Anna Roy: “In the collective imagination, sexual health is not part of health”

Monday 4 September was World Sexual Health Day, established in 2010 by the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS).

According to the latest data from the Qare x Ipsos Observatory, 63% of women say they have already had a sexual health problem. However, a social taboo remains: 60% of women have never or rarely talked about it with their general practitioner, 39% with a gynecologist and 69% with a midwife.

Additionally, fewer than one in two women say they feel comfortable enough discussing these questions with a healthcare provider. How to explain it and, above all, how to remedy it? Spotlight on Anna Roy, midwife.

Anna Roy, midwife, author and columnist at La Maison des Maternelles

To miss. What do we call ” sexual health » ?

AnnaRoy. I always refer to the very exhaustive definition of the WHO:

“ Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in terms of sexuality, it is not just the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasant and safe sexual experiences, without coercion, discrimination and violence. To achieve and maintain good sexual health, human rights and the sexual rights of all people must be respected, protected and fulfilled “.

World Health Organization

How can we explain why so many patients are reluctant to talk about sexual health?

There are several things at play. First of all, in the collective imagination, sexual health is not part of health. People perceive it as something” Furthermore “.

Then they are afraid of us [les professionnels de santé, ndlr] bored by their worries, they fear our reaction, our judgement. This is mainly due to the fact thatin France, relationships between patient and caregiver are very often vertical. There is a connoisseur who places himself above. However, it is not because I have knowledge that I have to assume this hierarchical position.

Establishing horizontal relationships, as is done in my practice, means that all my patients talk to me about their sexual health. I’m not stronger than the other healthcare professionals, but I’ve always considered the relationship with my patients as a perfectly horizontal relationship: I introduce myself with the name Anna, I don’t wear a blouse, etc.

So, on the one hand, it’s not part of health in the collective imagination, then it’s a taboo and, thirdly, vertical relationships don’t leave enough room for these discussions because patients are afraid of our judgement.

Where do taboos and ignorance regarding sexual health come from?

Patients who do not dare to speak often think they are alone… When it is exactly the opposite. Let’s imagine that other people’s sex lives are perfectly accomplished and that no one else has difficulties. However, I would say that people who have perfectly satisfied, simple, and pleasurable sexual health are quite rare in my practice.

And then we are afraid to talk about sex, we don’t see it as a component of health at all.

There is a real lack of education on these issues. Knowledge about our body and what influences our intimacy is extremely insufficient. I’m always amazed to see that women don’t know where their clitoris is, even today. We have the impression that information is widely disseminated through social networks, but this is an illusion. Information is spread very poorly, the networks are a magnifying mirror and in no way reflect the reality of the population.

The good news is that things continue to improve at this level.

Is there disinterest or indifference on the part of medical research on these issues?

Indifference, I don’t know. On the other hand, there is a devaluation of women’s comments. When we talk about periods, for example, we have often heard things like this “Women exaggerate the pain a lot, it is normal to have pain during your period…”.

This raises the question of words and the credence given to women’s words. The research is a continuation of what health workers have been doing in the field. But I am optimistic and find that we are listening more and more to what women have to say. I am living proof of this: before we didn’t listen to midwives because they were women who took care of women. Today we listen more to what women have to say and what women who care for women have to say.

What can be done to support this positive development you are observing?

There must be good quality information and dissemination, available everywhere and free of charge, on the networks, through specific health account certifications, for example…

We need to strengthen education in school curricula, rethink the medical relationship as a horizontal relationship so that people dare to ask us questions about more intimate topics, redo information campaigns on sexual health, say clearly that don’t be ashamed to talk about it… And don’t be alarmed for current discoveries because, yes, things are changing!

Anna Roy will publish a children’s book called “All about lisp and willies! » of November 1st, published by Flammarion Jeunesse.

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