Sexual and Reproductive Health

Proposed Republican-led budget cuts to Medicaid—the United States’ largest health insurance programme—could drastically increase healthcare costs and reduce access to essential health services for millions of women, according to recent reports. The potential policy shift is raising concerns among health advocates and experts who warn that low-income women, communities of colour, those with disabilities, and rural residents may be left without affordable care, including birth control, prenatal services, and vital screenings.

A new survey from England reveals that about one in four women suffer serious reproductive health problems, underscoring how access to diagnosis and care remains a widespread issue. The findings emphasize the broader social and economic impact of reproductive health on families and communities.

Reproductive health touches every aspect of life, from education and work participation to mental well-being. In Thailand, social norms, rural resource gaps, and debates over reproductive education can shape how women experience care. The English study offers a timely reminder that these challenges are not confined to one country.

A renewed debate over reproductive rights has taken center stage across the United States, prompting policymakers, healthcare leaders, and advocates to examine the present and future of women’s health access. Amid growing restrictions and legal challenges nationwide, a recent ‘Women’s Health Policy Briefing’ led by a state legislator in Rochester has brought these issues sharply into focus for local communities—mirroring conversations unfolding globally, and in Thailand.

The briefing, organized by a state senator in Rochester, comes at a time when reproductive healthcare, particularly abortion rights, faces increasing headwinds. According to the event’s official summary, the session was designed to update the public and stakeholders on the changing legal landscape and policy developments related to women’s health services, including contraception access, abortion laws, maternal care, and sexual health education (nysenate.gov). Organizers highlighted that as more U.S. states enact restrictive measures, communities across the country—and internationally—are closely watching, seeking guidance on ensuring safe, equitable healthcare for women.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are increasingly threatening women’s health and fertility worldwide, with mounting evidence that untreated infections can cause long-term reproductive problems. This matters for Thailand as well as global readers.

New reviews by international health experts show a troubling rise in common STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. If not treated early, these infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility, especially among women of reproductive age. Research cited by health authorities notes that millions of women each year are at risk of preventable, lasting harm from these infections.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are fast emerging as one of the most serious yet often overlooked threats to women’s health and fertility globally, according to the latest research highlighted by experts. Mounting evidence indicates that untreated STIs not only cause acute symptoms but can lead to long-term reproductive health complications, with grave implications for women across all regions—including Thailand.

Recent research reviewed by international health authorities reveals an alarming surge in the incidence of common STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. These infections, when left untreated, can progress silently to cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and subsequent infertility, especially among women of reproductive age. According to a 2024 review in Drug Topics, millions of women each year are at risk of permanent reproductive harm due to preventable and treatable infections.

Recent research and commentary heighten calls to protect reproductive health data as legal cases in the United States and the rapid rise of health-tracking technology reveal gaps in privacy safeguards. These developments carry global implications, including for Thailand, where digital health tools are expanding rapidly.

For Thai readers, the issue offers a timely lens on how technology, health, and law intersect. The trend toward criminalizing reproductive decisions through digital footprints underscores the need for strong data policies and public awareness, especially as similar technologies and legal gaps may emerge in Thailand’s context. Health-tracking apps and telehealth services are growing, making privacy protections more important than ever.

A growing body of research and policy work in Nepal highlights how school-based education can empower adolescent girls to claim their sexual and reproductive health rights. This shift is drawing attention from educators and health advocates across Asia, including Thailand. The Brookings Institution notes that building girls’ agency through formal schooling is becoming a key strategy for helping young women understand their health rights, make informed choices, and break cycles of poverty and discrimination.

A new international analysis of contraceptive supplies offers timely guidance for Thailand’s reproductive health efforts. The 2024 Family Planning Market Report, produced by the Clinton Health Access Initiative and the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, maps market trends, price dynamics, and supply chain challenges that shape access to contraception worldwide.

This tenth edition serves as a benchmark for donors, governments, NGOs, and medical suppliers involved in low- and middle-income countries. It examines market size, procurement patterns, and the impact of lingering COVID-19 disruptions, while highlighting how new technologies are changing choices for women and couples. For Thailand, known for pioneering family planning programs, the findings illuminate gaps and opportunities amid demographic shifts and regional health concerns.

A sweeping funding freeze by the U.S. federal Title X family planning program has left key healthcare providers, including three Planned Parenthood clinics in Virginia, without critical support. The sudden move, announced in late March, raises concerns about access to affordable reproductive health services for low-income Americans. The policy shift could affect millions who rely on the half-century-old program for contraception, cancer screenings, STI testing, and pregnancy care.

Title X, established by Congress in 1970 and administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, funds a nationwide network of clinics that serve low-income and uninsured individuals with free or sliding-scale reproductive health care. Nationally, 297 Planned Parenthood clinics participate in Title X, with the freeze affecting clinics in multiple states and knocking out access in some communities altogether. Data from public health researchers show that in states where Title X providers form a backbone of care, people face longer wait times and reduced access to essential services.

In his first 100 days back in office, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has set in motion a new wave of reproductive health policies that are drawing sharp reactions both domestically and abroad. The administration’s staunch anti-abortion stance, celebrated by anti-abortion groups and criticized by reproductive health advocates, sets a significant precedent that carries implications for global health, gender equality, and policy discourse, including in Thailand, where debates on women’s health and reproductive rights are becoming increasingly prominent.

A global appeal for $1.4 billion in emergency funding aims to deliver essential sexual and reproductive health services to more than 45 million people in crisis-affected countries. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) launched the initiative to close a critical resource gap that endangers lives, focusing on life-saving care and programs to prevent gender-based violence.

In 2024, humanitarian needs reached new heights, with a record 122.6 million people forcibly displaced by conflicts, disasters, and climate shocks. Half are women and girls. Looking ahead to 2025, some 11 million pregnant women are expected to require urgent support due to violence, displacement, and disrupted health services. These figures resonate for Thai readers as regional crises and climate events continue to touch Southeast Asia. Thailand remains active in regional humanitarian efforts and hosts thousands of refugees and displaced persons, underscoring the practical relevance of resumed funding for frontline health work, NGOs, and civil society engaged in cross-border response.

A wave of clinic closures is unfolding in the United States as the federal freeze on Title X family planning funds continues. The suspension threatens access to contraception, cancer screenings, STI testing, and other preventive services for low-income communities. Many clinics have reduced hours, laid off staff, or shut their doors, highlighting the fragility of public health safety nets under political decisions. This situation offers important lessons for health policy in Thailand as it seeks to maintain accessible reproductive health services.

A sweeping staff purge within the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Reproductive Health has unsettled public health experts and advocates. More than 100 employees were dismissed this week, including specialists who maintain national data on pregnancies, maternal outcomes, and fertility treatment. The changes threaten the data infrastructure that underpins prenatal care, contraception access, and IVF-related research and guidance.

This development comes after President Trump’s public calls to expand family planning and improve IVF access. Observers note the contrast between campaign messaging about supporting mothers and families and the abrupt dismantling of a federal unit tasked with implementing those goals.

Virginia has set a new precedent in reproductive and sexual health privacy, passing a sweeping law that is poised to transform how businesses—far beyond the healthcare sector—handle sensitive consumer data. The move reflects an escalating trend toward increased protection of reproductive health data across the United States, raising important considerations for both American and international entities, including those in Thailand with U.S. business ties.

The new law, known as SB 754, was signed by Virginia’s governor on March 24, 2025, and amends the state’s longstanding Virginia Consumer Protection Act. With an effective date of July 1, 2025, the law expands the definition of “reproductive or sexual health information” well beyond traditional medical records and introduces strict consent requirements for any company classified as a “supplier” participating in consumer transactions within Virginia. This change aligns Virginia with a small but growing group of U.S. states—such as Washington, Nevada, and Connecticut—that have enacted similarly broad consumer health privacy protections. However, experts note Virginia’s law is particularly robust and unusually wide in its business impact (quarles.com).

A new Virginia law marks a major milestone in protecting reproductive and sexual health data, with implications that reach far beyond the healthcare sector. The measure expands how businesses handle highly sensitive consumer information and adds strict consent requirements for many entities doing business in Virginia. The move mirrors a growing trend in the United States toward stronger privacy protections for health-related data and offers a clear signal to international firms, including Thai companies with U.S. operations.

A growing body of research highlights a clear link between excess belly fat and disruptions in male hormones, sexual health, and fertility. As obesity rises globally and in Asia—including Thailand—doctors warn that abdominal adiposity is more than a cosmetic issue. Endocrinologists emphasize that fat around the waist acts like an endocrine organ, potentially lowering testosterone and affecting overall vitality.

This matters for Thailand, where national surveys show rising overweight and obesity among men, especially in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Cultural norms have long equated weight gain with prosperity, but recent evidence reframes belly fat as a health risk with real consequences for men’s bodies and families.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a comprehensive new guideline aimed at significantly reducing adolescent pregnancies and improving the overall health and well-being of girls worldwide—a move that holds substantial relevance for Thailand and the broader region. The updated recommendations, announced in April 2025, target several root causes of early pregnancies, with a strong emphasis on preventing child marriage, extending girls’ access to education, and strengthening adolescent-friendly health services. These actions, according to the WHO, must be top priorities for governments and civil society striving to improve outcomes for young women.

A new set of World Health Organization guidelines aims to drastically reduce adolescent pregnancies and strengthen girls’ health and rights. Released in April 2025, the recommendations focus on tackling root causes such as child marriage, improving access to education, and delivering adolescent-friendly health services. Governments and communities are urged to treat these actions as top priorities to improve outcomes for young women.

Adolescent pregnancy remains a global public health challenge. Each year, more than 21 million girls in low- and middle-income countries become pregnant, with about half of these pregnancies unintended. In Thailand, the adolescent birth rate has declined but persists, especially in rural and economically disadvantaged provinces. Early pregnancy increases health risks like infections, preterm birth, and complications from unsafe abortions, often worsened by limited access to respectful, non-judgmental care. Beyond health, early pregnancy disrupts schooling, limits career prospects, and can trap families in cycles of poverty. Data from global health sources show these patterns are not unique to one country but reflect shared challenges affecting Thai communities as well.

A new set of guidelines from the World Health Organization aims to curb the rising trend of medicalized female genital mutilation (FGM) and to improve care for survivors. Health experts view this as a crucial step toward ending FGM globally, with focus on health, legal, and ethical implications when health professionals are involved.

FGM refers to procedures that intentionally injure the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, with millions more at risk each year. Disturbingly, recent research shows a surge in FGM performed by doctors, nurses, or midwives. While some communities view medicalized FGM as safer, global health authorities and women’s rights advocates agree there is no safe form of FGM, and medicalization perpetuates gender inequality and violence. Research and guidance from leading health institutions underscore this stance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released groundbreaking new recommendations to curb the growing trend of “medicalized” female genital mutilation (FGM) and strengthen care for survivors, a move hailed by global health experts as an essential step toward eliminating this harmful practice worldwide. This updated guidance is particularly relevant as rising evidence suggests that, despite global efforts to end FGM, a concerning number of procedures are being performed by healthcare professionals—a development with complex health, legal, and ethical implications.

A new international research protocol highlights a long-overlooked area in chronic illness care: sexual health, well-being, and pleasure for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). By proposing a comprehensive review of global literature and patient experiences, the initiative seeks to move beyond traditional clinical focus to address intimacy as part of holistic disease management. This conversation is increasingly relevant to Thai patients and families seeking comprehensive, patient-centered care.

RMDs such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis cause painful joints, fatigue, and limited mobility. The impact extends to emotions, self-esteem, and relationships. The new scoping review aims to integrate sexual health and rights into routine care, recognizing them as essential components of quality of life for people living with chronic conditions.

A new international research protocol is shining a spotlight on a long-neglected aspect of patient care: the sexual health, well-being, and pleasure of individuals living with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). By proposing a sweeping review of global literature and lived experiences, this initiative aims to address both the clinical and societal fatigue around topics of intimacy for millions affected worldwide—a conversation now increasingly relevant to Thai patients and families seeking holistic chronic disease management [source: Wiley Online Library].

A new set of urgent recommendations from the World Health Organization aims to curb the rise of medicalized female genital mutilation (FGM) and strengthen care for survivors. The guidance, released April 28, 2025, marks a significant step in the global effort to eradicate FGM and protect girls’ health and rights.

FGM involves partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons and carries serious health risks and human-rights violations. As more procedures are reported to be carried out by healthcare professionals—an trend known as medicalization—the WHO calls for stronger legal and policy actions to discourage this practice and to expand survivor support services. Health experts emphasize that no form of FGM is safe or ethical, regardless of the setting or provider.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued urgent new recommendations aimed at stopping the dangerous trend of “medicalized” female genital mutilation (FGM) and ensuring robust support for women and girls who have undergone the practice, according to a recent release. This latest guidance, announced on April 28, 2025, is seen as a pivotal step in the global fight to eradicate FGM, a deeply harmful practice affecting millions worldwide.

FGM, which involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, poses severe health risks and violates fundamental human rights. In response to mounting evidence that a growing share of FGM procedures are now performed by healthcare professionals—a process known as “medicalization”—the WHO is calling for stricter measures to discourage this troubling shift while intensifying care for survivors.