Why do Indian women avoid treatment for sexual health issues?

As many as 43% of women experience some type of sexual issue – ranging from painful intercourse to lack of desire, arousal, or orgasm. Some suffer indefinitely, but women still struggle to discuss it with their doctor. Often, they convince themselves there’s nothing to do but accept the unacceptable.

Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) is a concept that Indians and South Asians are largely ignorant and aloof about. The taboo around topics like sex and sexuality is the root cause for the many issues people, especially women, face daily.

The Indian demographic dividend is youth-dominated, and therefore, issues pertaining to youngsters, including sex and sexuality need to be given high priority. Yet, on the contrary, these issues are not even taken into account marginally. The stigma attached to sex and sexuality ensures that such issues never enter public discourse. Discussions around sexual health are frowned upon.

In many Indian languages, there are no adequate words describing sexuality, sexual health, and sexual orientation. This has resulted in fewer academic and social discussions on the topic. It has, sadly, pushed sexual health into the backseat as it is not seen as an important part of human well-being.

Stigma and taboos around women’s health remain pervasive in most societies. Their effects have serious negative consequences and can put lives at risk. Taboos around menstruation, for example, can lead to women not having access to hygiene products, embarrassment to take part in school or sports activities, and risking infections and other complications.

The stigma around the sexual and reproductive health of persons with disabilities can lead to a lack of options and maternal health services for women with disabilities.

These taboos, stigma, and lack of education on the topic are a few of the main reasons women avoid seeking treatments for sexual health issues.

Awareness about reproductive health is much lower in rural areas even more.

Many young people have no other option but to seek out information on their own. The information young people are able to find themselves can be biased, inaccurate, and incomplete. Even when information is available especially young people – still encounter obstacles.

The taboo and introverted notions surrounding this topic create a barrier to access professional medical and even legal help in many cases.

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