Access to contraception should never be a challenge, yet young people face stigma and barriers when they try to access to contraceptive care and information. At IPPF, we know that the lack of sexual and reproductive health care is not a game. We work with and for young people to ensure them the healthcare and education they need, so they can focus on a more important challenge: achieving their dreams.     

Today marks the International Day of the Girl Child. Girls are often the ones to suffer firsthand from the lack of access to sexual and reproductive services. We will continue to fight for girls everywhere to not only have access to health care services but to stand up and shout 'I Decide my future'.

The Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Package for Men and Adolescent Boys has been developed to support providers of sexual and reproductive health services. It aims to increase the range and quality of sexual and reproductive services provided that meet the specific and diverse needs of men and adolescents boys. It covers men and adolescent boys in all their diversity, and takes a positive approach to sexual and reproductive health, seeing this not just as the absence of disease, but the positive expression of one’s gender, sex and sexuality. Men have substantial sexual and reproductive health needs, including the need for contraception, prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual dysfunction, infertility and male cancers. Yet these needs are often unfulfilled due to a combination of factors, including a lack of service availability, poor health-seeking behaviour among men, health facilities often not considered "male-friendly," and a lack of agreed standards for delivering clinical and preventative services to men and adolescent boys. 

IPPF recognizes that investing in gender equality is essential both as a means for fulfilling SRHR and as an end in itself. Sexual and reproductive health and rights will only be achieved when there is gender equality.  The report is available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.

Decided you want to learn more about contraception options? Find out more with us! 

Planned Parenthood partners with Queens libraries to bring sex education out of the classroom and into the library. The partnership employs the library's traditional role as a source of information creating a safe space for today's teenagers to ask for support.   Photography © IPPF/Bill Kotsatos Taking sex education to teens in Queens, NY