Morten Frisch
Contact
Morten Frisch,
Consultant Physician,
hr.departments.infektionsepidemiologiogforebyggelseprojektsexus
T. +45 32683160
@. mfr@ssi.dk
Research Areas
My main areas of research are
- Sexual health epidemiology (sexual behavior and risk factors, sexually transmitted infections, sexual ill-health, sexual wellbeing, interplay between sexuality and general physical and mental health)
- Descriptive and analytical epidemiology of infectious diseases, cancer and autoimmune diseases
I am the co-founder and PI of Project SEXUS, since its inception in 2017, a large-scale, prospective population-based cohort study aimed to shed light on the sexual behavior, health and well-being of the Danish population as well as on the interplay between sexual health and ill-health on one side and general physical and mental health on the other.
| Selected publications |
| Andresen JB, Graugaard C, Andersson M, Frisch M. Associations of adverse childhood experiences, sexual identity and sexual risk indicators with HPV vaccination uptake in Denmark – a nationwide epidemiological study. Vaccine 2026;77:128367 |
| Graugaard C, Stentoft D, Andersson M, Frisch M. Sexual health and challenges among 15-89-year-old Danes with and without severe visual impairment: Baseline findings in a nationally representative cohort study. Disabil Health J 2026;19:102013 |
| Larimore CF, Jacobsen HA, Graugaard C, Andersson M, Larsen L, Frisch M. Sexual health challenges in individuals with and without inflammatory bowel disease: A population-based study in Denmark. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2026;32:271-281 |
| Madsen CH, Graugaard C, Dalton SO, Andersson M, Bidstrup PE, Frisch M. Sexual health among Danish cancer survivors and individuals with no history of cancer: Baseline findings from the nationwide Project SEXUS cohort study. Cancer 2025;131:e70074 |
| Schweizer FB, Dalgaard LNR, Graugaard C, Andersson M, Frisch M. Sexual health and behaviors in homosexual, bisexual, and heterosexual Danes: Baseline findings in the Project SEXUS cohort study. J Sex Med 2025;22:1926-1936 |
| Hvid U, Simonsen L, Frisch M, Sneppen K. Relationship dynamics and behavioral adaptations in the control of the 2022 mpox epidemic. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 2025;122:e2502861122 |
| Andresen JB, Graugaard C, Andersson M, Frisch M. Factors associated with moral disapproval of same-sex sexual behavior in Denmark: Baseline findings from the Project SEXUS cohort study. Arch Sex Behav 2025;54:2611-2623 |
| Scofield D, Frisch M, Andersson M, Storgaard M, Pedersen G, Johansen IS, Katzenstein TL, Graugaard C, Omland LH, Weis N, Moseholm E. Physical, psychosocial and sexual health among people aged 50 years and above with and without HIV: a nationwide study. AIDS 2025;39:875-885 |
| Andresen JB, Graugaard C, Andersson M, Bahnsen MK, Frisch M. Adverse childhood experiences, sexual risk-taking and non-consensual sexual experiences in a nationally representative study of 15-29-year-old Danes. Child Abuse & Neglect 2024;151:106720 |
| Koops TU, Andresen JB, Graugaard C, Briken P, Bahnsen MK, Andersson M, Frisch M. Associations between recalled childhood gender nonconformity and adult sexual dysfunction in Denmark: Baseline assessment in the Project SEXUS cohort study. J Sex Med 2023;20:1451-1458 |
| Bahnsen MK, Graugaard C, Boisen KA, Andresen JB, Andersson M, Frisch M. Sexuality among young Danes treated for mental health problems: Baseline findings in a nationwide cohort study. J Psychiatr Res 2023;168:334-343 |
| Erlangsen A, Jacobsen AL, Ranning A, Delamare AL, Nordentoft M, Frisch M. Transgender identity and suicide attempts and mortality in Denmark. JAMA 2023;329:2145-2153; https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.8627 |
| Andresen JB, Graugaard C, Andersson M, Bahnsen MK, Frisch M. Childhood gender non-conformity, sexual orientation and mental health problems among 18 to 89 year-old Danes. World Psychiatry 2023;22:334-335; https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21096 |
| Scofield D, Weis N, Andersson M, Storgaard M, Pedersen G, Johansen IS, Katzenstein TL, Graugaard C, Frisch M, Moseholm E. Psychosocial, sexual, reproductive and menopausal health in women with and without HIV in a high-income setting. AIDS 2023;37:1315-1322; https://doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0000000000003555 |
| Graugaard C, Bahnsen MK, Boisen KA, Andresen JB, Andersson M, Frisch M. Sexuality among young Danes treated for long-lasting or severe physical disease: baseline findings in a nationwide cohort study. J Adolesc Health 2023; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.02.039 |
| List of total publications |
| H-index (Web of Science) 63 (2026) |
| Academia | |
| 2012-current | Professor (adj.) of Sexual Health Epidemiology, Aalborg University |
| 2002 | DSc(Med), University of Copenhagen |
| 1999 | Authorization to independently practice medicine |
| 1995 | PhD, University of Copenhagen |
| 1989 | MD, University of Copenhagen |
| Employment | |
| 2026-current | Consultant, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, SSI |
| 2006-2025 | Consultant, Department of Epidemiology Research, SSI |
| 2000-2005 | Department Specialist, Department of Epidemiology Research, SSI |
| 1999-2000 | Visiting Scientist, Viral Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Maryland, USA |
| 1996-1998 | Senior Investigator, Department of Epidemiology Research, SSI |
| 1993-1995 | Epidemiologist, Department of Epidemiology Research, SSI |
| 1990-1993 | Research Fellow, Danish Cancer Registry |
| 1989-1990 | Registrar, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen |
| Professional Activities and Leadership Positions | |
| 2023-current | Appointed chief representative for Denmark, Governing Council, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France |
| 2018 | Member of specialist group regarding HTA (medicinsk teknologivurdering, MTV) of HPV vaccination of boys for the Danish National Board of Health |
| 2017-current | Co-founder and PI, Project SEXUS (www.projektsexus.dk) |
| 2017 | Appointed specialist in Danish National Board of Health's campaign to increase uptake of HPV vaccination among girls |
| 2012 | Chairman for Danish Medical Association’s Research Council for Prevention’s working group on ‘Sexuality and Health’ (https://bit.ly/2mCbpWW) |
| 2012-2014 | Medical consultant for the Danish Cancer Registry |
| 2011-2016 | Swedish Cancer Society, member of scientific evaluation committee PkF |
| 2005-2025 | Member, Department Steering Committee, Department of Epidemiology Research, SSI |
| 2002-2011 | Senior investigator, case-control study of rheumatoid arthritis |
| 1990-2008 | PI, case-control studies of HPV-associated cancers (anal, penile, vulvovaginal) |
| Prizes and Honours | |
| 2025 | Awarded “Årets Laks 2025” by LGBT+ Danmark |
| 2025 | Included in Krak’s Who’s Who in Denmark (Kraks Blå Bog) |
| 2022 | Nominée for the Scientific Ethical Committee’s Honorary Scientific Ethics Award |
| 2013 | Research award of the Danish AIDS Foundation |
| 2012 | Research award of the Professor, dr.med. Fritz Kauffmann’s Memorial Foundation |
| 2002 | Research award of the Thorvald Madsen Research Foundation |
| 2001 | Research award of the Classenske Fideicommis’ Jubilee Foundation |
| 1997 | Research award of the Danish Cancer Society, Young Cancer Scientist of the Year |