[From industrial hygiene for women to the protection of the reproductive health of workers. Principles and outlook].

The issues and prospects of workers' reproductive health as a problem of occupational health in nowadays Russia are outlined with due account for WHO, ILO, EC, etc. concepts and recommendations. Main principles of reproductive health protection are gender approach, additional protection of vulnerable groups, e. g. pregnant women and obligatory account for combined effects of occupational, environmental and socio-economic risk factors. Two groups of criteria are essential: criteria of health and criteria of emancipation. Criteria for evaluation of reproductive health disorders are worked out based on official statistical indices and it is proposed to rate some of these as of extra category class for effective risk assessment and risk management. The strategy and priorities in workers' reproductive health are discussed and need for international cooperation is noted for resolving this problem.