Global sexual and reproductive health awareness

Global health observances in September focus on sexual and reproductive rights and education. World Sexual Health Day, themed ‘Every Body’, emphasizes inclusive wellbeing, rights, and pleasure for all individuals regardless of age, gender, or physical condition. Efforts led by the World Association for Sexual Health advocate for comprehensive education, STI prevention, and addressing sexual ageism to include the wellbeing of older populations. Following this, World Contraception Day promotes awareness of birth control options to support informed decision-making. Established in 2007 through the efforts of organizations such as the United Nations and the International Alliance of Women, the annual observance on September 26 aims to empower individuals regarding family planning and protection against sexually transmitted infections. For 2025, the theme is ‘A choice for all—agency, intention, access.’ The initiative highlights the importance of autonomy, noting that “pregnancy should happen by choice not by chance.” Discussions include various contraceptive methods, such as long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) like intrauterine devices (IUDs), short-acting hormonal methods, and barrier methods. Experts emphasize that access to contraception is a fundamental right for women and adolescents, stressing the necessity of emergency contraception to prevent unintended pregnancies and manage reproductive health effectively. Recent observations of World Contraception Day highlight ongoing global challenges. Data from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) indicates that approximately 59 million women globally desire to avoid pregnancy but are not using modern contraceptive methods, contributing to high rates of unintended pregnancies. Regional issues include gaps in family planning supply chains and high rates of child marriage, such as in Bangladesh. In North Macedonia, HERA reports that only 11% of young women use condoms and 14% use modern contraception, prompting calls for financial accessibility through inclusion in the Positive List of Medicines.