What does reproductive health include

Reproductive health is far more than the default "no reproductive system diseases" and "normal fertility". It is a comprehensive and complete state that runs through the entire life cycle of a person and covers the three dimensions of physiology, psychology and social adaptation. It does not mean that "the absence of disease equals health."

I have been doing reproductive health promotion in the community for almost 6 years, and I have met too many people who misunderstand this concept. There was a girl who was just in her third year of college who refused to go to the hospital because of her dysmenorrhea and fainting. She said, "Isn't it normal for my aunt to have pain? It's not a serious illness." There is also Aunt Zhang, who is almost 60 years old in the community and has been leaking urine for more than half a year. She doesn't even dare to dance in the square and is too embarrassed to tell her children. She thinks this is a normal symptom of old age. Xiang - In fact, these are all issues covered by reproductive health: from monitoring the development of secondary sexual characteristics in adolescence, physiological health management of menstruation/nocturnal emissions, to scientific contraception, pregnancy preparation and conditioning, physical care throughout the pregnancy and childbirth period, to intervention of perimenopausal symptoms during menopause, and maintenance of pelvic floor function in the elderly. Regardless of men and women, all physiological problems related to the reproductive system and reproductive functions are included.

What many people don’t know is that reproductive health is never only related to “body”. I had received a young couple before. They had undergone physical examinations and reproductive-related examinations, and there were no abnormalities at all. However, they could not conceive after three years of marriage. After careful questioning, I found out that the elderly on both sides were pressing hard. As soon as the ovulation period came, they were so stressed that they were resistant to having sex. This kind of anxiety and psychological barriers related to reproductive behavior are also issues that need to be solved in reproductive health. More broadly, whether you can independently and responsibly decide when and how many children you will have, whether you can obtain safe contraception and reproductive disease diagnosis and treatment services without discrimination, and whether you can even receive corresponding reproductive trauma intervention after being sexually assaulted, these social-level rights protections are also core components of reproductive health. Oh, by the way, there are still debates about the boundaries of reproductive health services in the industry. For example, whether to provide assisted reproduction-related services to unmarried people equally. Some people believe that all adult individuals in need should enjoy the same reproductive health rights. Others believe that clearer access standards should be drawn up based on the principles of public order and good customs and the protection of minors. We are currently gradually exploring more suitable solutions.

To put it bluntly, reproductive health is the same as protecting our eyes and teeth. It is something that everyone from children to the elderly should pay attention to. You don’t need to think about it only when you are preparing for pregnancy or getting sick. If you feel uncomfortable or have questions, just seek consultation from a regular medical institution. There is no need to feel embarrassed.