Sexual and Reproductive Health

Reproductive health screening and sexual education are essential components of healthcare but are frequently neglected for individuals with disabilities or chronic health conditions. Although the standards of care are the same as for the general population, barriers including ignorance, biases, and physical challenges can greatly hinder these patients’ counseling and treatment. Comprehensive reproductive and sexual healthcare of patients with disabilities includes all general population standards of screening and employing a shared decision-making model. Health-care professionals should approach each visit with an understanding of the potential need for accommodations, the wide discrepancies in patient and caregiver perceptions of care needs, and the particular concerns that may arise more frequently in certain populations or individuals.