Male sexual health during adolescence and young adulthood: contemporary issues

Comprehensive Assessment of Health Needs of Young Minority Males Attending a Family Planning Clinic

The objective of this study was to assess the overall health, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge and needs, sexual behaviors, and testicular health practices among young minority males. Anonymous questionnaires were administered to 18- to 25-year-old males receiving services at health clinics in a large southwestern U.S. city. The survey was completed by 258 males with a mean age of 20.8 years. Most young males (67.1%) identified as African American, and 32.9% as Hispanic. Results suggest study participants lack SRH knowledge related to pregnancy and condom effectiveness, and engage in risky sexual behavior including not using birth control at their last sexual encounter. Although 21.6% of participants had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past year, approximately 80% perceived their STI/HIV risk as very low or low. Respondents had low engagement and lack of knowledge of testicular health practices. The majority of respondents (71.1%) reported having been in a physical fight one or more times and 18.1% reported being victims of intimate partner violence. These data support a need for comprehensive health services for minority young males.

Integrating Male Reproductive Health Services: One University Clinic's Story

Attending a college or university opens a new chapter in a young man's life, and with it comes new experiences, freedoms, and responsibilities. Young adult males in particular are prone to risky behaviors as a result of peer pressure, and this can affect their health. As a result of this risky behavior, reproductive and sexual health could be compromised. Historically, reproductive health (RH) services have predominantly served women and undeserving men. Young men have significant reproductive health risks in the form of sexually transmitted infections (STI). Male sexual behaviors directly affect their female partners' health, and their shared decisions about reproductive health play an important part in preventing unintended pregnancies. The office of Population Affairs, Office of Family Planning (OFP), in partnership with five agencies and one research-coordinating center, has implemented a four-year comprehensive service delivery model to increase the number of males accessing family planning, reproductive health services. This paper describes the process of implementing male reproductive health services in a university clinic in western Massachusetts. The Service Innovation Model includes: 1) restructuring the clinic environment (physical setting, materials, and Internet presence), 2) staff training, and 3) campus outreach.