From A to Z: Unpacking ASRH, SRH, SRHR and more

Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are fundamental rights shared by every person in the world. But many of us don’t know our rights when it comes to sexual and reproductive health (SRH).

To help you understand why SRH and SRHR are so important, we’re taking a look at some of your most frequently asked questions.

What is sexual and reproductive health?

There is no one universal definition of sexual and reproductive health (SRH). But according to the World Health Organization, sexual and reproductive health can be defined as:

States of complete physical, mental and social well-being – and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity – in all matters relating to sexuality and the reproductive system, and to its functions and processes. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. Reproductive health requires that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so.

In short, SRH is the need for a person to be physically, emotionally, mentally and socially prepared before entering into sexual relationships or reproducing.

Sara Chasowa, (left), a Save the Children Gender Facilitator, meets with Unica, a farmer and mother of three at her family farm in Malawi.

What are sexual and reproductive rights?

To achieve sexual and reproductive health for all, the rights relating to SRH must be understood and respected. Sexual and reproductive rights include the right of all people to:

have their bodily integrity, privacy and personal autonomy respected;
freely define their own sexuality, including sexual orientation and gender identity and expression;
decide whether and when to be sexually active;
choose their sexual partners;
have safe and pleasurable sexual experiences;
decide whether, when and whom to marry;
decide whether, when and by what means to have a child or children, and how many children to have; and
have access over their lifetimes to the information, resources, services and support necessary to achieve all the above, free from discrimination, coercion, exploitation and violence.

Why does Save the Children choose to focus on SRH?

Did you know that every year there are more than 370 million women and men who get infected with a curable sexually transmitted infection STI? And that there were nearly 1.3 million new HIV infections in 2022 – including 270,000 of which were among children and adolescents?

Lack of access to comprehensive SRH services heightens the risk of infection with STIs, and of unsafe abortions, and increases maternal mortality. Meanwhile complications relating to pregnancy and childbirth remain the leading causes of death among teenage mothers in many countries around the world.

When emergencies such as natural disasters or conflict happen, access to SRH services and information is often impacted – preventing women’s and girls’ access to services, including lack of access to health facilities and disruption of the supply chain, limiting the availability of essential supplies such as contraceptives.

By supporting programs about SRH and SRHR, we work to ensure that people’s rights are respected and their access to critical services remains uninterrupted.

Fardowsa* is 12 years old and lives in Ethiopia. Thanks to a Save the Children supported school, she was able to continue her education and has become a community champion against early child marriage and female genital mutilation.

Why is adolescent sexual and reproductive health so important?

Adolescents often lose out on SRHR. They are overlooked in SRH programming and services. Gender-based violence interventions tend to be age-blind, while child-focused interventions tend to overlook SRH and are also often gender-blind and insensitive to people of all genders.

Adolescents and young people are also often turned away from health facilities when seeking SRH services because they are not married or ‘of age.’ They frequently face discrimination in accessing health services or receiving SRHR information. In particular, adolescent girls and young women are doubly marginalized, being excluded both because of their age and their gender.

Adolescence represents a critical window of opportunity when young people learn to make independent decisions and form their own attitudes and beliefs. Save the Children works to ensure that adolescents – regardless of their gender – have access to comprehensive SRH information and services, and the support of their families and communities that they need to be the leaders of today and tomorrow.

Our global adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) programs target adolescents in critical periods of their lives: during young adolescence and as first-time and young parents. Very young adolescents (ages 10-14) are a group often neglected in global health programs, and our programs aim to fill a critical information and service gap and equip them with the ability to navigate challenges and opportunities during puberty. We also work with first-time and young parents, and their families and communities, to improve their health and well-being.

What are other terms I might see related to SRH and what do they mean?

ASRH – Adolescent sexual health and reproductive health
ASRHR – Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights
CSE – Comprehensive sexuality education
GBV/SGBV – Gender-based violence or sexual and gender-based violence
RMNCAH – Reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health
SAS – Safe abortion services
SRH – Sexual and reproductive health
SRHR – Sexual and reproductive health and rights
STI –Sexually Transmitted Infection
UHC – Universal health coverage