La santé sexuelle est dans vos mains : comment les applis pour smartphone peuvent-elles améliorer votre bien-être sexuel ?

How the smartphone apps can improve your sexual wellbeing

The use of smartphones and other technological devices has rapidly increased in the last few years, along with the availability of various applications that can be downloaded on iOS or Android devices. In this narrative review, we included most of the literature found on the specific topic of smartphone apps related to sexual health. Using the two databases PubMed and PsycInfo, we conducted research by the following terms: "apps" and "sexual wellbeing"; "apps" and "sexual health"; "mhealth" and "sex"; "mhealth", "apps" and "sex". We selected all articles written in English within the last 6 years to ensure the accessibility and consider the rapid changes in this field. The article highlights that many populations are interested in gaining information on a wide range of topics relating to sexual practices, potential risks, coercion, sexual violence and the prevention and recognition of potentially dangerous situations. Some findings suggest that sex education for sexual minority adolescents should focus on online sexual safety. Despite their value, many concerns and limitations must be solved, and future research studies are needed to explore how to fix them.

mSexHealth: An Overview of Mobile Sexual Health Applications

The aim of this study was to examine the existing mobile applications focused on sexual health and analyze the included content and therapeutic techniques. Three databases with mobile applications were searched and 47 applications met the criteria. More applications have been developed for men, most of them included content for erectile dysfunction, and only one for vaginismus. Most apps included sexuality tips and Kegel exercises, and only one technique for working on thoughts and emotions. In conclusion, a number of mobile applications have been developed to enhance sexual functioning, but scientific verification of their effectiveness has been completely lacking.

La sexualité pendant la pandémie COVID-19 – de l’importance d’Internet

Le coronavirus est une maladie infectieuse qui a affecté de nombreux pays. Pour les couples, les contacts physiques ont diminué et la vie sexuelle en a été altérée. Une sexualité sans risque implique de savoir comment éviter la transmission du virus. La distance physique crée de l’irritabilité, de la peur, et menace la vie sexuelle : il est raisonnable pour un couple vivant sous le même toit d’avoir des relations sexuelles sauf si l’un d’entre eux présentent un risque d’infection. Tous les couples confinés séparément n’ont pas nécessairement envie d’avoir des relations sexuelles en ligne et pour les personnes qui ne sont pas en couple, il est difficile de s’engager dans des relations sexuelles récréatives. En dépit de cela, la pandémie permet d’envisager une nouvelle intimité sexuelle utilisant des sex toys et de la technologie. L’utilisation d’internet pour maintenir une activité sexuelle active semble avoir été une excellente alternative pour pallier la distance physique entre les partenaires. Le conseil le plus couramment donné aux membres de couples confinés seuls était de maintenir un contact électronique constant pour atténuer la nostalgie et compenser le manque d’activité sexuelle. Ceci entraîna l’essor des sextos, des rencontres par webcam ou des appels téléphoniques érotiques contribuant à la désinhibition des couples. L’utilisation de la webcam, associée à l’utilisation de sex toys, permet également d’enrichir le répertoire sexuel. La pratique du sexe en ligne avec le partenaire stable ne vivant pas sous le même toit a aidé certaines personnes à maintenir leur désir et à le satisfaire et préserver celui-ci intact en vue de la fin de la pandémie. L’objectif de ce travail est de passer en revue les données disponibles sur la sexualité pendant les pandémies COVID-19 et de fournir des recommandations pour aider la population à vivre et préserver sa sexualité dans cette période critique.

Sexuality during the COVID-19 pandemic: The importance of Internet

Coronavirus is an infectious disease that has affected many countries, changing daily life. For many individuals, sexual activity has decreased, physical contact within couples has been reduced. Obviously, to maintain a safe sex life, it is essential to know how to avoid the virus transmission. Distance creates irritability, fear, anxiety, endangering sexual life: it is reasonable to have sex between cohabiting partners unless one or both are at risk of infection. Despite this, the pandemic allows us to think of new sexual intimacies mediated by sextoys and technology. Not all distant couples are willing to have sex online, and it is difficult for singles to engage in casual sexual relations, so after the pandemic there will be many couples who will have to remodel and many singles who will seek a partner. Using the Internet to maintain active sexual activity appeared to be an excellent alternative to diminish the distance between partners or to increase online knowledge. The most common advice for separated couples was to maintain constant digital contact to alleviate nostalgia and lack. This was the springboard to use sexting, meeting via webcam or making a hot call that make the couple more uninhibited. Using the webcam, also sometimes with the possibility to use sex toys, could create also the opportunity to enrich the future sexual repertoire. Practicing online sex with the stable partner far from home has helped some to keep their desire active and to satisfy it in order to be able to realize it once the pandemic has ended. The purpose of this narrative review of available evidence on sexuality during COVID-19 pandemics is to provide recommendations to help people facing their sexual life in this critical period.

Dating Apps and Their Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Correlates: A Systematic Review

The emergence and popularization of dating apps have changed the way people meet and interact with potential romantic and sexual partners. In parallel with the increased use of these applications, a remarkable scientific literature has developed. However, due to the recency of the phenomenon, some gaps in the existing research can be expected. Therefore, the objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the empirical research of the psychosocial content published in the last five years (2016-2020) on dating apps. A search was conducted in different databases, and we identified 502 articles in our initial search. After screening titles and abstracts and examining articles in detail, 70 studies were included in the review. The most relevant data (author/s and year, sample size and characteristics, methodology) and their findings were extracted from each study and grouped into four blocks: user dating apps characteristics, usage characteristics, motives for use, and benefits and risks of use. The limitations of the literature consulted are discussed, as well as the practical implications of the results obtained, highlighting the relevance of dating apps, which have become a tool widely used by millions of people around the world.