About

Ástráður - Sexual Education Association of Medical Students, was founded in the year 2000 by medical students at the University of Iceland. The idea for this kind of preventive work arose from participation in international medical student collaboration, and similar sexual health education groups can be found in other countries as well. Preparations began in the fall of 1998, and the organization officially started operating in 2000.

The original mission was twofold: on one hand, to engage in preventive work aimed at improving sexual health and reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and on the other hand, to train medical students to feel comfortable discussing sexual health topics. Over time, Ástráður’s work has evolved into broader and more diverse education on sexual and reproductive health.

In our teaching, we at Ástráður emphasize healthy communication and cover a wide range of topics including different types of contraception, STIs, available resources for youth, and much more. The education is based on a peer-to-peer model and is intended for everyone—regardless of gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Ástráður also shares educational content on its website and main social media platforms.

Each year, the society delivers lectures to all first-year upper secondary school students across Iceland. These sessions are led by second-year medical students who have completed a training week organized by Ástráður, where future educators attend lectures from professionals and organizations working in sexual health.

Due to the high demand for education, Ástráður also offers lectures for primary schools and youth centers for a small fee, which helps support the organization’s operations. These sessions are led by third-year medical students.

The main goal of Ástráður is to increase knowledge and discussion about youth sexual health—both through in-school presentations and by providing accessible online educational resources.