Reproductive health of adolescents in Russia: statistics, problems and prospects of improvement

Abstract

At the beginning of the 21st century we still face the problem of reproductive health of women, children and adolescents in Russia. Final overcoming of the “Russian Cross” primarily relates to preventing further decline of women in reproductive age and children aged 0–17 years.The following medico-social determinants of women's reproductive health are considered: family prosperity, somatic growth and sexual maturation, chronic extragenital diseases, sexual and reproductive behavior, environmental wellbeing of territory and gynecological care organization. Analysis of gynecological morbidity of Russian girls and adolescents at the beginning of this century spots an upward trend. The results of our anonymous questionnaire survey of socially adapted students among 3327 girls of 13–19 years testify that 59.9% of respondents in this age cohort do not practice daily genitalia toilet. According to our population-based studies, 24.0% of women have first pregnancy at the juvenile age followed by labor in 18.4% of young women, abortion in 81.6%. Menstrual disorders represent the most common symptoms and strong indications of reproductive health problems related, inter alia, to progesterone deficiency which can lead to serious consequences (infertility, miscarriage, breast disease). The choice of medication for the menstrual disorders treatment should consider instruction indications, the lack of limitations and contraindications, need for contraception, concomitant diseases and states, proved efficacy of the medication. Prospects of solving reproductive and demographic problems in the twenty-first century are largely beyond the control of clinicians being aggravated by unresolved environmental and social problems.

• Disturbance of menstrual cycle
• medico-social determinants of reproductive health
• progesterone deficiency