📄 Category

sexual and reproductive health

38 papers

Sexual and reproductive health encompasses the full spectrum of physical and emotional well-being related to our bodies, relationships, and families. This vital field explores everything from contraception and pregnancy care to preventing infections and ensuring safe, consensual experiences for people of all backgrounds. It is a dynamic area of science where new discoveries constantly reshape how we understand our own biology and protect our futures.

At Gist.Science, we monitor every new preprint uploaded to medRxiv within this category to ensure you stay ahead of the curve. We process these emerging studies by transforming complex medical data into clear, plain-language explanations alongside detailed technical summaries, making cutting-edge research accessible to everyone without sacrificing scientific accuracy.

Below are the latest preprints in sexual and reproductive health, ready for you to explore.

📄 sexual and reproductive health

Menopause in the All of Us Research Program: A Descriptive Summary of Electronic Health Record and Survey Response across Sociodemographic Characteristics

This study characterizes menopause-related data across survey, electronic health record, and genomic modalities in nearly 396,000 All of Us Research Program participants, revealing significant under-ascertainment in EHRs compared to self-reports and providing critical insights into age distributions and sociodemographic variations to guide future menopause research design.

Staples, J. W., White, S. L., Giacalone, A., Pozdeyev, N., Sammel, M. D., Stranger, B. E., Valencia, C. I., Santoro, N. (…)2026-04-25
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Antenatal Screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections to Reduce Preterm Birth or Low Birthweight (Philani Ndiphile Study): A Randomized Three-Group Trial

In a randomized trial among pregnant women in South Africa, neither one-time nor two-time antenatal screening and treatment for *Chlamydia trachomatis*, *Neisseria gonorrhoeae*, and *Trichomonas vaginalis* significantly reduced the composite outcome of preterm birth or low birthweight compared to standard syndromic care, although the two-time screening strategy was associated with a statistically significant 23% reduction in preterm birth alone.

Babalola, C. M., Medina-Marino, A., Mdingi, M. M., Wilson, M. L., Mukomana, F., Muzny, C. A., Taylor, C. M., Gigi, R. M. (…)2026-04-21
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Testing trajectories for GetCheckedOnline in British Columbia: Implications for equity, stewardship and sustainability of digital STI testing services

This study of British Columbia's GetCheckedOnline service reveals that while a small subset of high-risk users accounts for the majority of tests, overall utilization aligns with prevention needs rather than indiscriminate overuse, supporting a stewardship approach focused on risk-based education rather than universal restrictions.

Iyamu, I. O., Haag, D., Bartlett, S., Worthington, C., Grace, D., Gilbert, M.2026-04-14
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Mapping of person-centred sexual and reproductive health interventions at primary healthcare settings: An umbrella review

This umbrella review synthesizes findings from 21 global reviews to map person-centred sexual and reproductive health interventions in primary care, identifying five key thematic strategies that primarily enhance autonomy, dignity, and communication while highlighting the need for more explicit evaluation and holistic integration of person-centred components in future initiatives.

Saad, G. E., El Fakahany, S., Abi Jaoude, L., Halawi, P., Karam, Z., Kabakian-Khasholian, T., El Kak, F., McCall, S. J.2026-04-13
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Family planning self-care: from global frameworks to local meaning, perceptions, experiences and opportunities in Niger

This mixed-methods study in Niger reveals that local perceptions of family planning self-care diverge significantly from global autonomy-focused frameworks, characterized by women's preference for clinical validation due to safety concerns and men's prioritization of economic efficiency, thereby necessitating gender-stratified strategies that reframe self-care as an empowered partnership with the health system rather than independence from it.

Fotso, J. C., Togo, E., Bidashimwa, D., Adje, O. E., Moumouni, N. A.2026-04-13
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Creating pathways for change to increase modern contraceptive uptake in rural Indonesia: Protocol for a Feminist Qualitative Study

This paper outlines a protocol for a feminist qualitative study in rural West Sumba, Indonesia, which employs participatory action research and mixed data collection methods to develop a theory of change aimed at increasing modern contraceptive uptake by addressing the diverse needs and barriers faced by local communities.

Riwu, R. R., Ho, F., Greenwood, S., Gray, C. M.2026-04-10
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Client and Health Care Provider Perspectives on Point-of-Care Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Community Pharmacies in Uganda

This qualitative study in Uganda finds that while clients, providers, and policymakers view integrating point-of-care STI testing into community pharmacies as a highly acceptable strategy to improve accessibility, speed, and antimicrobial resistance control, its successful implementation requires addressing barriers such as stigma, privacy concerns, and supply chain sustainability.

Onzia, A. A., Twimukye, A., Melendez, J. H., Hamill, M. M., Kyambadde, P., Kiragga, A., Manabe, Y. C., Parkes-Ratanshi (…)2026-04-03
📄 sexual and reproductive health

High prevalence of female genital schistosomiasis and under-detection by urine microscopy among women of reproductive age in Kilifi County, Kenya

This study in Kilifi County, Kenya, reveals that female genital schistosomiasis affects 36% of women of reproductive age but is largely missed by routine urine microscopy, as 72% of infected women showed no detectable urinary eggs, highlighting the critical need for genital sampling and molecular diagnostics in control strategies.

KARIUKI, H. W., Nyasore, S. M., Muthini, F. W., Mwangi, P. W., Makazi, P. M., Mureithi, M. W., Bulimo, W. D., Wanjala, E (…)2026-04-02
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Vaginal-Stimulating Product Use and Cervicovaginal Health Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Rural South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Baseline Study

This cross-sectional baseline study of sexually active HIV-negative adolescent girls and young women in rural South Africa reveals that while vaginal-stimulating product use is highly prevalent, it is significantly associated with cervical ectopy in adults and shows exploratory links to specific STIs and HPV-16 in adolescents, underscoring the need for further longitudinal research to clarify biological risks and inform culturally responsive health interventions.

Radebe, P., Sengeziwe, S., Nokuthula, M., Lindi, M., Hilton, H., Ntombenhle, M., Nonsikelelo, N., Lenine, L., Sinaye, N. (…)2026-03-25
📄 sexual and reproductive health

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS INFECTION IN LOW-INCOME PREGNANT WOMEN IN KINSHASA

A cross-sectional study conducted in Kinshasa between June and December 2023 revealed an 18% prevalence of *Chlamydia trachomatis* infection among low-income pregnant women, with the highest rates observed in married women aged 25–35 and significant associations with vaginal symptoms and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as prematurity and spontaneous abortion.

NDZOUEBENG, O., MVUMBI, G. L., ZONO, B., YOBI, D. M., KABUTU, P. Z., Mikobi, T. M.2026-03-24