Within the framework of WHO's definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene, addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system at all stages of life. Reproductive health, therefore, implies that people are able to have a responsible, satisfying and safer sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. Implicit in this are the right of men and women to be informed of and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of birth control of their choice; and the right of access to appropriate health care services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant.

According to the WHO, "Reproductive and sexual ill-health accounts for 20% of the global burden of ill-health for women, and 14% for men."

Surrogacy and egg donation

Ovum and sperm donation and surrogacy is legal in some countries. For example in Georgia (Caucasia)according to the law a donor or surrogate mother has no parental rights over the child born. In some cases, the compensation requested by the surrogate mother during the whole pregnancy period and post-natal rehabilitation period does not exceed EUR 7 000 in total.