Latest News On Sexual Health

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Sex Education Update in Texas Still Lacking, Say Some Students and Educators

KFF Health News Original

The last time Texas updated its sex education curriculum was in the ’90s. Students will now learn about contraception and STIs — but not gender or consent. And parents must opt in to the classes for their children.

HIV Preventive Care Is Supposed to Be Free in the US. So, Why Are Some Patients Still Paying?

KFF Health News Original

The Department of Labor issued rules in July clarifying that health plans need to cover the costs of prescription drugs proven to prevent HIV infection, along with related lab tests and medical appointments, at no cost to patients. More than half a year later, the erroneous billing continues.

Syphilis Cases in California Drive a Record-Setting Year for STDs Nationwide

KFF Health News Original

New data released Tuesday from the CDC shows sexually transmitted infections reached an all-time high in 2019. The biggest spike was in syphilis cases, which rose 74% between 2015 and 2019. Leading the country in syphilis is California, where men who have sex with men make up half the cases.

NIH Spearheads Study To Test At-Home Screening For HPV And Cervical Cancer

KFF Health News Original

The National Cancer Institute plans to launch a multisite study next year involving roughly 5,000 women to assess whether self-sampling at home for the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer is comparable to screening in a doctor’s office.

HHS Removed Images Of Condoms From HIV/AIDS Awareness Fliers

KFF Health News Original

For those who are sexually active, condoms are widely recognized as the most effective method for preventing HIV and other diseases, if used correctly. But a fact sheet with “unapproved condom imagery” was taken down from a federal website, KHN has learned.

Federally Funded Obria Prescribes Abstinence To Stop The Spread Of STDs

KFF Health News Original

Obria, a Christian medical chain, was awarded federal family planning funds for its California clinics for the first time this year. Clinics receiving Title X funds are expected to treat and prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Obria’s prohibition against condoms means its prevention efforts rest on abstinence, even as STD rates surge.

How #MeToo Is Changing Sex Ed Policies — Even In Red States

KFF Health News Original

Liberalized sex education policies are being considered in more states, even traditionally conservative ones, as more female lawmakers take office and legislators react to the #MeToo movement.

Federal Experts’ Advice On HPV Vaccine Could Leave Adults Confused

KFF Health News Original

A federal advisory panel says people between ages 27 and 45 may benefit from the vaccine to fight the human papillomavirus. But some public health advocates worry that the advice doesn’t provide doctors and patients clear guidance about who in this large age group are good candidates for the vaccine.

New Protocol For HIV Prevention Drug Reduces The Number Of Pills Required

KFF Health News Original

Health officials and AIDS advocates in San Francisco have endorsed a new regimen for PrEP medication: to be taken only immediately before and after sex, thus reducing cost and potential side effects. The standard regimen is one pill a day for an open-ended period.

Even When HIV Prevention Drug Is Covered, Other Costs Block Treatment

KFF Health News Original

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that people who are at high risk of contracting HIV take PrEP, a preventive treatment. The decision means most health plans will be required to cover the drugs without charging patients. But the recommendation doesn’t apply to the other clinical and lab services people need.

Is It A Feminist Right To Want More Sex? One Company Thinks A Pill Is The Answer

KFF Health News Original

The savvy “Right to Desire” campaign relies on feminist messages and social media to raise patient awareness about low libido. Addyi, the only drug currently approved to treat it, has shown limited effectiveness.

As Syphilis Invades Rural America, A Fraying Health Safety Net Is Failing To Stop It

KFF Health News Original

Syphilis is spreading from big cities into rural counties across the Midwest and West. One Missouri clinic has seen more than six times as many cases in the first few months of 2019 compared with the same period last year. Communities grappling with budget cuts and crumbling public health infrastructure also lack experience in fighting the disease.