Reproductive Health.

Seo, Kyung

Note

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2009;52(4):387-390.
Published online April 1, 2009.

Reproductive Health.

Kyung Seo

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kyungseo@yuhs.ac

Abstract

New "law for maternal and child health" newly included the term "reproductive health". The purpose of including reproductive health in addition to the traditional maternal and child health, was to provide legal ground for providing comprehensive reproductive health services including programs for infertile couples. Reproductive health was defined as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes" at Cairo during International Conference on Population and Development, 1994. Reproductive health therefore implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. Korean government programs restoring fertility should proceed with considering reproductive health of Korean population.

Key Words: Reproductive health, Reproductive right