reproductive health issues

Reproductive health issues are essentially a public health issue that is intertwined with physiological state, psychological cognition, and social prejudice. It is by no means a private and shameful matter related only to "sex" or "reproduction." 80% of common reproductive health problems can be effectively solved through early screening and formal intervention. The biggest health hazard is to conceal the disease and avoid medical treatment.

In my first year as a reproductive health science volunteer at a maternal and child health hospital, I met a 22-year-old girl. Her vulva had been itching off and on for three months. She was afraid to go to the hospital. She secretly bought three or four private parts washes called "herbal antibacterial" on an e-commerce platform. She washed them twice in the morning and evening. Finally, she was so itchy that she couldn't sit still before she came to register. When the vaginal flora was found to be out of balance, even normal lactobacilli could hardly be found. After reading the report, the doctor sighed: "You have destroyed your own protective barrier." ”

Many people's attitude towards reproductive health is like the romance novels hidden at the bottom of their schoolbags when they were in school. They know it exists, but they are never willing to openly expose it. They even dare to deal with it blindly if they have problems. Oh, by the way, it’s not just young girls who have this concern. I met a 62-year-old man at a community free clinic last year. Prostatic hyperplasia caused him to urinate seven or eight times a night. He was embarrassed to tell his children, and he also felt that “it’s embarrassing for an old man to treat this kind of disease.” He endured this for almost two years. In the end, he had acute urinary retention and was rolling on the floor in pain. He was sent to the emergency room by a neighbor. After having a urinary catheter inserted, he blushed and said that if he had known it was so easy, he would not have suffered this problem.

At this point, I have to mention that there are currently two intervention ideas for minor reproductive health problems in the industry. No one is right or wrong, and they are suitable for different groups of people. The point of view of the evidence-based school of Western medicine is very clear: if there is a clear pathogenic bacterial infection (such as bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia infection), use the corresponding antibiotics or suppositories according to the course of treatment. Do not use folk remedies blindly, and do not stop taking the medicine after a slight improvement, otherwise it will be easy to relapse. ； The naturopathic school prefers to give priority to mobilizing the body's self-purification ability. For example, if there is a slight flora imbalance and no obvious itching and pain symptoms, there is no need to rush to medication. By adjusting their work and rest, wearing pure cotton breathable underwear, supplementing active probiotics, and avoiding sitting and staying up late, many people can return to normal in about two weeks. I met a 30-year-old working mother before. The physical examination showed that her vaginal cleanliness was level 3 and she had no other symptoms. She didn’t want to take medicine, so she changed her underwear twice a day, washed it with boiling water for 5 minutes, took a detour from get off work and walked 20 minutes home, and drank sugar-free yogurt for ten days. When she was reviewed, she was completely normal. But I have to remind you that if you have obvious itching, abnormal leucorrhea, painful urination or growths, don't wait for it to heal on its own. Go to the hospital instead. It will be more troublesome if it becomes chronic inflammation.

Many people subconsciously think that reproductive health is "women's business." In fact, men have a greater cognitive blind spot. Two years ago, a couple who had been trying to conceive for two years but failed to conceive came to us for consultation. The woman did a full set of tests three times from beginning to end, and all indicators were normal. She persuaded the man to have a semen test done, but he exploded on the spot and said, "I'm in good health, how could there be something wrong?", and finally Later, I couldn't help my wife to go for a check-up, and the result was weak sperm + the semen liquefaction took too long. After the doctor asked, he found out that he worked as a programmer for a long time, smoked at least a pack of cigarettes a day, and liked to go to the sauna with friends on weekends. These habits are all "hardest hit areas" for spermicide. Nowadays, many people think that "poor male reproductive health is due to kidney deficiency." They buy health products that can replenish the kidneys and strengthen yang. I have seen no less than three cases of abnormal liver function. If you really want to prepare for pregnancy or have abnormal function, go to a regular hospital to check the reproductive department first, and don't make random supplements on your own.

Regarding the stigmatization of reproductive health, scholars in different fields have different views. Most clinicians will emphasize that "a disease is a disease, and no moral judgment should be attached." For sexually transmitted diseases such as genital warts and syphilis, sexual contact is indeed the main route of transmission, but there is also a small probability of infection through unclean hotel towels, public swimming pools, and shared personal items. There is no need to label patients with "indecent private life" at the outset. ； Scholars in the field of ethics research will also remind that a stable partnership and correct use of condoms can indeed reduce the risk of sexually transmitted disease infection by more than 90%. Regular reproductive health screening with your partner is also a sign of responsibility for each other. There is actually no conflict between the two views. They are nothing more than relieving patients of their psychological burden while giving ordinary people a warning.

Oh, by the way, many people have asked whether the HPV vaccine can only be taken by those who have not had sex. In fact, evidence-based medicine has now made it clear that people aged 9-45 can get it regardless of whether they have sex or have been infected with HPV. However, the protection effect will be better for uninfected subtypes. You don't have to worry about whether you are "eligible". If conditions permit, both men and women can take it. It can not only prevent cervical cancer, but also penile cancer, anal cancer and oral cancer. Don’t do so many tricks when it comes to daily washing and care. The vagina itself has a self-purifying function. Just wash the vulva with clean water. Don’t flush the inside of the vagina. Don’t wash underwear with socks. Dry them before wearing them. Don’t skip annual gynecological/andrological examinations. They are more effective than any expensive skin care products.

To put it bluntly, reproductive health is never a shameful matter. Your reproductive organs are the same as your eyes, nose, and stomach. They will cause problems when you are tired, and they will become inflamed and itchy when infected. You should see a doctor when you should, take medicine when you should, and don’t put unnecessary moral shackles on it. It is better than anything else.