Sexual and Reproductive Health

A devastating sexually transmitted infection once nearly eliminated by modern medicine has returned with alarming force across developed nations, while antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhea create unprecedented treatment challenges that threaten to overwhelm healthcare systems and devastate vulnerable populations worldwide.

Syphilis infections have surged dramatically across numerous high-income countries, with public health agencies documenting relentless increases since the early 2000s that show no signs of abating. This resurgence represents a catastrophic failure of prevention programs and reveals dangerous gaps in sexual health education, testing accessibility, and treatment coordination.

A common sexually transmitted infection has returned to many countries.
The infection can cause serious illness, birth complications, and social harm.

Syphilis rates have risen again in several high-income countries.
Public health agencies report steady increases since the early 2000s (BBC report).

The BBC released a short explainer titled “The STI that’s back and all you need to know”.
The video highlights rising syphilis numbers and growing concerns about resistant gonorrhoea (BBC video).

Sexually transmitted infections are rising among older Europeans. This trend could affect Thailand through travel and ageing demographics.

Health authorities report rising diagnoses of gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and syphilis in people aged 45 and older. The trend appears across the UK, France, Denmark, and the EU (ECDC, UKHSA) (ECDC syphilis report 2023; UKHSA STI data tables 2014-2023).

The number of common bacterial STI diagnoses in Britons aged 65 and over rose sharply from 2014 to 2023. UK figures show 576 diagnoses in 2014 and 1,649 in 2023 for gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and syphilis combined (UKHSA data).

As Thailand’s population ages and international travel resumes post-pandemic, a troubling trend emerging across Europe demands immediate attention from Thai health authorities. Sexually transmitted infections are surging among Europeans aged 45 and older, presenting a clear warning for Thailand’s own rapidly aging society.

Recent surveillance data from European health authorities reveals alarming increases in bacterial STIs among older adults. In the United Kingdom alone, diagnoses of gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and syphilis in people over 65 nearly tripled between 2014 and 2023, jumping from 576 cases to 1,649 cases. This dramatic rise reflects a continent-wide pattern that has caught public health experts off guard.

A federal jury in Northern California has found Meta liable for illegally collecting and using highly sensitive reproductive health data from users of the Flo Health period‑tracking app to run targeted advertising, a decision that legal experts say could reshape how consumer health apps handle data worldwide. The verdict held Meta responsible under the California Invasion of Privacy Act and the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act for receiving reproductive and menstrual information sent by the Flo app between 2016 and 2019, and comes after settlements with other defendants and a 2021 Federal Trade Commission action against Flo Health (Fierce Healthcare).

In a groundbreaking verdict that sends shockwaves across Asia’s digital health landscape, a California federal jury has held Meta liable for secretly harvesting intimate reproductive health data from millions of women worldwide—including thousands of Thai users of the popular Flo Health period-tracking app.

The Billion-Dollar Privacy Breach That Changed Everything

The landmark ruling emerged from what began as a quiet class action filed by eight women but exploded into a massive legal reckoning involving millions of users across 190 countries, including Thailand. Between 2016 and 2019, Meta systematically collected and exploited the most intimate details of women’s lives: menstrual cycles, pregnancy status, sexual activity, contraceptive choices, and fertility struggles.

Florida lawmakers are debating a bill that would require parental consent for minors to receive treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), contraception and even to complete certain school health surveys — a proposal critics say comes as teen STI rates in the state are at their highest in more than a decade and could push vulnerable young people away from lifesaving care. The bill, SB 1288, advanced through a Senate Pre‑K‑12 committee in late March after heated testimony from sexual‑assault survivors, public‑health advocates and clinicians who warned that removing confidential access risks higher rates of untreated infections and unintended pregnancies — outcomes that public‑health research links to policies that restrict adolescent confidentiality in sexual and reproductive health services (Florida Phoenix; Tallahassee Democrat). The debate in Florida is a stark reminder for Thailand that policy changes limiting adolescents’ confidential access to STI testing, treatment and contraception can have measurable public‑health consequences — especially where sex education is inconsistent and cultural stigma around adolescent sexuality remains strong.

Throughout Florida’s legislative chambers, a devastating assault on teenage healthcare privacy unfolds that sends urgent alarm signals to Thailand, where rising adolescent STI rates and entrenched cultural barriers already prevent thousands of vulnerable young people from accessing lifesaving reproductive health services during their most critical developmental years. Florida lawmakers advance dangerous legislation requiring parental consent for minors seeking sexually transmitted infection treatment, contraceptive services, and basic school health survey participation—creating potentially fatal obstacles to medical care precisely as teenage infection rates surge to crisis levels unseen since 2008, threatening to drive the state’s most at-risk adolescents away from essential treatments that could prevent permanent reproductive damage, preserve future fertility, and literally save lives.

A profound healthcare emergency affecting breast cancer survivors worldwide has been exposed through comprehensive international research revealing that nearly ninety percent of women who successfully overcome cancer subsequently experience severe sexual health complications that remain systematically ignored or inadequately addressed by their medical care teams. This alarming gap in post-treatment support proves especially devastating for Thai women, where complex cultural sensitivities surrounding intimate health discussions intersect with healthcare system limitations to create compounding barriers that prevent survivors from accessing the holistic recovery support they desperately need to rebuild complete physical, emotional, and intimate wellbeing after their cancer journey. As Thailand’s breast cancer detection and treatment capabilities continue advancing, resulting in steadily improving survival rates, the urgent need for comprehensive survivorship care that addresses all aspects of women’s health becomes increasingly critical for ensuring that beating cancer truly means returning to full, satisfying lives rather than merely surviving with diminished quality of life.

Sexual health challenges are both common and deeply distressing among breast cancer survivors, yet the majority of women feel unsupported by their healthcare teams, according to a new international survey. Experts warn that this gap in care may be undermining both physical and emotional recovery for cancer survivors—including rising numbers in Thailand—highlighting an urgent need for more open dialogue and professional guidance.

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers among Thai women, with survival rates steadily increasing thanks to improved detection and treatment. But as more women survive breast cancer, their long-term quality of life—including intimate and sexual wellbeing—is moving to the foreground of cancer care. The Women’s Insight in Sexual Health after Breast Cancer (WISH-BREAST) study, published this week, directly addresses this need, revealing that nearly 90% of survey respondents suffered moderate-to-severe sexual problems following treatment, yet most had received little or no guidance from their healthcare providers. The survey questioned 1,175 survivors (average age 47.5) about their sexual health and information-seeking behavior after breast cancer therapy, and its results offer sobering insights relevant for survivors across the globe—including in Thailand.

England has taken a pioneering step in global public health by launching the world’s first vaccination program targeting gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that has reached record highs and shows worrying resistance to antibiotics. Starting from August 2025, sexual health clinics across England are now offering the vaccine—adapted from the 4CMenB meningococcal B vaccine—to people at highest risk, marking a significant move in the fight against a disease that has challenged medical professionals for decades. Health officials, experts, and advocacy groups alike are hailing the effort as a critical intervention with relevance for countries confronting rising STI rates, including Thailand.

Leading medical professionals have developed evidence-based screening recommendations specifically targeting women born between 1990 and 1997, recognizing this demographic’s unique position at the intersection of evolving career expectations, delayed family planning decisions, and emerging health risks associated with modern urban lifestyles throughout Thailand and globally. These comprehensive assessment protocols acknowledge the significant demographic shifts occurring within Thai society, where increasing numbers of women pursue higher education and establish careers before considering marriage and childbearing, creating new health challenges that require proactive medical monitoring and preventive intervention strategies. The timing proves particularly crucial as this generation reaches ages where reproductive capacity begins natural decline while facing elevated risks for various chronic diseases that benefit from early detection and management through systematic screening approaches.

Condoms have long been hailed as a cornerstone of sexual health, offering effective dual protection against both unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). But despite their widespread use and clear advantages, new research and expert analysis reveal that many people—across age groups and nationalities—are still making common mistakes when using condoms. Such errors threaten not only the effectiveness of condoms but also the public health progress made in promoting safer sex globally, including here in Thailand.

Comprehensive international research examining global patterns of contraceptive behavior has exposed widespread misconceptions and technical errors that systematically compromise the protective effectiveness of condoms, creating significant risks for unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infection transmission throughout Thailand and worldwide. Despite decades of successful public health campaigns promoting condom accessibility and general awareness, sexual health experts have identified critical knowledge gaps regarding proper usage techniques that continue undermining the protective potential of one of the most reliable contraceptive and disease prevention methods available. This revelation proves particularly concerning for Thailand, where evolving social dynamics, increased urbanization, and changing relationship patterns have intensified the need for accurate sexual health education that extends beyond basic awareness to include practical competency development.

A recent wave of medical advice from global and regional experts is shining a spotlight on the critical health, reproductive, and fertility screenings that women born between 1990 and 1997 should prioritise. As more women delay motherhood and face evolving health risks associated with modern urban lifestyles, these check-ups have become increasingly vital, not just globally but for Thai women navigating similar trends in Bangkok and beyond. With rising awareness about female health and wellness, especially in reproductive years, Thai women now have an opportunity to assess and future-proof their well-being through timely, evidence-based medical screenings.

Revolutionary medical research conducted by the University of California San Francisco demonstrates that endometriosis extends far beyond reproductive health concerns to impact virtually every body system, revealing associations with cancer, migraines, Crohn’s disease, asthma, and more than 600 additional medical conditions. This groundbreaking discovery transforms understanding of a disease affecting one in ten women globally, including countless Thai women who currently face delayed diagnoses, limited treatment options, and insufficient awareness within healthcare systems and communities. The comprehensive findings represent a crucial advancement for addressing what medical professionals now recognize as a complex, multi-system disorder requiring urgent attention and coordinated care strategies.

A groundbreaking new study has revealed that endometriosis—a condition often dismissed as a gynecological issue—impacts far more than just reproductive health, demonstrating strong associations with cancer, migraines, Crohn’s disease, asthma, and over 600 other medical conditions. These results mark a significant step forward in understanding and potentially treating a disease estimated to affect one in ten women worldwide, including many Thai women currently facing delayed diagnoses and limited treatment options.

Thailand emerges as a pioneering force in the international campaign against sexually transmitted infections, aligning its comprehensive public health strategies with cutting-edge research developments from world-renowned medical institutions. This strategic positioning reflects the kingdom’s commitment to addressing the escalating global burden of STIs through innovative prevention programs, advanced diagnostic technologies, and culturally sensitive community engagement initiatives that serve as models for Southeast Asia and beyond.

Sexually transmitted infections continue representing formidable public health challenges across Asia and globally, with the World Health Organization documenting over 374 million new annual infections encompassing chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Throughout Southeast Asia, persistent social stigma, inadequate screening accessibility, and insufficient comprehensive sexual health education create substantial barriers to effective STI prevention, leaving countless individuals vulnerable to serious medical complications including infertility, maternal and child health complications, and dramatically increased HIV infection susceptibility.

Thailand is actively stepping up its role in the global effort to curb the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), aligning itself with the work of world leaders in sexual health as highlighted in a recent report by Alfred Health. The growing burden of STIs, both regionally and worldwide, has prompted renewed focus on advanced research, public health strategies, and international collaboration to tackle these persistent and sometimes overlooked threats to community health.

In recent years, painful sex—a condition medically known as dyspareunia—has emerged from the shadows, with a growing body of global and local research pointing to pelvic floor tightness as a primary culprit. New findings and increasing awareness are offering hope to millions of women worldwide, including many in Thailand, who have long suffered in silence due to stigma or lack of information. Medical experts and therapists now highlight both innovative and traditional ways to find relief, indicating a major shift in sexual health care and conversations around intimacy in modern Thai society.

Emerging scientific evidence is dismantling age-old taboos surrounding sexual health and intimacy among older adults worldwide, with new findings promising to reshape both medical practice and social perceptions for Thai society. According to a recent peer-reviewed study published this month in the journal Menopause and highlighted by Forbes, sexual pleasure, intimate connection, and even orgasmic experience remain vital facets of well-being for women in midlife and beyond, defying the widespread belief that sexuality fades irreversibly with age or menopause (Forbes).

A recent report from the United States has revealed a shocking public health statistic: one in five Americans now lives with a sexually transmitted infection (STI), highlighting an urgent need for comprehensive sexual health education and testing. With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that nearly 68 million Americans were infected with an STI in 2018 alone, the scale of the issue signals growing global concerns and poses clear implications for countries like Thailand, where shifting social norms and international tourism influence sexual health patterns (KX News).

A pioneering chapter presented at the 2025 Argentine Society of Infectious Diseases (SADI) Congress introduces updated, evidence-based guidelines aimed at transforming how doctors worldwide—including in Thailand—approach sexual health histories in patient care. The guidelines, published and discussed by the HIV and STI Commission and developed with input from leading infectious disease specialists, offer clinicians seven core question areas essential for comprehensive sexual health consultations. Their adoption marks a significant shift toward more inclusive, respectful, and effective patient interactions, with important lessons for Thai healthcare providers and the wider community.

A groundbreaking long-term study has turned conventional wisdom on its head, revealing that modest rises in blood sugar—not age or testosterone—are a primary driver of sexual decline in men. Presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, these findings highlight that even non-diabetic glucose levels can slow sperm, impair erections, and reduce libido, with important implications for men’s health across Thailand and the world (SciTechDaily).

For years, discussions about aging men’s declining sexual and reproductive health have focused on hormone levels and the inevitable march of time. But this newly published research, led by a respected German endocrinologist, argues that subtle metabolic changes—particularly slight increases in blood sugar—play a more pivotal role than previously recognized. “Although age and testosterone levels have long been considered an impetus for men’s declining sexual health, our research indicates that these changes more closely correlate with modest increases in blood sugar and other metabolic changes,” said a University Hospital in Muenster professor involved in the study. This suggests that lifestyle management and blood sugar monitoring may hold the key to preserving sexual health as men age.