(658) What Do We Know About Sexual Well-being in Latvia?

Introduction Sexual health has been largely overlooked in Latvia, a country that faces a rapidly declining population, which dropped from 2.563 million in 1993 to 1.862 million in 2024. While reproductive health has been the primary focus of public health efforts, the broader concept of sexual well-being is only now starting to gain recognition, although sexual life and sexual pleasure are present in Latvian folk songs from the 16th–17th centuries. Objectives This study aims to analyse the dynamics of satisfaction with one’s sexual life and its changes over time in Latvia, based on data from three nationally representative surveys conducted in 2003, 2011, and 2023. Methods Nationally representative surveys on sexual and reproductive health in Latvia were conducted in 2003, 2011, and 2023. The 2023 survey explicitly included "sexual health" in its title and was funded by the Ministry of Health for the first time. It also expanded the age range to include individuals aged 50–64 years, unlike earlier surveys that focused on those aged 15–49. Besides contraception and sexually transmitted infections, sexual health-related key indicators include the age of sexual debut, frequency of sexual activity, the number of sex partners in the past year, and self-reported sexual and reproductive health and satisfaction with sexual life. Results In 2023, the average age for first sexual intercourse among respondents aged 15–64 was 18.1 years, with a decline in the 20–24 age group from 17.64 in 2003 to 17.09 in 2023. The average number of sex partners decreased for men and women aged 15–49, except for men aged 40–49, whose average rose from 1.31 in 2011 to 2.56 in 2023. The frequency of sexual activity declined, with 28.1% of men and 25.8% of women engaging several times a week in 2023 compared to 66.9% of men and 61.7% of women in 2011. Despite this, 65.6% reported satisfaction with their sexual lives in 2023, showing an increase since 2003, when 60% reported satisfaction with their sexual lives. Self-reported sexual and reproductive health improved from 2003 to 2011 (63% to 71% for men and 50% to 62% for women) but declined slightly in 2023 (59% for men and 53% for women). Conclusions Despite a decrease in the frequency of sexual activity and a reduction in the number of sex partners, overall satisfaction with sexual life in Latvia remains relatively high. The introduction of the age group extending beyond the female reproductive age in the 2023 national survey marks the first step in acknowledging sexual well-being as a vital aspect of public health. The latest findings highlight the necessity to investigate further the factors influencing sexual satisfaction and to incorporate sexual health into broader health and social policy agendas in Latvia. Disclosure No