The evolution of the definition of the term ‘reproductive health’: key stages and current approaches

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.72

Kudelina O.V., Semashkina V.S., Okorokov A.O.
Siberian State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Tomsk, Russia

Objective. To identify approaches to the concept of ‘reproductive health’ based on a comprehensive analysis of regulatory legal documents and to formulate a modern definition of reproductive health.
Materials and methods. Using the search module of the ‘Consultant Plus’ legal reference system, 1,279 documents relating to reproductive health were selected. The study examines the ‘Russian Legislation’ section, which presents 41 regulatory legal documents governing the issues under study.
Results. The content analysis revealed that the concept of ‘reproductive health’ in regulatory legal documents is frequently associated with terms such as ‘assisted reproductive technologies,’ ‘reproductive age,’ ‘reproductive system’ and ‘center for adolescent reproductive health’.
Since it was first used in 1995, the term ‘reproductive health’ and approaches to its understanding have undergone significant changes, driven by socioeconomic conditions and demographic policy. Over the decades, the term’s interpretation has broadened. Initially, reproductive health was considered solely in terms of women’s health and the prevention of abortions. Subsequently, children and adolescents were taken into account in the interpretation of the concept. The adoption of an evidence-based approach in the early 2010s led to the inclusion of issues relating to male fertility and the possibility of reproductive choice for each individual.
Conclusion. The concept of ‘reproductive health’ has gradually expanded to include additional components reflecting the importance of assessing the reproductive potential of the population. This definition is now viewed from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Authors’ contributions. Kudelina O.V., Semashkina V.S. – study concept and design, text writing; Semashkina V.S. – material collection and processing; Kudelina O.V., Okorokov A.O. – editing, final approval of the version for publication.
Conflicts of interest. Authors declare lack of the possible conflicts of interests.
Funding. The study was conducted without sponsorship.
Generative Artificial Intelligence. Artificial intelligence tools were not used in the preparation of this scientific article.
For citation: Kudelina O.V., Semashkina V.S., Okorokov A.O. The evolution of the definition of
the term ‘reproductive health’: key stages and current approaches.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (6): 172-183 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.72

reproductive health

health protection

reproductive health screening

reproductive technologies

demographic policy

birth rate

family planning

content analysis

regulatory legal documents

prevention

Full text (in Russian)

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Received 03.02.2026

Accepted 08.06.2026

Olga V. Kudelina, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor at the Health Organization and Public Health Department, Siberian State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 63450, Russia, Tomsk, Moskovsky trakt, 2, +7(3822)90-11-01, koudelina@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2921-3272
Viktoriya S. Semashkina, Resident at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Siberian State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation,
634050, Russia, Tomsk, Moskovsky trakt, 2, +7(913)551-79-04, Semashkina.01@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3829-4910
Alexander O. Okorokov, PhD, Associate Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Siberian State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 634050, Russia, Tomsk, Moskovsky trakt, 2, +7(3822)90-11-01, okorokovao@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9117-5900

The evolution of the definition of the term ‘reproductive health’: key stages and current approaches

Kudelina O.V., Semashkina V.S., Okorokov A.O.

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