Sexual and reproductive health encompasses everything to do with the reproductive system, including physical, mental and social well-being. It signifies that people can have a satisfying and safe sex life, and have the freedom to decide if, when and how often to have children.
It is a lifetime concern for both women and men, from infancy to old age. To support sexual and reproductive health throughout the life cycle, services across a variety of sectors must be strengthened: from education to health systems, including the infrastructure and skilled personnel who can provide timely, high-quality and respectful care that is also affordable, accessible and integrated with other services.
Regional Context
Significant progress in sexual and reproductive health and rights has been achieved over recent decades. Since 2000, Eastern Europe has seen the largest decline in maternal mortality ratios worldwide, with a reduction of over 75 per cent, while Central Asia has also achieved a decrease of more than 55 per cent.
There have been similar gains in the prevention of cervical cancer. All but three of the 17 countries and territories in our region have integrated HPV vaccines into their national vaccination programmes.
However, inequalities both within and between countries still exist. Not all national health systems are strong enough to provide universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare or ensure reproductive rights. Modern contraceptive methods are not widely used, especially in South-eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, and many young people lack access to sexual and reproductive health services and comprehensive sexuality education. This has contributed to an alarming number of people dying from HIV and AIDS. Eastern Europe and Central Asia is the only region in the world where AIDS-related deaths are still rising, increasing 48 per cent since 2010. Meanwhile, rates of secondary infertility – a person’s inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to birth after previously giving birth – are almost twice as high in Eastern Europe and Central Asia as in high-income countries, driven in part by a lack of sexual and reproductive health services.
Taking Action
UNFPA actively helps countries increase universal access to quality sexual and reproductive health services, especially for the most vulnerable people. Through advocacy and technical expertise, we support governments and institutions in implementing health policies and strategies to improve family planning, maternal care, the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and screening and treatment for reproductive system diseases, including cervical cancer.
UNFPA has been a catalyst for building multisectoral cooperation and advancing countries’ commitment to sexual and reproductive health across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. For example, UNFPA brought together a wide range of stakeholders to launch the Regional Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention and initiated the adoption of three key Calls to Action: on accelerating progress in sexual and reproductive health, expanding midwifery, and eliminating cervical cancer.
To expand the reach and capacity of sexual and reproductive health services in countries, UNFPA has invested in innovative technologies, such as the Virtual Contraceptive Consultation (ViC), a free online learning platform for service providers to deliver evidence-based family planning, as well as the Colposcopy and Cervical Cancer Prevention online course to train national experts in cervical pathology and the treatment of pre-cancer.
UNFPA has also developed partnerships with leading women's health apps – ranging from menstrual tracking to maternal health – to harness the power of digital platforms to close gaps in access, support informed decision-making, and advance health equity for women and girls in the region and beyond.
Additional resources:
- Regional roadmap for ending the unmet need for family planning by 2030
- Strategy for cervical cancer prevention to guide the planning and implementation of actions and capacity-building in the region
- Two reports on advancing midwifery:
- Midwives on the front line highlights the challenges of delivering midwifery services in a humanitarian crisis
- State of the midwifery workforce underlines the many social and economic benefits to investing in midwifery
Updated July 2025
