Triple Burden: sexual health in the spotlight at WMS 2026 – Audrey El Kaïm winner of the WMS Allied Health Prize

Presented in Hiroshima, the Triple Burden project received the WMS Allied Health Prize. This award recognises collaborative work examining the place of sexuality in research on disability and neuromuscular diseases. 

An initial finding highlights the importance of this topic: of 72,773 clinical trials registered between 2000 and 2024, only 834, or 1.15%, included a sexual health outcome. 

Beyond this finding, Triple Burden explores three dimensions: what research measures, how it talks about sexuality and how it represents people as active agents in their intimate lives. Is sexuality addressed solely through difficulties and dysfunction, or does it also encompass well-being, relationships and personal choice? 

To answer these questions, the team analyses trial registries and scientific publications using natural language processing. Work is ongoing to consolidate the findings and validate interpretations through human review. 

Bringing together the Institute of Myology, AFM-Téléthon, CH(s)OSE and Inserm, the project aims to contribute to research that better reflects the priorities of the people concerned and to greater recognition of sexual health in care. 

International recognition and encouragement to continue. Congratulations to the whole team! 

Audrey El Kaïm and Frédéric Fer, Institute of Myology; Fabrice Boudinet, AFM-Téléthon; Aurélie Bourmaud, public health physician, sexologist and academic researcher, Robert-Debré Hospital, Inserm; Anne-Emmanuelle Krieger, psychologist, sexologist and researcher in Toulouse; Nathalie Sellier, AFM-Téléthon; Julia Tabath, AFM-Téléthon and CH(s)OSE; Anass Tinakoua, AFM-Téléthon; Jean-Yves Hogrel, Institute of Myology; Marcela Gargiulo, Institute of Myology, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Universitéé.