According to the National Institute on of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reproductive health refers to the condition of a person’s “reproductive health during all life stages.” Reproductive systems are made up of organs and glands that produce or respond to hormones, including the pituitary gland in the brain.

People with disabilities have the same reproductive health needs as people without disabilities. They may experience puberty, seek healthy sexual relationships, and want to have children. They may also experience reproductive health issues like their peers without disabilities, such as early or delayed puberty, endometriosis, infertility or reduced fertility, and menstrual problems, among others. Recent research has shown that people with disabilities may face disparities in maintaining their reproductive health in comparison to people without disabilities. For example, women with disabilities are less likely to receive breast and cervical cancer screenings than women without disabilities. In addition, people with disabilities are more likely to experience sexual abuse, sexual assault, or become infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Barriers to the information and services may include a lack of physical access; enduring stereotypes and biases; limited disability competency among health care providers; a lack of accessible community programs; or a lack of health insurance.

NARIC’s information specialists searched REHABDATA and found over 1,400 articles on reproductive health and people with disabilities from the NIDILRR community and beyond. To learn more about people with disabilities and reproductive health, contact NARIC’s information specialists via chat, email, or by calling 800/346-2742.