Pleasure Matters – shining a light on pleasure as a core element of SRHR

SRHM Podcast

In this episode, four experts discuss the importance of pleasure for health and wellbeing and how it connects to family planning and contraception. They also discuss the pleasure deficit, why it exists and what we can do about it.

This episode is moderated by Anne Philpott who is the Founder and Co-Director of The Pleasure Project - an international education and advocacy organization working to eroticize safer sex. Anne is speaking with Ana Santos, an award-winning journalist who reports on the intersections of sexuality, sexual health, and female migrant labour. She is also a Pleasure Fellow at The Pleasure Project. Anne is also speaking with Mahmoud Garga, Lead Specialist in Strategic Communication, Media Relations and Digital Campaigning at the IPPF Africa Regional Office. He also leads their Treasure You Pleasure campaign across Sub-Saharan Africa. And lastly, Jessica Sanders is also joining the conversion. Jessica is an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah in the Division of Family Planning and Director of research at the ASCENT Center for reproductive and sexual health. She received her PhD in Public Health from the University of Utah with an emphasis in Women’s Health.

Useful links:

The Pleasure Project

The Pleasure Principles – guide to implementing pleasure based sexual health

The Systematic Review on 'What is the added value of incorporating pleasure in sexual health interventions?'

· Explanatory note

· Journal article

The World Association of Sexual Health Sexual Pleasure Declaration

The World Association for Sexual Health’s Declaration on Sexual Pleasure: A technical guide

World Sexual Health Day – Let’s talk Pleasure - 2022

Treasure your pleasure campaign

The campaign, in English, French and Portuguese aims to create a safe space for youth in Africa to talk about sex freely, reducing shame through bold communication that resonates with them and grabs their attention while also advocating for safe sex and the importance of pleasure.

Middle Me Podcast with Ana Santos

By Jessica Sanders:

Sex, poverty, and public health: Connections between sexual wellbeing and economic resources among US reproductive health clients

Measuring the Sexual Acceptability of Contraception: Psychometric Examination and Development of a Valid and Reliable Prospective Instrument