Project Officers:

Vijay Ramanathan Phone: 8752 4915
Julie McLean Phone: 8752 4905

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Sexual health is a major aspect of health worldwide and an integral component of reproductive health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines it as:

‘a state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing related to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled’.

Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) is an important SH problem in Australia where 20.2% of males and 16.9% of females had reported that they had been diagnosed with an STI at some stage of their life.

General Practitioners are the most common source of treatment for sexually transmissible infections. Also, GPs are normally considered as the first medical contact for men with sexual dysfunction.

Key organisations

• Sexually Transmissible Infections in Gay Men Action (STIGMA) group
• NSW STI Programs Unit
• Australasian Society for HIV Medicine

CSGPN distributes information on STIs and other sexual health issues and provides education on a range of sexual health topics through continuing professional development. Some useful information and vital resources:

• Sydney Local Health District
• Public Sexual Health Clinics in NSW
• STI Clinical Management Resources
• STI testing Guidelines For Men Having Sex with Men
• Let Them Know: Contact tracing for the heterosexual community, to sms or email partners
• WhyTest: Contact tracing for for Men who have sex with men, to sms or email partners
• ASHM: Contact tracing sample letter
• STI Fact Sheets

Men’s Sexual Health

• Andrology Australia
• Impotence Australia
• Assessing STI & HIV Risk in highly sexually active gay men

Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health

• Family Planning NSW

Sexual health - Education and Training

ThinkGP Education

• Interactive case studies on men’s health, women’s health and sexual health
• Activities for practicing sexual history taking and managing specific sexual health issues
• Activities can be found at www.thinkgp.com.au/education

Vital contacts

RPA Sexual Health Clinic
Ground Floor, Page Building (Building 14) RPA Hospital
119-143 Missenden Road, Camperdown
Phone: 02 9515 3131

Sexual Health Infoline: 1800 451 624