#Sexualhealth

A new study finds that how people express choosiness links to partnered sex in opposite ways.
The study may change how singles, therapists, and educators view modern dating (Archives of Sexual Behavior) (study).

The research matters because partnered sex affects wellbeing and relationship satisfaction.
International surveys show rising sexual inactivity among young adults in recent decades (study background).

The team surveyed 340 single heterosexual adults aged 18 to 40 in the United States.
They measured choosiness two ways and asked about sexual activity in the past year (study).

Groundbreaking psychological research has uncovered a startling paradox in how romantic selectivity affects intimate relationships, revealing that different expressions of choosiness produce completely opposite effects on sexual satisfaction and partnership success. The findings challenge decades of conventional wisdom about dating strategies while providing crucial insights for Thailand’s evolving relationship landscape, where traditional courtship values intersect with modern dating applications and changing social expectations.

The study’s implications resonate powerfully throughout Thai society, where rising marriage ages, urbanization pressures, and digital dating platforms are reshaping how young adults approach romantic relationships and sexual intimacy. Understanding this choosiness paradox could help Thai singles navigate increasingly complex dating environments while maintaining cultural values that emphasize family harmony and long-term relationship stability.

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.

Groundbreaking longitudinal research has unveiled a startling truth about romantic relationship breakdown: couples begin drifting apart years before their final separation, following a predictable two-stage decline pattern that offers unprecedented opportunities for early intervention. This discovery carries profound implications for Thailand’s families, where rising divorce rates and changing social structures create urgent needs for relationship support services.

The Science of Relationship Decline: Mapping Love’s Quiet Fadeaway

A comprehensive study analyzing more than 11,000 individuals across four Western nations reveals that relationship dissolution follows a characteristic trajectory with distinct phases. The research identified a prolonged “preterminal” phase lasting several years, characterized by gradual satisfaction decline, followed by a steep “terminal” phase lasting seven to 28 months before actual separation.

The latest research shows disconnection in couples begins slowly and quietly. ((The Quiet Beginning of Disconnection in a Relationship, Psychology Today))

A major longitudinal study finds a clear transition point before breakups. ((Terminal decline of satisfaction in romantic relationships, ResearchGate summary))
The study shows slow decline years before a rapid drop near separation. ((Transition point in romantic relationships, Phys.org))

This news matters to Thai couples and families. ((The Quiet Beginning of Disconnection in a Relationship, Psychology Today))
Thailand has seen rising family stress and more registered divorces recently. ((Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023, National Statistical Office))

A new international study suggests a clear psychological pathway from childhood maltreatment to compulsive sexual behaviour in adulthood: early abuse and neglect predict higher scores on a Sexual Narcissism scale, and that sexual narcissism in turn strongly predicts hypersexual or compulsive sexual behaviour, together explaining roughly 60% of the variation in compulsive-sex measures in the sample (sample n = 118) (Neuroscience News summary; original article in Archives of Sexual Behavior) (Springer link). This finding frames compulsive sexual behaviour disorder (CSBD) not simply as uncontrolled impulses but as a trauma-shaped interaction between early experience and specific sexual attitudes that clinicians can target.

Groundbreaking research from an international team reveals how childhood maltreatment transforms into adult sexual compulsions through a previously hidden psychological mechanism. The study of 118 individuals demonstrates that early abuse and neglect don’t directly cause hypersexual behavior—instead, they cultivate what researchers term “sexual narcissism,” a constellation of entitled attitudes and diminished empathy that becomes the true driver of compulsive sexual patterns. This discovery reframes compulsive sexual behavior disorder from a simple impulse control problem into a complex trauma response that mental health professionals can now target with precision.

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.

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.

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.

In a striking revelation that sheds light on the complexity of marital intimacy, new survey results indicate that over 55% of married individuals confess to fantasizing about past lovers. The findings have prompted sex and relationships experts to sound a note of caution, suggesting such fantasies may signal underlying issues within current partnerships if left unchecked. While occasional reminiscing about former flames is more common than many would admit, recent expert advice highlights both the psychological roots and potential risks of allowing such daydreams to dominate the private lives of couples.

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 groundbreaking new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior has revealed that couples experience synchronized surges of the hormone oxytocin—often called the “love hormone”—in the 40 minutes following sexual activity. This discovery, which relied on data from couples engaging in sex in the privacy of their own homes, offers fresh scientific insight into how intimacy biologically strengthens bonds within romantic relationships, and raises intriguing possibilities for understanding relationship satisfaction in modern Thai society.

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).

The notion of being “just friends” — with occasional intimacy on the side — often carries the promise of romantic freedom, pleasurable companionship, and zero-commitment fun. However, the latest research and expert commentary suggest that these so-called “friends with benefits” (FWB) arrangements rarely remain consequence-free. While such relationships are increasingly commonplace among young adults worldwide, and even perceived as safer or more convenient than casual hook-ups with strangers, scientists and therapists warn that they are emotionally fraught and can leave a lasting mark on the people involved.