SEXUAL HEALTH self-care interventions can strengthen women’s autonomy, but their benefits depend on addressing the gender inequalities and healthcare barriers that shape access, a new scoping review suggests.
The review examined how WHO-recommended self-care interventions interact with women’s ability to make decisions about their sexual health. While privacy and greater control were recurring benefits, the findings also highlighted circumstances in which stigma, discrimination and unequal relationships could limit uptake or introduce additional risks.
Researchers searched databases for peer-reviewed studies published between January 2019 and March 2025. Of 8,814 records identified, 101 studies met the inclusion criteria.
The team used an established scoping review framework to map the evidence, analysing findings through the WHO self-care framework and an approach that considers how interventions can challenge harmful gender norms.
Rather than assessing a single product or treatment, the review explored the relationship between self-care, autonomy and the wider conditions in which women manage their sexual health. This distinction matters when interpreting the findings: the review identifies patterns across research rather than providing a pooled estimate of effectiveness.
Across the included studies, self-care interventions offered women greater privacy and control over health decisions. They could also help women navigate judgement and discriminatory experiences associated with seeking healthcare.
However, access to a self-care tool did not automatically remove the social barriers surrounding its use. Stigma relating to women’s bodies and sexuality sometimes discouraged uptake, illustrating how the same intervention may be experienced differently depending on its setting.
The review also identified unintended consequences, including increased gender-based violence in certain partner-mediated self-testing contexts. These findings underline the need to consider relationship dynamics when designing interventions that involve partners.
Counselling, community engagement and equitable access to tools emerged as important enabling factors. Together, these could support women’s confidence and ability to manage their sexual health.
The findings suggest that successful implementation requires attention to both the intervention and the environment in which it is offered.
For service planners, this means considering whether women can obtain and use tools affordably, privately and with appropriate support. Community involvement may also help programmes respond to local concerns and barriers.
The authors conclude that self-care has potential to improve sexual health and advance gender equality. Realising that potential will require supportive services and distribution models that address inequalities, alongside measures to identify and mitigate risks.
Reference
Kalbarczyk A et al. The role of gender in the design and implementation of self-care interventions for women’s sexual health: a scoping review. Reproductive, Female and Child Health. 2026;5(4). doi:10.1002/rfc2.70101.
Featured image: Jo Panuwat D on AdobeStock
Each article is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 License.
