Adolescent sexual and reproductive health

According to International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education, there is no magic date to start sexuality education. Even pre-school children can be given developmentally appropriate information e.g. to teach them about their bodies and to shape their thinking about gender equality.

Age does not constitute a medical reason for refusing to provide contraception. In other words, there is no medical reason for withholding the provision of contraceptive methods to adolescents.

Globally it is estimated that 1 in 5 girls below the age of 18 are married or in other forms of union. In some countries however, the proportion of girls married by the age of 18 is higher - 1 in 3.

Over time, infection with the Human Papilloma Virus leads to cancer of the cervix. Administration of the HPV vaccine to girls between the ages of 9 and 13 prevents this infection and the subsequent development of cervical cancer.

In many countries, adolescent girls are more likely to believe that violence is justified than adolescent boys. Further, in many countries, adolescent girls and boys are more likely to justify violence than adult women and men.

Pregnancy and childbirth complications are the leading cause of death among 15-19 year old girls globally, followed by self-harm, road injuries, diarrheal diseases, and tuberculosis. To prevent early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents, WHO recommends the following: reduce marriage before the age of 18 years; reduce pregnancy before the age of 20 years; increase use of contraception by adolescents at risk of unintended pregnancy; reduce coerced sex among adolescents; reduce unsafe abortion among adolescents; and increase use of skilled antenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care among adolescents.