Achieving SDG Goals Through Improved Sexual and Reproductive Health and Fertility Care

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Sadia Khalid, a dedicated professional with an extensive academic background, holding an MBBS and an MD degree. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) plays a crucial role in the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3* on health and well-being. Without universal access to essential SRH services, the full potential of SDG 3* cannot be realized. Access to contraception, fertility care, and comprehensive SRH services are central to addressing broader health, gender, and social challenges that underpin many SDGs.

Access to SRH services significantly impacts overall health. The availability of safe and effective contraception empowers individuals and couples to make informed decisions about family planning and fertility. Since the 1970s, the Human Reproduction Programme (HRP)** has focused on providing access to family planning and contraceptive services to meet the needs of all individuals, especially women. However, with an estimated 256 million women still facing unmet needs for contraception, there is much progress to be made. The lack of access to these services not only restricts women’s reproductive choices but also perpetuates gender inequalities, impeding their participation in economic and social life.

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) has been shown to reduce rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and delay early sexual initiation while promoting safer sexual behaviours. Despite these benefits, many barriers persist in scaling up CSE programs, including resistance from governments, schools, and parents. Expanding access to CSE is essential for improving SRH outcomes and ensuring young people are equipped with the knowledge they need for healthy, informed choices. 

Gender inequalities are major barriers to achieving universal SRH access. Women and girls often face restrictions that prevent them from practicing safe sex or accessing contraceptives, which increases their vulnerability to STIs, including HIV. These gender-based disparities are often linked to harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). Addressing these inequities is crucial to achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls to make autonomous reproductive choices.

Menstrual health is directly tied to water and sanitation services. Without adequate access to clean water and proper sanitation, menstrual hygiene becomes a challenge, with consequences for education, gender equality, and overall well-being. Improving water and sanitation infrastructure is essential for enabling girls and women to manage menstruation with dignity, which supports broader SDG goals related to health, education, and gender equality.

Contraception enables women to control their fertility and participate in life beyond motherhood. By giving women more control over their reproductive health, access to contraception opens opportunities for education, employment, and economic empowerment. When women can plan their families, it positively impacts their ability to pursue fulfilling careers and contribute to economic growth.

Policy changes based on evidence are essential to ending gender-based violence and harmful practices like FGM and child marriage. Inequalities, particularly those rooted in gender, perpetuate cycles of poverty and limit access to essential SRH services. Reducing these inequalities ensures that more women and girls can access the care and resources they need to thrive.
SRH services must prioritize social accountability, informed consent, and human rights. Every individual has the right to access quality reproductive health services, including contraception and fertility care. Achieving inclusive and effective health systems requires institutions to recognize these rights and provide services without discrimination or bias.

Infertility affects an estimated 1 in 6 people globally, according to a 2023 report by HRP. The inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse can have devastating social and emotional consequences for individuals and couples. HRP’s research, which analysed over 12,000 studies between 1990 and 2021, highlighted the significant unmet need for fertility care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While small regional differences in infertility prevalence were found, the economic burden of fertility treatment remains high, and services to address infertility are often inadequate.

In response to these findings, HRP has taken steps to improve fertility care globally. Notable achievements in 2023 include adding key fertility medicines to the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and conducting a scoping study on the financial costs of fertility care in LMICs. HRP also initiated reviews to address infertility in non-heteronormative groups and provided technical support to India to develop affordable fertility care services.

The challenges of SRH and fertility care are deeply intertwined with broader SDG goals. By improving access to contraception, education, and fertility care, we can make significant progress toward achieving SDGs on health, gender equality, education, and economic empowerment. HRP’s continued efforts to expand research and partnerships in these areas are essential to building a future where every individual has the right to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

Sources:
* SDG 3: Good health and well-being Sexual and reproductive health has significant impacts on health and well-being. SDG 3 will not be achieved unless all people have access to the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services that they need. HRP annual report 2023
** https://www.who.int/teams/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-research-(srh)/human-reproduction-programme

About the author

Sadia Khalid is a dedicated professional with an extensive academic background, holding an MBBS and an MD degree. She is an Early-stage Researcher (ESR), accomplished Medical Writer, and Research Engineer based at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) in Estonia. Sadia’s research interests span a wide spectrum within the realm of medical sciences, including Molecular Medicine, Cell Biology, Infectious Diseases, Bacteriology, Hepatology, and Gastroenterology. Her work is underpinned by a strong belief in the mission of promoting public health, safety, and awareness.