Women's Sexual Behavior Research Articles

‘What happens in Tenerife stays in Tenerife’: Understanding women's sexual behaviour on holiday

Recent research has drawn attention to the epidemiological importance of international travel in the spread of HIV. Drawing on data generated in focus groups and in depth interviews with women holiday travellers, this paper explores the context of sexual risk behaviour of women on holiday. These data suggest that freedom from the constraints and realities of domestic life is a crucial aspect of the holiday experience. It is argued that holidays are a ‘liminoid period’ in which norms of behaviour are temporarily abandoned. Furthermore, on holiday, time becomes ‘compressed’. Thus relationships follow a similar pattern to that they would at home however over a much shorter time period. Time compression and liminality lead to the rapid establishment of trust in new relationships. This has implications for sexual risk: women have sexual intercourse more quickly with a new partner on holiday than they do at home. Unqualified trust in relative strangers also raises issues for women's general safety.

Sexuality as Disability: The Women on Sprog⊘ and Danish Society

The aim of this article is to show how, through professional diagnoses, social problems declared a specific group of women persona non grata in Danish society. The article is based on data derived from the archives of an institution directed at women of “loose and promiscuous character and low intelligence”: Sprog⊘ in Denmark. The analyses focus on the professional narratives of the interned women, particularly the diagnoses and treatment applied, as they emerge from the archival material. Reading the “Sprog⊘-girls'” voluminous case sheets it becomes clear that the most marked professional buzzword is “sexuality”. Information was sought on the women's sexual behaviour and, for the staff on Sprog⊘, there was a special demand to report any signs of “sexual impulses” in the confined women. One recurring aspect was that, sexually, the women were seen as the active and inviting part, and that their behaviour was deemed deviant.

Prospective study on sexual behavior of women using 30 μg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone oral contraceptive

The aim of the study was to determine the changes, if any, on the sexual behavior of women using an oral contraceptive containing 30 μg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP). Eighty healthy volunteer women (age range, 19–31 years), with regular menstrual cycle length (mean 27.6±3.1) and ovulation, participated in this prospective study. Sexual behavior was assessed using the self-administered Personal Experience Questionnaire, at baseline and at 3, 6 and 9 cycles of pill use. Women reported increased (i) sexual enjoyment (p<.001), (ii) orgasm frequency (p<.05) and (iii) satisfaction with sexual activity (p<.05) during all periods of pill intake with respect to baseline. Both arousal and frequency of sexual activity improved at the sixth and ninth cycle of pill use (p<.05) with respect to baseline. Moreover, women reported decreased genital pain associated with intercourse during pill intake (p<.05). Desire did not change during the use of the pill (p=NS). The mild dose of EE may have improved vaginal lubrication, sexual arousal and decreased dyspareunia. Consequently, women may have experienced increased sexual performance. In addition, improved sexual activity could have been the result of the effects of DRSP, with its antimineralocorticoid effects which could improve pill compliance, with a more satisfied sexual life.

Sexual Harassment and Demographic Diversity: Implications for Organizational Punishment

Sexual harassment has come to the forefront in the past two decades as an issue that warrants greater attention both in terms of social policy reform and academic research. Although sexual harassment has been found to negatively impact job satisfaction, somatic complaints, and supervisor satisfaction, little is known about the specific way in which changing demography in managerial ranks impacts the way in which harassment is perceived. As women continue to advance into managerial ranks, a closer examination of both supervisor and subordinate gender with regard to harassment consequences is warranted. In this research, we examine with a sample of 130 municipal court clerks whether gender impacts harasser punishment, the degree to which harassers are considered responsible for harassment, and the degree to which the harassment is perceived as serious. The design is a 2×2×2 factorial, with independent variables of harasser (male/female), harassee (male/female), and harassment type (quid pro quo, hostile environment). Contrary to what was hypothesized, men who harassed women were viewed more responsible for the harassment than men who harassed men, while a corresponding difference did not occur for women. Similarly, sexual harassment was viewed most seriously when men harassed women. When it came to administering punishment, however, women who harassed men were given more stringent punishment, providing support for views held by society regarding the appropriateness of men's and women's sexual behavior. Results are discussed with regard to status incongruency theory, societal views, and media attention.

“You can't do nothing in this damn place”: Sex and intimacy among couples with an incarcerated male partner

In an effort to deepen our understanding of how circumstances of forced separation and the interdiction of physical contact affect women's sexual behavior, we investigated the development and maintenance of heterosexual couples’ intimacy when the male partner is incarcerated. As HIV‐prevention scientists who work with women visiting men at a California state prison, we recognize that correctional control extends to these women's bodies, both when they are within the facility's walls visiting their mates and when they are at home striving to remain connected to absent men. This paper analyzes the impact of a peculiar public “place “—a penitentiary—on couples’ romantic and sexual interactions, drawing out the implications of imprisonment for relationship decision making, sexual health, and HIV risk. Using qualitative interviews with 20 women who visit their incarcerated partners and 13 correctional officers who interact with prison visitors, we examine how institutional constraints such as the regulation of women's apparel, the prohibition of physical contact, and the lack of privacy result in couples forging alternative “spaces” in which their relationships occur. We describe how romantic scripts, the build‐up of sexual tension during the incarceration period, and conditions of parole promote unprotected sexual intercourse and other HIV/STD risk behavior following release from prison.

Mechanisms of Regulation of Sexual Behavior

The scientific literature contains extensive material on the hormonal regulation of sexual behavior in mammals (rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, primates), while the questions of sexual behavior in humans are found beyond scientific journals. However, in our view, there remain several questions not included in the more or less generally accepted schemes. In particular, the literature shows that sexual attraction ‐ libido in women ‐ is formed by male sex hormones ‐ androgens; increases in blood androgen concentrations increase overall sexual behavior [3], while sexual behavior in female mammals involves estrogens. This is clearly indicated by numerous experiments in which administration of estradiol-containing capsules to females induced estrus and its associated sexual behavior. Primates (or, more precisely, higher primates), which are “sensitive” to these and other hormones [2], are located between these two extremes. At the same time, sexual behavior in male mammals is controlled by the same hormones as in male humans. On this background, the biological significance of these fine biochemical evolutionary changes, responsible for such sharp inversionary changes in the hormonal regulation of sexual behavior in women is completely unclear. And are these changes relevant? At first glance, they would appear to be so. Unlike female mammals, which demonstrate sexual behavior only during estrus (this occurs only once a year in some species), women can demonstrate sexual behavior at any time from the onset of sexual maturity to old age. We will address this and a number of other phenomena from different points of view. It is generally accepted that sexual behavior can be divided into components consisting of central and peripheral mechanisms. The central mechanism corresponds to the motivational component, while the peripheral is associated with the appearance of purely voluntary behavior: erection and ejaculation in males and adoption of the lordotic position in females. The motivational component of behavior can be regarded as an analog of libido in humans. In animals, a number of indirect indications have been obtained, such as sniffing of the genitalia [8], the degree of closeness to an individual of the opposite gender ‐ using the open field test [9] ‐ and also the latency of mounting and the postejaculatory interval (the latter two only in males) [15], etc. The differences between these methods (some need the copulation act itself, others do not) arise from the fact that the existence of sexual excitation in animals in general and its extent in particular are difficult to evaluate without the fact of sexual intercourse, as they do not have mental aspects, and animals have virtually none of the capacity for verbal contact of humans.

Childhood Sexual Abuse, Relationship Satisfaction, and Sexual Risk Taking in a Community Sample of Women.

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been proposed to influence both women's adult sexual risk behaviors and the quality of their intimate relationships. Among a household sample of women (n = 732), good fit was obtained for a model in which CSA predicted Wave 1 male partner sexual risk and aggression characteristics, resulting in lower relationship satisfaction, and ultimately in higher numbers of Wave 2 sexual partners. The model was generally replicated among women who entered new relationships at Waves 2 and 3. Partner sexual risk characteristics also were associated with women's risk of sexually transmitted infection from current partner. Elevated sexual risk behaviors among CSA survivors reflect difficulty in establishing stable and safe relationships and may be reduced by interventions aimed at improving intimate relationships.

Sex, Sexuality and Sickness: Discourses of Gender and HIV/AIDS among Kwazulu-Natal Women

Current HIV-prevention work indicates that simply providing HIV-related information plays a limited role in changing sexual practices, and instead stresses the need to address the social and cultural forces shaping individual behaviour. The aim of this study was thus to explore the social influences that shape women's sexual behaviour with specific attention given to discourses of gender and HIV/AIDS. Material was generated through seven focus group discussions with black women living in a peri-urban area in Durban, and was interpreted using discourse analysis. The study clarified the ways in which women are not necessarily in a position to make purely rational, individual decisions about safe sex, since these decisions are intimately linked to social constructions of sexuality and the power relations that operate in cultures. It identified specific cultural practices linked to the organisation of gender roles and how these influence safe sex practices. The analysis then examined the implications of these findings for future HIV/AIDS education interventions.

'Up for it, mad for it? Women, drug use and participation in club scenes'

In this paper the meanings that participating in contemporary club scenes have for women are analysed in terms of risk and pleasure. The notion that club spaces provide an equal environment where women are free to participate without encountering sexual harassment from men is questioned, as is the assumption that all club spaces are the same. The differences between club spaces are discussed in terms of mainstreams and undergrounds and the implications that these different spaces have an impact on the women who choose a clubbing lifestyle. Previous accounts of women's sexual behaviour have focused on risk and danger. This extended analysis, by putting this behaviour into the context of drug use, risk and pleasure allows for a different reading of women's experiences. An ethnographic study using in-depth interviews, focus groups and participant observations was carried out to ascertain how women viewed their own participation on club scenes. The data suggests that women feel more comfortable in underground club spaces as they encounter less sexual harassment there, and that factors such as alcohol use and self esteem are crucial in determining risk taking behaviour. The use of ecstasy itself was not seen as a precursor to risk taking behaviour. The negotiation of femininity and sexuality in club spaces is highlighted as problematic for the women concerned. In constructing identities within club spaces however, a positive femininity can be produced in opposition to traditional, passive images of femininity and sexuality.

Understanding pregnancy in a population of inner-city women in New Orleans—results of qualitative research

Unintended pregnancy has conventionally been defined as a pregnancy that is mistimed or unwanted, and this classification has been widely used in survey research. This study explores the utility of these constructs for women who visited a family planning clinic and a prenatal clinic in inner-city New Orleans, LA, and, by extension, for women of similar background and experience. We used semi-structured, open-ended research to explore sexual debut and history, contraceptive knowledge and use, pregnancy history, partner relations, and service use among 77 women (73 of whom were African-American). This study addresses the apparent paradox of high-risk sexual and contraceptive behavior in the presence of expressed preferences to postpone childbearing. It provides some insight into the cultural and social context in which these events and decisions take place and explores the multiple dimensions that shape women's sexual behaviors and their desires for pregnancy. The dimensions explored include perceptions of and experiences with sex/sexuality, values concerning childbearing/motherhood, relationships with partners, experiences with contraception, and attitudes toward abortion. The apparent ambivalence seen in reports of women asked whether a pregnancy was intended, such as statements that they did not want to get pregnant but were either not using contraception or using it irregularly, calls into question the idea that intendedness can be routinely and easily inferred from survey research. Correspondingly, it is not possible to simply assume that either intentionality or future intentions directly affect decisions to use contraception. The problem is that the many factors—structural and individual—affect women's preferences and ability to postpone a pregnancy or to use contraception.

Transactional sex among women in Soweto, South Africa: prevalence, risk factors and association with HIV infection

Sex workers have long been considered a high-risk group for HIV infection, but to date little quantitative research has explored the association between HIV risk and exchange of sex for material gain by women in the general population. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of such transactional sex among women attending antenatal clinics in Soweto, South Africa, to identify demographic and social variables associated with reporting transactional sex, and to determine the association between transactional sex and HIV serostatus. We conducted a cross-sectional study of women seeking antenatal care in four Soweto health centres who accepted routine antenatal HIV testing. Private face-to-face interviews covered socio-demographics, sexual history and experience of gender-based violence. 21.1% of participants reported having ever had sex with a non-primary male partner in exchange for material goods or money. Women who reported past experience of violence by male intimate partners, problematic substance use, urban residence, ever earning money, or living in substandard housing were more likely to report transactional sex, while women who reported delayed first coitus, were married, or had a post-secondary education were less likely to report transactional sex. Transactional sex was associated with HIV seropositivity after controlling for lifetime number of male sex partners and length of time a woman had been sexually active (OR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.21). Women who reported non-primary partners without transactional sex did not have increased odds of being HIV seropositive (OR=1.04, 95% CI: 0.75, 1.43). We conclude that transactional sex may place women at increased risk for HIV, and is associated with gender-based violence, substance use and socio-economic disadvantage. Research, policy and programmatic initiatives should consider the role of transactional sex in women's HIV risk, with attention to the intersecting roles of violence, poverty, and substance use in shaping women's sexual behaviour.

The effects of advance provision of emergency contraception on adolescent women's sexual and contraceptive behaviors

ContextAdvance provision of emergency contraception (EC) may increase timely access and improve effectiveness, but the impact on adolescent sexual and contraceptive behaviors is not known. ObjectiveTo determine whether adolescents given advance EC have higher sexual and contraceptive risk-taking behaviors compared to those obtaining it on an as-needed basis. Design and settingRandomized trial conducted at urban, hospital-based adolescent clinic in Pittsburgh, PA, from June 1997 to June 2002. Participants301 predominantly minority, low-income, sexually active adolescent women, age 15–20 years, not using long-acting contraception. InterventionsAdvance EC vs instruction on how to get emergency contraception. Outcome measuresSelf-reported unprotected intercourse and use of condoms, EC, and hormonal contraception ascertained by monthly 10-minute telephone interviews for 6 months post-enrollment. Reported timing of EC use after unprotected intercourse. ResultsAt both 1- and 6-month followup interviews, there were no differences between advance EC and control groups in reported unprotected intercourse within the past month or at last intercourse. At 6 months, more advance EC participants reported condom use in the past month compared to control group participants (77% vs 62%, P=0.02), but not at last intercourse (advance EC 83% vs control 78%, P=0.34). There were no significant differences by group in hormonal contraception use reported by advance EC or control groups in the past month (44% vs 53%, P=0.19) or at last intercourse (48% vs 58%, P=0.20). At the first followup, the advance group reported nearly twice as much EC use as the control group (15% vs 8%, P=0.05) but not at the final followup (8% vs 6%, P=0.54). Advance EC group participants began their EC significantly sooner (11.4 hours vs 21.8 hours, P=0.005). ConclusionsProviding advance EC to adolescents is not associated with more unprotected intercourse or less condom or hormonal contraception use. In the first month after enrollment, adolescents provided with advance EC were nearly twice as likely to use it and began EC sooner, when it is known to be more effective.

Sexual behavior of women taking low-dose oral contraceptive containing 15 μg ethinylestradiol/60 μg gestodene

The objective of this prospective study was to assess the effects of a low-dose oral contraceptive (OC) containing 15 μg ethinylestradiol and 60 μg gestodene on sexuality. Forty-eight healthy volunteers (age range, 18–35 years), having regular menstrual cycles with ovulation, participated in the study. Sexual behavior was assessed using the self-administered Personal Experience Questionnaire, at baseline, and at 3, 6 and 9 months of pill use. Women reported decreased sexual desire (p < 0.005) and sexual activity (p < 0.05) at the 9th month of pill use, and diminished sexual arousal at the 3rd month of pill intake (p < 0.05), with respect to baseline. The frequency of orgasm did not change during OC use (p = NS). Moreover, sexual enjoyment was worse at the 3rd, 6th and 9th month with respect to baseline (p < 0.001). The low dose of ethinylestradiol could cause decreased vaginal lubrication, and diminished sexual arousal could be due to hypoandrogenism. Women may expect increased sexual performance when they take the pill, as compared to before starting contraception. Consequently, they could have an unexpected effect with pill use, though sexuality may remain the same.

Intergenerational family relations and sexual risk behavior in young women.

To more fully understand the associations between family variables and sexual behavior of young women. Forty-two female clients of an urban youth agency (16 to 25 years of age) were interviewed about intergenerational stories and contact with extended families. Individuation was measured by self-report using the intergenerational individuation subscale of the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire. Self-report questions were used to gain information about the young women's sexual risk behavior. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, independent t-tests, and multiple regression. Family stories were analyzed for themes of resilience or vulnerability. Young women who perceived their connection with previous generations in a resilient light tended to be more individuated and report less risky sexual behaviors. These results may give direction in the design of family interventions for reducing sexual risk taking and enhancing positive health behavior. Interventions would include promoting a healthy degree of attachment between adolescents and their families, exploration of family of origin issues, and referral for more intensive services when needed.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among bar and hotel workers in northern Tanzania: prevalence and risk factors.

Type-specific serological tests have allowed for a better understanding of the epidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection in Africa. The goal was to determine risk factors for HSV-2 among bar and hotel workers in Moshi, Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 515 workers in randomly selected bars and hotels in Moshi. The seroprevalence of HSV-2 was 43.5%. Women were more likely to be HSV-2-seropositive than men (age-adjusted OR = 3.8; 95% CI = 2.5-5.8). In multivariate analyses, age was positively associated with HSV-2 in both women and men. HIV-1-seropositive women had a significantly increased risk of HSV-2 infection (adjusted OR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.5-5.1). Other predictors of HSV-2 were religion and sexual behavior for women and level of education, frequency of alcohol use, and concurrent partners for men. The most common genital infection was that with HSV-2. Control of HSV-2 might be an important strategy for HIV-1 infection prevention in this population.

Why Some Women Consent to Unwanted Sex With a Dating Partner: Insights from Attachment Theory

Several studies have shown that many college women engage in unwanted sexual activity with a dating partner. However, little research has examined the differences between women who comply with requests for unwanted sexual activity and women who do not. This study utilized an attachment theory framework to investigate individual differences in women's compliant sexual behavior. An ethnically diverse sample of 125 college women who had consented to unwanted sex with a current dating partner completed measures of their attachment style, commitment to their current relationship, perceptions of their partner's commitment, and willingness to consent to unwanted sex in a hypothetical scenario. Results showed that attachment style and commitment perceptions were associated with women's willingness to consent to unwanted sex with a dating partner in the hypothetical scenario and their reasons for this decision. As predicted, anxiously attached women were the most willing to consent to unwanted sex, and they often cited fears that their partner would lose interest in them as reasons for their compliance. Contrary to hypotheses, avoidantly attached women were not the least willing to consent to unwanted sex. They often reported passively complying with a partner's sexual request in order to fulfill relationship obligations. The importance of sexuality to attachment formation in dating relationships and the potential consequences of consenting to unwanted sex are discussed.

Do women have a hidden heat period?

This article aims to throw light on the controversial topic of whether women have a 'heat' period within their menstrual cycle. The majority of publications in this field report, in addition to a periovulatory peak, no changes at all or even rises in male- and female-initiated sexual activity, woman's sexual desire, autosexual activity and sexual arousability, and interpersonal sexual activities during the mid-follicular and late luteal phases. The lack of a distinct pattern of women's sexual behaviour across the menstrual cycle may be explained by the interplay between cyclical endocrine fluctuations and many psychological, social, cultural and environmental factors, as well as the methodological shortcomings associated with menstrual cycle research. However, studies focused on cycling changes in women's olfactory and visual perception show that, in comparison with women at other phases of the menstrual cycle, women at mid-cycle exhibit increased sexual motivation that biases recognition performance towards objects with a sexual meaning, evaluate the unattractive sweat substance androstenone as more pleasant, and display enhanced preference for the odour and face shape of masculinized, physically attractive and symmetric men. On the other hand, men find the scent of women at mid-cycle more pleasant and sexually attractive than during the luteal phase.

The relationship between drug abuse and sexual performance among women on methadone: Heightening the risk of sexual intimate violence and HIV

Purpose: Through in-depth interviews with 38 women recruited from methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs), this paper examines subjective experiences regarding the effects of illicit drugs on the women's sexual behavior and that of their male sexual partners, mainly changes in libido, performance, and pleasure. Methods: This paper addresses several questions: (1) How does drug use affect women's sexual performance? (2) How does drug use affect their partners' sexual performance and the sexual dynamics in their relationship? (3) How does drug use affect these women and their partners differently? (4) How are sexual disparities between women and their partners, heightened by drug use, linked with sexual and physical violence and risk of HIV? Results: Three major themes are discussed: some women believe that drugs, particularly heroin, increase their sexual performance, libido, and pleasure, but for others, drugs, particularly crack cocaine, inhibit their sexual performance and desire. Many of the women believe that crack cocaine and heroin enhance a man's sexual desire, performance, and pleasure. However, other women deem that these drugs are responsible for their partners' abusive and coercive behavior. The data further indicate that gender disparities, in how crack cocaine and heroin affect the sexual dynamics between drug-involved couples, often lead to sexual coercion and physical abuse. Conclusion: This in-depth narrative study of abused women in MMTPs draws implications from their subjective experiences for understanding the contextual mechanisms linking drug use, intimate sexual abuse, and HIV risk. It also suggests implications for designing HIV prevention programs that take into account the differential effects of drugs on sexual intimate violence and HIV risk. Education about the effects of drugs on sexuality and on the risks of sexual violence and HIV transmission is crucial for drug-involved women.

Behind closed doors: A qualitative study of sexual behaviour of married women in Bangladesh

This paper, based on in-depth interviews of 54 women selected from both rural and urban areas, analyses the sexual behaviour of married women in Bangladesh. The study reveals that at the time of marriage girls have very limited knowledge about sex and married life. In a few cases, this has a significant bearing on later sexual behaviour and the expression of sexuality. The study also indicates that, despite normative restrictions, many women find ways of communicating about sex and sexuality with their husbands, and most enjoy their sexual life. Communication on contraception is almost desexualized and generally occurs early in their married life. In most cases, discussion of sex or contraception is initiated by husbands. These findings encourage new efforts to prevent the transmission of STIs/HIV and make married life sexually more enjoyable. The study reveals considerable variation in the sexual behaviour of women with respect to sexual negotiation, sex during menstruation and forced sex. Findings suggest the need for further studies to identify and address the factors causing such variations and producing undesirable reproductive health outcomes.

Women's Sexual Behavior, Body Image and Satisfaction with Surgical Outcomes after Hysterectomy: A Comparison of Vaginal and Abdominal Surgery

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of vaginal and abdominal hysterectomy on women's sexual behavior, sexual dysfunction, body image and satisfaction with surgery. A prospective study was conducted on 90 women to evaluate the outcomes of hysterectomy. Data were collected prior to surgery, three months and two years after surgery, using self-report questionnaires. The results showed significant differences in women's sexual behavior and sexual dysfunction before and after hysterectomy, independent of the surgical procedure performed. Women in both groups reported improvements in sexual desire, sexual activity and sexual intercourse three months and two years after surgery. Sexual dysfunction such as dyspareunia, vaginismus, lack of orgasm and loss of sexual interest diminished significantly after surgery. Regression analyses revealed that postmenopausal status, severity of gynecological complaints and frequency of sexual intercourse were the most important factors for improved sexual outcomes. Women in the abdominal group were dissatisfied with their body image because of the abdominal scar, experienced more pain and had a longer period of recovery from surgery compared to women in the vaginal group. According to the results, sexual behavior alone is not an important factor in choosing vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy. However, sexual behavior was important in both groups when evaluating outcomes after hysterectomy.