenya, Uganda, Togo, Malawi, and Liberia. Facilitators for KPs’ UIC adoption included strong data security and political will, whereas barriers encompassed compromised privacy, stigma and discrimination. In South Africa, the UIC for KPs can be integrated into the new electronic medical record (EMR) system. Full article

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the differences in sexual functioning in women who used cannabis before sex and those who used cannabis but not before sex, among those with sexual dysfunction. The cross-sectional study, conducted from August 2019 to January 2020 at an academic sexual dysfunction clinic in the Midwest region of the United States, included 187 participants. Patients completed an anonymous questionnaire during their visit, which included the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), cannabis use, and sociodemographic factors. The primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between cannabis use and female sexual dysfunction (FSD). The secondary objective was to examine the FSFI domains of sexual function with cannabis use over the past four weeks. Among the participants, 90% (n = 168) had sexual dysfunction based on the FSFI scores among those with FSD. Women with FSD who used cannabis before sex reported significantly higher lubrication scores and trends toward higher arousal and total FSFI scores than those who used cannabis but not before sex. However, no significant differences were observed in sexual desire, satisfaction, or pain. Quality of life was statistically significant across cannabis groups, with those who never used cannabis indicating “very good to excellent” health more often than those who used cannabis before sex. In addition, women with FSD who had never smoked cigarettes had a significantly higher proportion of never having used cannabis compared to those who used cannabis not before sex and those who used it before sex. These findings suggest that women with sexual dysfunction who use cannabis before sex may experience improvements in lubrication, arousal, and overall sexual function, highlighting the potential benefits of cannabis use in enhancing specific aspects of sexual health in this population. Full article