Let’s be honest – do you want to sleep with me? may not really be part of everyday French vocabulary, but it does reflect something essential about France’s global reputation. Romance, passion, a touch of mystery – and a festive embrace of sexuality. From the City of Love to the countryside of cheese and charm, France continues to attract sexual health professionals from around the world who want to understand what happens when public health meets pleasure-oriented policies.
And really, who wouldn’t want to talk about sexual health while sipping a café au lait on a Parisian terrace?
From free STD testing to constitutional protection of abortion, France is not just talking about sexual rights; it anchors them in law, practice and culture. Let’s explore what makes France a fascinating case study for sexual health professionals, and why SHA is heading there next year for its first-ever study trip to France.
Fun facts: France is doing well (for a while)
Forget “laissez-faire” – France has been that too lets be progressive when it comes to sexual rights.
And let’s talk about satisfaction: about half of women and 4 in 10 men say they are terribly happy with their sex life. Since 1992 reports of masturbation, oral sex and anal sex have all increased. Long live diversity!
For sexual health professionals, France provides proof that inclusive laws and progressive attitudes are not just good feelings; they are measurable determinants of better health outcomes.
Access and affordability: making healthcare sexy (and simple).
Public health can be bureaucratic, but in France it is beautifully practical.
These shifts have made sexual health care as routine as a croissant. And the data supports this: more testing means more diagnoses, yes, but also more prevention, awareness and more responsive public policy.
Testing trends:
At first glance, the rising rates of gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia might raise eyebrows. But HIV incidence continues to decline, and the increase in infections likely reflects expanded screening rather than worsening health outcomes. With more tests comes more detections; a sign that the French strategy is working as intended.
Screening is on the rise:
When care is accessible, people use it. And France shows how effective that can be.
Ever-evolving sex education: from anatomy to empathy
France not only invented romance; it has been teaching it responsibly for decades.
Comprehensive sex education began to trickle into schools in the 1960s. In 2001, the government made it mandatory (at least three sessions per year), expanding the focus to include not just anatomy, but also consent, equality and pornographic literacy.
Since then, the curriculum has only become more inclusive, with homophobia addressed in 2003 and transphobia in 2018.
And now, in September 2025, France unveils a completely revamped national curriculum for sex education from kindergarten to high school:
Primary school: Students learn to recognize emotions, understand their bodies and develop empathy and respect – the building blocks of consent.
High school: Teens receive lessons on communication, critical thinking, gender equality, online safety, and how to recognize (and refuse) coercion.
France not only teaches how to prevent STDs, but also how to be good partners, lovers and citizens. It is an educational model that treats fun, respect, And equivalence as essential for public health, and we would like to see that.
Sexual rights as constitutional rights
France did not stop at policy; it put sexual rights in ink.
The 2001 law guaranteed access to abortion and contraception, and as previously mentioned, that right was officially protected by the constitution in 2024. That means: no government can take it away. Ever.
Although France is often recognized as a world leader in promoting gender rights, certain policies are calling this reputation into question. For example, in the name of secularism, France has banned face coverings burqas in public spaces and banned hijabs (and now abayas) in schools and even for French athletes competing in the 2024 Olympic Games. These limitations raise important questions about the country’s commitment to full gender equality.
When it comes to sex work, France adopted the Scandinavian model in 2016. Like Icelandit is legal to sell sex but illegal to buy it. The intention was to reduce exploitation and improve protection of sex workers, although the approach remains controversialwith ongoing debates, arrests and continued risk of violence.
For these reasons, France provides a compelling case study, showing both the promise and pitfalls of policies designed to protect sexual health and rights. Even if outcomes are imperfect, the country continues to make progress in ensuring sexual autonomy and well-being.
The National Strategic Roadmap for Sexual Health (2021-2024)
This roadmap is a progressive plan that integrates prevention, education, access to care and human rights under one national umbrella. It’s all about connections – between ministries, schools and clinics – that ensure France’s sexual health system speaks with one clear, inclusive voice.
It also promotes a multidimensional view of sexual health: physical, relational and social. A reminder that fun, safety and equality all belong in the same sentence. A big part of this in 2022 was making sure contraception was accessible.
Why sexual health professionals should look (and visit) France.
Few countries combine public health pragmatism with passion like France. The model – based on data, law and empathy – makes sexual health a shared social responsibility.
Whether you’re an educator rethinking the curriculum, a doctor designing inclusive care, or an advocate in the fight against stigma, France offers something invaluable: proof that policy can be both effective And elegant.
Do you want to experience it yourself?
Participate SHA next year for our first trip to France – where sexual health meets croissants, conversation and cultural exploration.
After all, learning about pleasure-positive policies is always better with wine and cheese.
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