Research Reprinted from AJGP Vol. 51, No. 4, April 2022 271 © The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners 2022 Elizabeth Sturgiss, Garang M Dut, Sethunya Matenge, Jane Desborough, Sally Hall Dykgraaf, Danielle Mazza, Michael Kidd Background and objective The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the ability of young people to access appropriate and timely sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH). The aim of this study was to summarise international innovations aimed at ensuring ongoing access. Methods This study was an overview of peer-reviewed literature and policy statements from international and national organisations related to SRH for young people during COVID-19. Results Innovations have focused on improving access to appropriate and timely SRH for young people, mostly through telehealth; increasing community and healthcare worker awareness of the heightened risk of gender-based violence and its consequences; and removing restrictions on contraception and abortion access. Despite this, a substantial decline in sexual wellbeing and SRH access has been reported from many parts of the world, although Australian data are lacking. Discussion Support for young people to access timely and appropriate SRH during the COVID-19 pandemic should be a priority for policymakers around the world. SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE (SRH) is a fundamental component of the services provided through general practice in Australia. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented enormous challenges to this area of general practice, as well as some emerging opportunities for innovation with the widespread adoption of telehealth. As a profession, it is important to learn from the experience of colleagues in other nations, who have often experienced a larger burden from COVID-19 than has been experienced in Australia to date. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected population groups differently, but these variations have mostly been studied at the extremes of the age range, in children and the elderly, rather than in young people. For instance, the incidence of COVID-19 is lower in children than adults, 1 and the prevalence of severe disease is lower among children than adults. 2–4 Furthermore, medium-term sequelae (four months) have proven rare among children who recover from COVID-19, 5 and their case fatality rate is also lower than that of adults. 4 The World Health Organization (WHO) defines ‘adolescents’ as individuals aged between 10 and 19 years; however, research often focuses on ‘young people’, defined as people under the age of 25 years. 6 SRH covers services that promote sexual wellbeing and reproductive health, and prevent and treat sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs). Specific areas that may be included are: • contraception, including emergency contraception • STI and BBV screening (people without symptoms) • STI symptoms and treatment • abortions (medical, surgical or both) • cervical screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination • gender-affirming hormone therapy • human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care • sexual assault care. Young people seek SRH in primary care services, sexual health centres, family planning and abortion providers, and clinics specifically for young people, such as Australian ‘headspace’ centres specifically for mental health. 7 General practice is one of the few settings in which SRH is provided as part of a comprehensive, generalist healthcare service. There are a number of recognised existing barriers for young people to access SRH that may be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including confidentiality and privacy; cost to access services; and transport, especially for those who do not drive and are not located near public transport. Young people in rural and remote areas commonly experience more difficulties accessing healthcare. 8 Innovative models such as Teen Clinic in rural Australia have moved to address this barrier, offering nurse-led, COVID-19 and access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for young people An overview of the international literature and policy