From smear-test lifesavers to “Stranger Things” punchlines: this week in sex and relationships

Self-care note: This wrap-up includes discussion of women’s health, anti-LGBTQIA+ policies and behaviours, gender based violence, and more. If you find this distressing or triggering, remember to take it at your own pace. You may prefer to read small sections, wait until you feel ready to read it all, or choose not to read it at all.

1. Smear test “saved my life”, grandmother urges others not to delay 🩺

A Scottish woman who credits a cervical screening test with saving her life has urged others not to delay attending appointments, as Cervical Cancer Prevention Week began earlier this week.

Gayle Maxwell, from Argyll and Bute, was diagnosed with aggressive cervical cancer at 39 after a smear test detected a fast-growing tumour. Doctors were able to operate quickly, followed by chemotherapy and internal radiotherapy, and she was given the all clear later that year.

Now 50, Maxwell says early detection made the difference between treatable and potentially inoperable cancer. Health experts stress that cervical screening remains vital for women and anyone with a cervix aged 25–64 — even for those who have had the HPV vaccine — as it can catch cancer before symptoms appear.

Source: The Scotsman

2. Women secretly filmed for “pick-up” content, then harassed online 👓

A BBC investigation has found women are being covertly filmed in public, often using smart glasses, with videos later posted to TikTok and Instagram as “dating advice”, sometimes exposing personal information and triggering harassment.

In one case, a 21-year-old retail worker, Dilara, discovered a clip of her had reached 1.3 million views and her phone number was visible, leading to weeks of calls and messages. Another woman, Kim, says she received thousands of messages after a beach interaction was uploaded and went viral.

Experts warn there’s no specific UK law banning filming in public without consent, and charities say platforms and device-makers must do more to prevent abuse. TikTok initially found no violation in Dilara’s case, then removed the video after BBC intervention.

Source: BBC News

3. England’s LGBTQIA+ fans to boycott Men’s World Cup in US ⚽

Three Lions Pride, England’s official LGBTQIA+ fans group, has announced it will boycott the 2026 Men’s World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.

In a statement published on social media, the group said the current political climate in the US has raised concerns among fans who were planning to attend the tournament.

Mentioning increased risks for transgender individuals, migrants and non-white people, among others marginalised communities, Three Lions Pride said it has decided not to have a “visible presence” at the event. However, the group said they will provide support and advice to those who are joining the event.

Source: SPORTbible

4. Women lose 75m healthy years a year – but get just 6% of health funding 💸

Women collectively lose around 75 million years of healthy life every year — roughly a week of health lost per woman annually — yet women’s health receives only a small slice of private-sector investment, according to a new report highlighted by Euronews.

The analysis (from the World Economic Forum and Boston Consulting Group) says women live longer than men but spend 25 per cent more of their lives in poor health or disability. Despite that burden, women’s health attracts about 6 per cent of private healthcare investment, and companies focused exclusively on women’s health receive less than 1 per cent.

The report argues funding is heavily concentrated on reproductive and maternal health, while high-prevalence issues like endometriosis, menopause, PCOS and menstrual health receive a tiny share. It calls for stronger evidence, better clinical trial representation, and policy action to turn innovation into real-world care.

Source: Euronews

5. Almost one million midwives needed, new study finds 🤰

According to a new study, nearly one million additional midwives need to be trained and employed to guarantee high-quality essential sexual and reproductive health services.

The study, published in the journal Women and Birth, analysed data from 181 countries and found that an additional 980,000 midwives would be needed to meet the population’s health needs.

The worst situation was found in Africa, where around nine in ten women live in a country with a shortage of midwives. Europe, despite having a much smaller shortage, is also facing a workforce crisis due to burnout and poor staff retention.

Anna af Ugglas, chief executive of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and one of the study’s authors, said: “When midwifery is a respected and well-supported profession, more women are motivated to train and stay in the workforce.

“That is how countries improve health outcomes and build stronger, more sustainable health systems.”

Source: The Guardian

6. Book bans affect sales, LGBTQIA+ authors say 📚

Book bans are reducing sales and affecting royalties for LGBTQIA+ authors, industry professionals have said.

Editors, literary agents and LGBTQIA+ authors report that LGBTQIA+ books are being given increasingly less space and fewer opportunities to be published, as they are becoming harder to sell. This political climate, fuelled by Donald Trump’s return to office, is likely to continue throughout his administration, professionals said.

PEN America, the US organisation that tracks book bans, found that in the 2024-25 school year, 6,870 book bans were enacted. These bans disproportionately affect books written by LGBTQIA+ authors, authors of colour and women.

Source: Attitude

7. Finn Wolfhard criticised over “vagina joke” on SNL 📺

Stranger Things actor Finn Wolfhard has faced online backlash after a joke in his Saturday Night Live monologue was criticised as sexist and “misogynistic” by some viewers.

In the monologue, Wolfhard referenced growing up on camera and made a punchline about “the first time I learned what a woman looks like down there”, followed by a cutaway to a Demogorgon opening its mouth. Critics said the gag relied on a tired trope – comparing women’s anatomy to something monstrous – and argued it reinforced misogynistic humour.

Others defended the joke as harmless or part of Stranger Things fandom humour, and the moment drew laughter in the studio.

Source: LADbible

8. China’s population falls for fourth year as births hit record low 📉

China’s population has declined for a fourth consecutive year, with new figures showing both overall numbers and births falling to their lowest levels in decades.

According to data cited by Euronews, China’s population dropped to around 1.404 billion in 2025, roughly three million fewer than the year before. Births fell to 7.92 million, the lowest since 1949, despite years of government attempts to reverse the trend.

Authorities have introduced a mix of incentives and policy changes — including childcare subsidies, tax breaks on childcare services, and a new 13% VAT on condoms and other contraceptives starting January 2026 — but the country’s fertility rate remains far below the level needed to maintain population size.

Source: Euronews

Main image: Tracy Le Blanc