What This Means
This position paper from the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine reviews the current state of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and establishes the organization's official policy stances. The paper draws on an existing body of research showing that when young people have access to comprehensive, accurate, and confidential sexual health education and healthcare — along with family and community support — they tend to delay sexual activity, have fewer sexual partners, and use contraception and condoms more consistently. Despite these known benefits, AYAs still face disproportionately high rates of sexually transmitted infections, HIV, unintended pregnancy, reproductive coercion, and violence related to gender identity and sexual orientation.
This research suggests that gaps in access to SRHR services and information are not just health issues but human rights concerns with wide-ranging consequences for mental health, personal development, gender equality, and economic outcomes. The paper specifically highlights that disparities are especially pronounced for young people whose sexual orientation or gender identity differs from cisgender heterosexual norms, and that these disparities contribute to measurable harm and health inequities. The authors argue that every level of society — from individual clinicians to community organizations to policymakers — has a role to play in improving these outcomes.
The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine formally calls for universal access to comprehensive SRHR information and care for all young people, better training for clinicians and other youth-serving professionals, and increased investment in research, education, and advocacy in this area. Importantly, the paper emphasizes that young people themselves should be meaningfully involved in shaping the policies and programs that affect their sexual and reproductive health, as their input is essential to making those efforts effective and relevant.