Every year on September 4th, the world observes World Sexual Health Day – a moment to highlight sexual health as a vital part of overall health and well-being.
Led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN’s Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP), the day underscores the importance of sexual health across all stages of life. Sexual health goes beyond physical safety; it embraces dignity, consent, pleasure, and freedom from coercion and discrimination.
This year’s theme, “Sexual Justice – What Can We Do?”, calls on us to recognize sexual health as a cornerstone of well-being. It emphasizes the need for equitable, rights-based solutions that ensure justice and access for everyone, everywhere.
Sexual justice means that all people have the power and resources to make free, informed, and healthy decisions about their bodies, sexuality, and reproduction. It ensures equal access to education, healthcare, and services, while promoting a world free from discrimination, violence, and exclusion, where everyone can experience sexual health, rights, and pleasure.
For seafarers, the maritime profession presents unique challenges in maintaining sexual health, due to prolonged time away from family and limited shore leave. Recognizing the importance of sexual well-being at sea is essential for fostering healthy mental, emotional, and physical states among crews.
The growing conversation around sexual health
Over the past decade, there has been an expanded cultural conversation around sexuality, improvements in sexual education, and growing awareness of the sexual-health challenges which has led to a surge in demand for sexual-health products.
According to McKinsey, research shows that 87% of U.S. consumers reported spending the same or more on sexual-health products in the past year, reflecting the recognition of sexual health as a vital aspect of personal well-being. Affirmative sexual health encourages positive, safe, and consensual sexual experiences, contributing to emotional and social well-being.
Research insights
In March 2025, HRP researchers conducted a systematic review of HIV public communication campaigns using a pleasure-based approach. The study, analyzing 29 campaigns across multiple regions, found that integrating pleasure – through enjoyment, empowerment, and emotional connection – reduces stigma, improves knowledge, and encourages safer behaviors like condom use and HIV testing.
Similarly, in December 2024, WHO published a special issue in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization on advancing sexual health and rights. It covered topics ranging from sexual empowerment and harmful gender norms to menstrual hygiene, endometriosis, and HIV prevention. The publication highlighted the need for inclusive, people-centered interventions to achieve global health equity.
WHO also released global research priorities for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), identifying 40 key research areas to improve prevention, diagnosis, management, and epidemiology.
HRP and WHO are advancing sexual health measurement using tools like the Sexual Health Assessment of Practices and Experiences (SHAPE) questionnaire, enabling countries to generate comparable data for better monitoring and intervention.
Key considerations about sexual health
Maintaining sexual health at sea, or anywhere, requires attention to the following:
#1 Secured consent
Consent is essential for any sexual activity. Both partners must explicitly agree to the activity, with the ability to withdraw at any time. Key considerations include:
- Consent is required for every sexual act; past consent does not guarantee future consent.
- Consent applies to long-term partners and casual encounters alike.
- Silence does not imply agreement.
- Alcohol or drug use can compromise a person’s ability to consent.
2. Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections
STIs, including HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and hepatitis B, are transmitted primarily through unprotected sexual contact. Effective treatment is currently available for several STIs. If left untreated, they can cause infertility, cancer, or even death. Symptoms may be absent, so regular testing is critical.
Sexual health challenges in maritime work
Seafaring is a profession marked by long separations, isolation, and restricted access to shore facilities. Prolonged sexual abstinence, when involuntary, can impact on psychological health, job satisfaction, and overall well-being.
Research indicates that lack of sexual activity in isolated settings can lead to:
- Emotional distress, depression, and irritability
- Increased risk-taking behaviors during port visits
- Heightened sexual frustration and potential aggression
Mental health support onboard often focuses on fatigue and stress, while the emotional impact of sexual frustration remains largely unaddressed. Tackling these challenges requires open dialogue, access to counselling, and the normalization of conversations about sexual well-being among seafarers.
In this context, OneCare Group announced in June its commitment to reducing stigma and promoting sexual health awareness by providing tailored training for its seafarers. The programmes, delivered both online and in person, cover key areas such as STIs, safe sex practices, and common misconceptions about sexual health.
Sexual harassment onboard
Women working at sea face additional risks, including sexual harassment and assault. Studies by the Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC) and Seafarers’ Charity found that female seafarers experience higher isolation and fear of reporting incidents.
Similarly, surveys by the Norwegian Seafarers’ Union (NSU) indicate that 31% of members reported experiencing sexual harassment, with women, younger crew, and new recruits disproportionately affected. It is also important to note that male seafarers can be victims as well.
Therefore, zero-tolerance approach to harassment, combined with awareness campaigns and clear reporting protocols, is essential for a safe and equitable maritime workplace.
Promoting sexual health awareness at sea
Several organizations, including OneCare Group and Marine Medical Solutions (MMS), are actively addressing sexual health in the maritime sector. Their initiatives include:
- Online and in-person sexual health training for crew members
- Education on STIs, safe sex practices, and contraception
- Support for gender- and sexuality-specific needs, including LGBTQ+ seafarers
- Encouraging peer-to-peer dialogue to reduce stigma and foster emotional support
Experts stress that open communication, access to medical care, and psychological support are key to mitigating the mental and physical impacts of prolonged sexual abstinence and sexual frustration among seafarers.
Sexual health is an essential part of overall well-being. As WHO reminds us, health is more than the absence of disease – it is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.