WHAT SHOULD WE CALL PEOPLE WHO USE SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES?

This article is the fifth in a series of articles on sexuality and sexual health. People’s understanding of and needs in sexual health are complex. In recognition of this, fpa—with funding from the Department of Health—published The Handbook of Sexual Health in Primary Care in 2006.a This multi-authored book is written by practising professionals working in sexual health providing evidence-guided and accessible information to support practice. This article is adapted from Chapter 10 and published with permission from fpa. WHAT IS SEXUAL HEALTH? When we talk about sexual health, what do we actually mean? Sexual health encompasses contraception, planning pregnancy, issues around pregnancy choices (including abortion, screening, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections) and help with sexual wellbeing. Sexual health services may be delivered ‘under one roof ’ or separately by providers in different settings. Wherever they are provided, the pathways to different sexual health services for consumers need to be clear and seamless. The National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV1 sets out a framework for how sexual health services should be provided in England. Similar strategies are available in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Resources, ‘tool kits ’ and standards are available to support and improve sexual health services and care.2–5 These are useful and need to be known about, and, more importantly, used