Extreme Weather Events Linked to Reproductive Health Crisis in Landmark Study of 800,000+ Women
[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]
September 19, 2025 (SAN FRANCISCO, CA) — As climate change intensifies across the globe, its effects extend far beyond rising temperatures and extreme weather events, with well-documented implications for overall human health and wellbeing. However, until now, there has been little evidence on how these climate disruptions interact with sexual and reproductive health and family planning decisions.
A groundbreaking study published this week in Frontiers in Global Women’s Health reveals the complex relationship between climate change and sexual and reproductive health and rights, showing how temperature and precipitation extremes may influence contraceptive use, fertility preferences, and contraceptive autonomy across 33 low- and middle-income countries.
The research, co-authored by YLabs' climate and health researchers along with experts from UC Berkeley, the University of New Mexico, and Imperial College London, analyzed data from over 820,000 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. This comprehensive study examined how extreme heat and precipitation events relate to contraceptive use, fertility preferences, and contraceptive autonomy. It is one of the largest peer-reviewed investigations to date on the intersection of climate extremes and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
“We’ve been hearing anecdotal stories from ground-level advocates for several years about how climate change is impacting women’s health and reproductive autonomy, but this study gives the sector a powerful multi-country evidence base–which is essential for policy and donor investment decisions,” said Theodora Gibbs, co-author and Climate Director at YLabs.
The study found that exposure to extreme heat and precipitation is associated with lower rates of modern contraception use in many settings, but with significant variation across countries and demographic groups. Women exposed to both extreme heat and extreme precipitation had 18% lower odds of using modern contraception methods, while in some countries like Chad, climate anomalies such as extreme heat were associated with up to 43% lower odds of modern contraception use.
Particularly concerning, researchers found that younger women, unmarried women, and women without children were especially vulnerable to climate-related disruptions in contraceptive access and use.
The study also found that over 41% of women using heat-sensitive contraceptive methods (such as condoms, pills, and injectables) lived in areas where average temperatures exceeded the recommended storage threshold, potentially putting these women at risk of contraceptive failure
“This research is adding to a growing body of evidence that highlights a critical gap in how we approach climate adaptation. We've been treating reproductive health as separate from climate policy, when they're fundamentally interconnected. The same climate events that disrupt agricultural systems are simultaneously compromising contraceptive supply chains and access. They’re also changing women’s reproductive health preferences and needs. Adaptation strategies need to start accounting for these reproductive health impacts,” said Dr. Meg “Bee” Brown, a lead author on the study, research lead at YLabs, and affiliated researcher at UC Berkeley.
The research has significant implications for global health organizations, governments, and NGOs working at the intersection of climate and health. As climate change accelerates, health systems must adapt to ensure continued access to essential sexual and reproductive health services, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.
YLabs, along with research partners, is calling for increased funding for climate-responsive sexual and reproductive health programs and policies that center the needs of young people and other vulnerable groups. The research identifies several priority areas for intervention: development of heat-resistant contraceptive technologies and improved supply chains for climate-vulnerable regions; targeted programs for young women and other vulnerable groups who face disproportionate impacts; integration of climate resilience planning into reproductive health services and policies; and additional research exploring how repeated climate shocks affect reproductive autonomy over time.
The study, titled "The Complex Relationship between Climate Anomalies and Reproductive Decision-Making in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," is available open-access in Frontiers in Global Women’s Health.
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About YLabs
YLabs is a global nonprofit organization that works with young people to create innovative digital solutions in health, economic opportunity, and climate resilience. Founded in 2014 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, YLabs addresses critical gaps in youth programs through youth-led, data-informed, and digital approaches. With a global footprint in 18 countries, its team is composed of youth leaders, physicians, designers, and researchers working with youth to design a better future for themselves and their communities. For more information, visit ylabsglobal.org.
