Sexual health is an integral part of overall well-being, contributing to individuals’ happiness and quality of life and essential for building healthy relationships.
Sexual health is a broad topic including:
- Genito-urinary medicine
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- HIV
- Contraception
- Psychosexual medicine
- Termination of pregnancy services
- Sexual and reproductive health
Sexual health is both physical sexual health and sexual wellbeing. Sexual wellbeing includes promoting sexual rights, healthy relationships, intimacy, sexual pleasure, and consent.
Sexual health services must be provided by law as they are an important part of our overall health. They can be delivered in various settings, by local authorities, GPs, pharmacies, voluntary and community sector organisations, schools, colleges, universities and youth services.
Key messages
PLEASE NOTE: We also have a dedicated JSNAA page on the topic of Teenage Conceptions
Data report:
Assessments and audits
In 2024 a Sexual Health Services Health Equity Audit (HEA) was completed. The topic of the HEA was Access to Public Health Commissioned Sexual Health Services. The HEA was carried out by Durham County Council’s Public Health and Research and Intelligence teams. The recommendations are shown below. A link to the full HEA is also provided.
Health Equity Audit: Access to Public Health Commissioned Sexual Health Services HEA 2024
Our strategies, plans and groups
The County Durham Sexual Health Strategy 2023-2028 has a vision:
…that everyone in County Durham will have access to high quality, inclusive and confidential sexual health support.
The strategy has five key priority areas:
- Relationships Education (RE), and Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) across the life course
- Teenage conceptions, pregnancy and support for young parents
- Contraception
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) and HIV
- Reproductive health
A multi-agency Sexual Health Strategy Delivery Group meets quarterly to progress actions and support the delivery of the strategy.
The evidence base
British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH): BASHH guidelines
Department of Health and Social Care guidance: A Framework for Sexual Health Improvement in England (2013)
Department of Health and Social Care plan: Towards Zero: the HIV Action Plan for England – 2022 to 2025
NICE guidance products on Sexual Health
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities guidance: Sexual and reproductive health and HIV: applying All Our Health
Public Health England guidance: Syphilis: Public Health England action plan
Other relevant links