English summary

Women’s sexual health in France: supply changes, professional practices and healthcare use

For decades, public policies have been concerned about women’s sexual health both at the international and the national level. Sexual health is usually defined as “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality, and not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity” (WHO). Difficulties of access to sexual healthcare are indeed reported by French women and sexual healthcare status and consumption are still largely explained by socio-economic characteristics.

In France, sexual healthcare can be provided by gynecologists, general practitioners (GPs) and midwifes. The characteristics of these health professionals have strongly evolved since the early 2000s, especially with a drop in the number of gynecologists and the increasing skills of midwifes in gynecological follow-up out of pregnancy.

This project evaluates the effects of the changes in the supply of sexual healthcare on the professional practices and on the access to healthcare of women. We provide a typology of territories according to the characteristics of the supply and demand in sexual healthcare (WP1). We then analyze the evolution of professional activities (volume, composition, interprofessional dynamics) depending on where practitioners are practicing (WP2). Finally, we analyze the evolution of sexual healthcare use and access in relationship with the evolution of the supply.

We combine a qualitative approach (interviews) with a quantitative analysis (using survey or administrative data) thanks to the skills of our pluridisciplinary team (economics, midwifery, geographic, sociology).

Several publications from the project:

[OPEN ACCESS] Karnycheff, T., Chevillard, G., Voillequin, S., & Roquebert, Q. (2025). Les professionnels de santé assurant le suivi gynécologique en France: différents profils d’activité. Santé Publique, 37(2), 127-144. [Abstract in English]

[OPEN ACCESS] Karnycheff, T., Lucas-Gabrielli, V., Mousquès, J., & Chevillard, G. (2024). Soins de suivi gynécologique: quelles dynamiques territoriales depuis l’élargissement des compétences des sages-femmes?. Revue francophone sur la santé et les territoires.

[OPEN ACCESS] Roquebert ,Q., Panjo, H., & Franc, C. (2025). Strengthening Primary Health Care: The New Contribution of Midwives to Gynecological Care in France. Health Policy, 105397.