Sex, Satisfaction, and Switching: The Questions Contraceptive Research and Implementation Forgot to Ask

This World Contraception Day, join The Pleasure Project and the World Health Organization for the launch of their brand-new systematic review on sexual well-being and contraceptive use – a bold piece of research published in the Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) Journal, the first of its kind, that explores how pleasure, satisfaction, and sex life concerns influence people’s contraceptive discontinuation. 

This isn’t your average webinar. Expect an hour of unapologetically honest, creative, and enlightening conversation featuring key voices behind the research, challenging old narratives and asking the questions too often ignored: 

• Why do most studies ask about weight gain but not sexual satisfaction? 

• Sex lives concerns are as important (if not more) to users than cost or access as reasons to discontinue contraception, so why are they not even remotely as well researched and funded?  

• What does a person-centred, pleasure-positive contraceptive future really look like? 

Whether you’re a policy-maker, funder, designer, health provider, or just curious about how contraceptive programs could better serve real people’s lives and desires, this is the conversation you’ve been waiting for. 

SPEAKERS

Welcome by Sapna Desai | Editor in Chief, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM)

INTRODUCTORY POEM

by Theresa Mae Caragan (Youth Advisor, Plan International)

PANELLISTS

Lianne Gonsalves | Technical Officer, Human Reproduction Special Programme (HRP), World Health Organization (WHO)

Dr Faysal El Kak | President, World Association of Sexual Health and Director of the Women Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Program Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center

Dr Samukeliso Dube | Executive Director, FP2030

Moderated by Anne Philpott | Founder, The Pleasure Project

The full paper, The Sex Effect: The prevalence of sex life reasons for contraceptive discontinuation: A systematic review and meta-analysis will be available online and free to read in the SRHM Journal from 26 September 2025, World Contraception Day.

Authors: Mirela Zaneva, Nandita Thatte, Anne Philpott, Clara Maliwa, Rhiana Mills, Lianne Gonsalves