Even during intrauterine development, all organ systems, including the reproductive system, are laid down in the fetus. It turns out that the child has not yet been born, and his health from the point of view of reproduction is either quite well, or has already received its share of negative impact.
Reproductive health is a component of the overall state of the body. It turns out that it directly depends on the lifestyle of the mother during pregnancy, as well as on the health of the father.
The concept of reproductive health
This term is directly related to demographic science, which studies the level of mortality and fertility in society. But reproductive health is part of a person’s overall health, which implies physical, spiritual, and social well-being.
If we talk about the health of the reproductive system, we mean not only the absence of diseases in the sexual system, functional disorders, but also the state of mind and social well-being. Currently, reproductive health is taken care of not only by doctors, but also by psychologists and sociologists.
Statistical data
Statistics are a stubborn thing, and they have been producing increasingly disappointing results in recent years. Our young generation leads an incorrect lifestyle, and in some cases has a very bad heredity, so a large percentage of young people risk adding to the army of childless people. The reproductive health of adolescents leaves much to be desired. The factors that adversely affect it include: early onset of sexual activity; a large percentage of sexually transmitted diseases; a huge number of young people who drink alcohol and smoke.
All this leads to the fact that still very young girls come for an abortion, and this can not but affect their reproductive health. This leads to various diseases in the reproductive system, disorders of the monthly cycle. The trouble is that young people at the first symptoms of the disease do not rush to the doctor, hoping that everything will soon normalize by itself. Now a large number of children are already born with certain pathologies, and what can we say about their health when they come to the age when it is time to start a family and give birth to children? According to statistics, by the beginning of family life, almost every second person has chronic diseases that can directly or indirectly affect a person’s reproductive health. That is why this issue has recently become so important not only for medical professionals, but also for the whole society. Healthy children are our future, and how can they be born as such when their future parents can not boast of their reproductive health?
Conditions for maintaining reproductive health
Human and social reproductive health are closely interrelated. The question arises, what can be done to ensure that the future generation is born healthy and able to give birth to the same healthy children? If you carefully study the recommendations, there is nothing impossible in them.
The very first thing that any teenager who enters into sexual life should know is that the protection from unwanted pregnancy should come first. Actively engage in the prevention and treatment of all diseases of the sexual sphere. Modern contraceptives allow you to prevent unwanted pregnancy, you need to use them. Adequate treatment of all sexually transmitted infections. It is advisable to plan any pregnancy. Lead a healthy lifestyle. Strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene, and this applies not only to girls, but also to men. Strengthen your immune system. Try to eat right and do not eat foods that are harmful to health.
Rules that are quite capable of being followed by anyone, but, unfortunately, not everyone thinks about it. And the reproductive health of adolescents will certainly affect their condition in adulthood, the health and well-being of their children. It is the direct responsibility of parents to constantly educate girls and boys in these matters.
Diseases and reproductive function
Currently, there is a huge list of diseases that negatively affect the reproductive health of the family.
Infectious diseases.Among them, there are those that can lead to infertility, for example, chickenpox, mumps, especially in boys.
There is no need to talk about venereal infections at all.
General somatic diseases.
Problems with the cardiovascular system, kidneys, liver, diabetes mellitus can not only worsen the condition of the body, but also disrupt the hormonal background, and this can not but affect reproductive health.
Congenital diseases.Many doctors are convinced that in most cases infertility originates from early childhood. And this applies to both boys and girls.
Taking medications.Some have a fairly strong effect on the reproductive function. These include: corticosteroids; anticonvulsants; antidepressants; tranquilizers; neuroleptics. Of course, in some situations, you can not do without these drugs, but it is always necessary to assess the health risk, especially if you are still going to have children.
External environment and reproductive health
Reproductive health is not only the state of the sexual sphere of a person, but also the general well-being, which is not always at a high level. A large number of external factors have a direct impact on the reproductive function.
Stress
Our life is such that stressful situations lie in wait almost everywhere: at home and at work. This leads to chronic lack of sleep, fatigue, the development of neuroses – and now there are violations in the reproductive system.
Bad habits
A large number of both women and men drink alcoholic beverages and smoke. This affects the formation of germ cells, they can already receive various defects at this stage. What healthy children can we talk about if the eggs and sperm are initially unhealthy! Injuries to the genitals, especially in men, disrupt spermatogenesis and lead to a decrease in sexual function.
High temperature effect
There are workshops in the production where the technological cycle goes at elevated temperatures. Some doctors are of the opinion that it is harmful for the male body. It is for this reason that it is not recommended for boys to wear diapers for a long time.
Poor nutrition
The excess of chemicals in modern products leads not only to general health problems, but also affects our reproductive function. The basics of proper nutrition should be laid in the child from childhood.
It will not be possible to completely get rid of such an impact, but everyone can change the situation for the better and to some extent eliminate or reduce the impact of negative factors.
Risk factors for reproductive health
In scientific circles, various studies have been conducted for a long time on the influence of factors on the health of pregnant women and in general on the female sex at the reproductive age. In the course of long-term observations, several groups of factors were identified:
Socio-psychological-this is the influence of stress, nervous tension and feelings of anxiety and fear.
Genetic – the presence or absence of mutations in the germ cells.
Professional – if your professional activity is associated with harmful and dangerous substances or types of work, then it is necessary to exclude the influence of such factors with the onset of pregnancy, and preferably even before planning it.
Environmental factors – these are the factors we can least influence, well, if we only move to a more favorable area from the point of view of ecology.
Consequences of poor reproductive health
The fact that the characteristics of reproductive health in recent years leave much to be desired, you will confirm any doctor. This is proved by the following examples: The majority of the population of childbearing age suffers from various infectious and inflammatory diseases. The reproductive health of both men and women is rapidly deteriorating. The number of infertile marriages is growing every year. Infant mortality does not decrease, but, on the contrary, increases. A large number of children with genetic diseases are born. Oncology is becoming a scourge of our society, and a huge number of patients belong to the younger generation. The nation’s gene pool is rapidly being depleted. What other evidence is needed to understand that something needs to be done to strengthen and improve the reproductive health of young people, first of all.
Protection of reproductive health of the population
The concept of protection includes a large number of methods, procedures and services that can support the reproductive health of young families and each individual. In modern conditions, the problems of protection are of great importance and relevance.
A lot of work is needed to prevent various diseases, especially those that affect the sexual sphere. Education should start with the family and continue in educational institutions. We need to talk about this with the younger generation. A special role should be given:
– prevention of abortions, especially at an early age;
– protection from infection with various sexually transmitted infections;
– consider family planning and the birth of children.
It is necessary to prepare for this, and the first step can be a visit to a genetic consultation, where specialists will help calculate the probability of having children with various pathologies. Despite the not very favorable environmental situation, the reproductive health of a person depends more on himself. It is in your power, no one will do it for you. Remember about your children and future grandchildren, their health also depends on your lifestyle.