The sexual and reproductive health of people with disabilities starting with sexual development in puberty and throughout life can be affected in different ways, both by the disability itself, but even more by the persistence of prejudices, the lack of information and training of the necessary life skills, as well as access limited to health services adapted to their needs.

Sexual or pubertal development in girls and boys with disabilities, in most cases follows the same processes  as in the general population (See more in Puberty Topic); at the same time, they could have some variations in pubertal development - more often it can start earlier or later than in peers or isolated only on certain components... These variations can also induce or deepen mental health conditions in some adolescents. Calling the multidisciplinary medical-psychological team as soon as possible, especially within the YK centers, can provide support and guidance to manage these challenges.

Intimate hygiene for boys and girls,  menstrual hygiene for girls can in some cases be a real challenge for people with disabilities, especially in cases where their mobility is very limited and they are dependent on the care of other people. This could affecttheir psychological well-being, but also the risk of exposing themself to sexual abuse.

In some cases, anatomical and functional limitations may not allow girls and women with certain disabilities to use absorbent pads or tampons during periods. This situation requires in some cases medical suppression of the menstrual function.

The use of contraceptive methods among people with disabilities may also encounter some anatomical or functional barriers, or increase the risk of thrombosis in less mobile people, so in each case this limitation must be taken into account when selecting the right method.

In most cases, pregnancy can occur spontaneously without any difficulty in people with disabilities, although in some cases it cannot occur due to anatomical or functional limitations, and in some cases, only following assisted reproduction technologies applied with many precautions because of genetic risks.

Pregnancy and childbirth in mothers with disabilities, may  require more careful supervision by the multidisciplinary team of specialists, with more frequent indications for interventions such as caesarean section, vacuum-aspiration etc. In many cases parents with disabilities need additional support in caring for newborns, infants and young children.

Information about anatomical and physiological characteristics, sexual development, as well as the formation of life skills for intimate hygiene, assertive communication, relating, asking for help is much more limited for people with disabilities than for the general population,  this could be due to existing prejudices and the lack of capacities or knowledge of caregivers, however specialists can provide such information and education. 

• girls are more frequently given some information on this topic, at least related to menstrual hygiene,
• boys in most cases are assumed to have to learn about everything on their own...

Girls and boys with disabilities have the right and should be informed according to their age and level of understanding on the following topics: physiological changes during puberty; sexuality development and gender identity; forming healthy relationships; safe online experiences; what is agreement/consent; sexual abuse.

A great threat for people with disabilities is their much more frequent exposure to various types of abuse, including sexual. Here we can also refer to the fact that people with disabilities were very often denied sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information. In addition, they were often denied the right to form relationships and decide if, when and with whom to have a family. Many were subdued to forced sterilizations, forced abortions or forced marriages.

People with disabilitiesare more likely to experience physical, emotional and sexual abuse and other forms of gender-based violence. They are more likely to become infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In crisis situations, these risks multiply.

People with disabilities may have no additional risk for sexual-reproductive health (higher compared to the the general population) or it may be considerably low, if their type of disability has not affected the reproductive system or this impairment is compensated by appropriate treatment, if they have benefited from the necessary information on the given subject, they have learned life skills and have free access to the information and services they need and if the community around them is free of prejudice and is ready to provide all the support they need.

Most YK Centers have teams of trained specialists and facilities to provide complex services related to sexual-reproductive health and emotional well-being for adolescents and young people with disabilities. To find the nearest YK center adapted to the needs of people with disabilities, call YK Suport Line 080080022

Attention to the SRH needs of persons with disabilities is important to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights, to advance the international development agenda and to build a truly inclusive society. Thus, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides that persons with disabilities have the right to enjoy the best state of health, without discrimination based on disability criteria. The Republic of Moldova ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, through Law no. 166-XVIII of July 09, 2010.

The sexual and reproductive health rights of people with disabilities are similar to other people and include:

1. The right to information to enable them to make responsible and informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
2. The right to decide when and with whom to be sexually active.
3. The right to freedom from sexual abuse and violence, including unnecessary and unjustified abortion and sterilization.
4. The right to decide freely and responsively whether and when to have children and how many children to have.
5. The right to keep and raise one's children

(See section,  excerpts related to sexual and reproductive health from the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).

People with disabilities also have the right to be treated with respect and dignity when using services. Not only is this the decent way to treat any human being, but this approach also increases the likelihood that people with disabilities will be willing to access services.

From art. 9 – Accessibility

1. In order to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, as well as to other facilities and services open or offered to the public, both in urban and rural areas. These measures, which include the identification and removal of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, apply, among others:

(a) Buildings, roads, transport and other indoor and outdoor facilities, including schools, housing, medical facilities and workplaces;

(b) Information, communication and other services, including electronic services and emergency services.

From art. 16 – Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse

1. States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social, educational and other measures to protect persons with disabilities, both inside and outside their home/place of residence, against all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse , including their gender-based aspects.

4. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote the physical, cognitive and psychological recovery, rehabilitation and social reintegration of persons with disabilities who become victims of any form of exploitation, violence or abuse, including through the provision of protective services. Such recovery and reintegration must take place in an environment that encourages the health, well-being, self-respect, dignity and autonomy of the person and takes into account gender and age-specific needs.

From art. 22 – Respect for privacy

2. States Parties shall protect the privacy of personal, health and rehabilitation information of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.

From art. 23 – Respect for home and family

1. States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities in all matters related to marriage, family, parenthood and relationships, on an equal basis with others, so as to ensure that:

(a) The right of all persons with disabilities who are of marriageable age to marry and found a family is recognized with the free and full consent of their future spouses;

(b) The right of persons with disabilities to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and to have access to age-appropriate information, reproductive and family planning education are recognized and the necessary means are provided to enable them to exercise these rights;

c) Persons with disabilities, including children, preserve their fertility under conditions of equality with others.

From art. 25 – Health

States parties recognize that persons with disabilities have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, without discrimination on the basis of disability. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure access by persons with disabilities to gender-sensitive health services, including health-related rehabilitation. In particular, States Parties shall:

(a) Provide persons with disabilities with the same range, quality and standard of free or affordable health care and programs as other persons, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health and population-based public health programs.