Sexual and reproductive health

Sexual and reproductive health is a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to all aspects of sexuality and reproduction, not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity. All individuals have a right to make decisions governing their bodies and to access services that support that right. 

It is proven that access to high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health services and information saves lives, improves health and well-being, promotes gender equality, and increases productivity and household income. These services also improve children’s health and well-being, paying dividends for future generations.

Comprehensive sexuality education and family planning are at the heart of ensuring health and well-being for all.

Comprehensive sexuality education enables children and young people to better understand their sexual and reproductive health and rights and improve decision-making and communication skills. Sexuality education helps them to reduce risk and develop positive and responsible attitudes toward sexuality and relationships. 

And yet, comprehensive sexuality education is mandatory in less than half of the countries in the WHO European Region. 

In addition, a range of critical high-quality contraceptive methods and supplies, family counselling, and information on contraception are not widely available throughout the Region. Meeting the demand for family planning and contraception is vital in allowing women to achieve their desired family size and birth spacing. Unintended pregnancy rates are highest in countries that restrict abortion access and lowest in countries where abortion is broadly legal. Strengthening access to comprehensive family planning services and abortion care within the health system is fundamental to meeting people’s needs.  

WHO collaborates with UN agencies, civil society, and other key stakeholders to accelerate progress in adopting and advancing a comprehensive agenda that incorporates the full range of peoples’ needs and services. This universal framework guides countries in how to develop policies, services, and programs that address all aspects of sexual and reproductive health, fairly and effectively.

WHO supports countries in:

• ensuring political will and accountability through policy dialogues and advocacy activities that place sexual and reproductive health at the core of the national universal health coverage (UHC) agenda;
• integrating sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) into existing national regulatory documents and developing comprehensive evidence-based SRHR-related national policies, strategies, and guidelines;
• strengthening policies for integrating comprehensive SRHR services into primary health care; 
• ensuring the inclusion of comprehensive SRHR services in UHC health benefit packages;
• documenting experiences in implementing an integrated sexual reproductive health and UHC agenda; and
• designing and implementing accountability processes and measures to drive and monitor progress in the implementation of national SRHR policies, strategies and commitments in the context of UHC.