Department of Reproductive Health

Don’t think of the reproductive health department as a “shameful department” that you only dare to enter secretly if you are unable to conceive a child – it is a regular clinical department that covers all age groups and the entire reproductive cycle, from developmental abnormalities in puberty, birth planning during the childbearing years, to reproductive health care in menopause. As long as you have problems related to the health of the reproductive system and fertility needs, you can feel free to see a doctor, and there is no need to feel any psychological burden.

Last week, I met a sophomore girl in the clinic. She wandered in the corridor for almost 40 minutes before pushing the door in. She covered only her eyes with a hat and mask. She said that she had been menopausal for more than three months and did not dare to go to the gynecology department for fear of being chased and asked if she had sex. She also did not dare to come to the reproductive department for fear of being misunderstood as coming for abortion or infertility. I searched online for a long time, and the more I read, the more scared I became, thinking that I had a terminal illness. In the end, it was found that she had typical polycystic ovary syndrome. In addition, she was under great pressure to stay up late during the final week to review, so she was prescribed some menstrual medication and told her to drink less milk tea and exercise more. Two months later, she returned to normal after a follow-up visit.

In fact, there are too many people like her who have misunderstandings about reproductive medicine. Many elders still think that "reproductive medicine can treat infertility." Younger people may know that IVF can be done here, but when it comes to teenage children and unmarried young people, many people are stunned. There have been calls in the academic community to move reproductive health services forward. Don’t wait until you are really unable to get pregnant before intervening. For example, many young people stay up late, sit for long periods of time, and eat high-sugar diets. The decline in sperm and egg quality is becoming more and more obvious. A simple screening before marriage or six months before having a family plan, and early adjustment for minor problems, is more worry-free than delaying the discovery of problems until you are preparing for pregnancy. Of course, there are different voices. Some scholars in the field of public health believe that there is no need to over-promote reproductive function screening to the general population without special symptoms. On the contrary, it will easily cause unnecessary fertility anxiety and the gain will outweigh the loss. The two views are still being discussed, and there is no unified conclusion.

Let me tell you something interesting. Last month, a man accompanied his wife for a pre-pregnancy check-up. The nurse casually asked if she wanted to check the sperm quality together. He blushed at the time and said, "Why am I, a grown man, going to the reproductive department?" ”In fact, regular reproductive health departments now provide the same diagnosis and treatment for men and women. Men's problems such as oligospermia, reproductive system infection, and erectile dysfunction can all be treated here. There is no need to go to the men's department specifically. Couples who are preparing for pregnancy can check together, which can save them a lot of detours.

In addition to pregnancy preparation, many people don’t know that they can come to the reproductive health department for consultation if they have recurring reproductive tract infections, poor sexual life quality, want to consult about scientific contraceptive methods, or even want to preserve fertility before undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy for tumors. Of course, it should be mentioned here that regarding the issue of egg freezing for healthy unmarried women, domestic laws and regulations have not yet been liberalized, and there has been controversy in academic circles. Those who support it believe that this will give women more reproductive choices, while those who oppose it are worried that after liberalization, there will be problems of commercial hype and excessive medical treatment. Specific regulations are still being gradually improved.

I have been in the reproductive department for almost eight years, and I have seen too many people standing at the door of the department hesitant to enter. Some patients even used pseudonyms when registering for fear of running into acquaintances. In fact, there is really no need. Reproductive health, like the health of our respiratory and digestive systems, is a normal category of physical health. It is normal to have minor problems. There is no need to add so much moral baggage to yourself.

Next time you encounter problems related to reproduction and childbirth, don’t search for those scary advertisements on your mobile phone, and don’t be embarrassed to register. Just treat it as a cold and fever appointment that costs more than ten yuan. Asking clearly is more practical than anything else.