The Medical Institute for Sexual Health (MI) was founded in 1992 by Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., M.D., a prominent obstetrician/gynecologist and infertility specialist. In the early 1990s he observed that many women needed infertility and cancer treatment for STIs they had acquired years earlier. While doing research for a womens healthcare book, he also realized the extraordinary magnitude of the STI epidemic. He founded MI in response to these observations and findings. What began as a presentation at a local high school has evolved into a unique organization. MI assists individuals, families, and societies in making healthy sexual decisions by providing up-to-date scientific information on sexual health topics.

MI is a nonprofit (501c3) medical, educational, and research organization. MI was founded to confront the global epidemics of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We identify and evaluate scientific information on sexual health and promote healthy sexual decisions and behaviors by communicating credible scientific information.

MI is the leading organization in the United States studying the science involved with the sexual behavior of adolescents and young adults and the impact that behavior has on the spread of sexually transmitted infections as well as the emotional and physical implications. MI is the only organization in America that is backed by a highly qualified team of nationally recognized MDs and PhDs dedicated to providing science-based sexual health information. Through its work in the area of sexually transmitted infections, the Medical Institute has identified risky sexual behavior and its consequences as one of the top obstacles preventing individuals from leading a physically and emotionally healthy life. MI's research, educational materials, products and conferences offer a critical message to a society that is inundated with false and misleading information about sex.

Sexually transmitted disease, like smoking and lung disease, is a medical health issue that can be directly linked to the actions and activities in which people participate. Scientific and technological advancements have connected the dots that previously were unclear. This means it is now possible to show a definitive cause and effect pattern that supports changes in educational practices, legislative funding decisions, medical advice giving and finally individual lifestyle practices. Armed with science-based medical validation, MI is positioned to influence incredible change.

MI is reshaping the national discussion on sex by communicating science-based health information that influences behaviors and changes lives. MI's resources offer an enormous counter-balance to the information currently being delivered to legislators, educators, health care providers, pregnancy care centers, community- and faith-based organizations, parents and young people. Most importantly, MI's resources offer a vision for a healthier, happier future for millions of people.