Women’s Reproductive Health: Issues, Findings, and Controversies

Abstract

Abstract In recent years health organizations, professionals, and policy makers have concurred that reproductive issues for women extend beyond fertility and pregnancy. The World Health Organization has defined reproductive health to include mental, physical, and social well-being in all areas involving the reproductive system including sexual health (Murphy, 2003). Thus, reproductive health issues for women are broadly defined to include fertility and infertility, contraception, abortion, unintended pregnancy, maternal mortality and morbidity, pregnancy loss, healthy sexual development, sexual satisfaction, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, depression and other psychological symptoms related to reproductive events, sexual abuse, physical violence from sexual partners, access to reproductive health services, and cultural and gender inequities that limit certain groups’ reproductive health. Moreover, gender inequities including greater male control and decision-making power in intimate relationships may prevent women from exercising autonomy over sexual and reproductive events, thus limiting their reproductive rights and often compromising their reproductive health (Murphy, 2003).