5 Keys to maintaining reproductive health of men and women & bull; hello healthy

Most people think that reproductive health is only related to pregnancy and childbirth, so it is often labeled as a woman's business. In fact, the health of the reproductive system is equally important for men and women to be able to maintain offspring.

Why is reproductive health important?

The male and female reproductive systems differ in terms of both the shape and the structures that support them.

The organs of the female reproductive system include the vagina, uterus (uterus), ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vulva. While the male reproductive system consists of the penis, testes, and scrotum (testicles).

Even so, the male and female reproductive systems are both designed to produce, protect, and transport eggs or sperm. Especially in women, their reproductive system is also responsible for maintaining the pregnancy and being the place for the development of the fetus until the time of birth.

However, most people do not realize that their reproductive system is the most fragile system in the body. If you are not smart in maintaining reproductive health, it is not impossible that you will experience various reproductive disorders in the future. One of them, it is difficult to get offspring.

Tips for maintaining male and female reproductive health

Here are some simple steps you can take to maintain reproductive health.

1. Maintain good genital hygiene

Maintaining cleanliness of the genitals is a form of commitment to maintaining reproductive health. Sex that is dirty and unkempt certainly makes your partner reluctant to have sex with you. In addition, dirty genitals can also increase the risk of diseases that can interfere with the work of the reproductive system.

Caring for genital hygiene does not need a complicated effort. You only need:

• Always clean the genitals after urinating, as well as before and after sexual intercourse.
• Make sure the genital area is always dry and not damp.
• Avoid using scented soaps, betel soaps, deodorants, powders, and vaginal douche because it can cause genital skin irritation prone.
• Change your underwear every day, and make sure that the pants you use are able to absorb sweat properly.
• For men, consider circumcision to avoid the risk of bacterial infection of the penis. If the foreskin is not removed, it can collect dirt. If left untreated, the dirt can build up and cause infection.

2. Eat healthy foods

What you eat every day will affect your reproductive health. If you are accustomed to eating healthy and highly nutritious foods, your body will feel healthier and fitter. You are also protected from various diseases, including diseases that attack the reproductive system.

Obstetrician (Obgyn) at Texas Fertility Center, dr. Natalie Burger, said that proper nutritional intake can also help the body produce healthy and quality sperm and egg cells. Healthy food also prepares a woman's body for pregnancy without the hindrance of complications.

So, make sure the food on your plate meets the principles of balanced nutrition, which includes carbohydrates, fiber, protein and good fats.

3. Have safe sex

The principle of practicing safe sex does not focus solely on condom use. Safe sex behavior is defined as any form of preventive action to protect oneself and a partner from the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, safe sex can also be interpreted as an attempt to avoid an unplanned pregnancy.

Some things that constitute a form of safe sex include:

• Using contraceptives, such as condoms or birth control pills
• Not having multiple sex partners at one time
• Maintain the cleanliness of the sex organs before and after sex
• Check and check sexual history of yourself and your partner
• Perform regular venereal disease tests

4. Be diligent in checking your health with your doctor

Some people may just have their reproductive health checked when they are planning to become pregnant.

Even if you do not plan to become pregnant, the reproductive system must be checked regularly to prevent various diseases in the future that usually appear without symptoms.

For example, endometriosis that affects women. If left without proper treatment, this disease can make it difficult for women to get pregnant. An infection that attacks the testicles can also make it difficult for a man to get his partner pregnant.

Therefore, both men and women are strongly encouraged to routinely have their health checked in clinics, hospitals, and health laboratories. Usually the examination focuses on the risk of infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and congenital diseases that may be passed on from parents.

Here are some of the most common types of reproductive health checks:

• General check up (complete blood count)
• Urine examination
• Ultrasound
• HSG
• Venereal disease tests, such as the syphilis test with the VDRL test
• PAP smear

5. Stay away from cigarettes and liquor

A healthy lifestyle is the key to maintaining a healthy body as a whole, which will also affect the work of your reproductive system.

So if you are a smoker and drinker of alcohol, you should try to stop these two bad habits. It is not easy, but it is not impossible with strong will and determination.

Try slowing down by cutting back on one glass of alcohol or a cigarette per day. If you get used to it, then take a few more cigarettes and glasses until you are able to quit altogether. If necessary, you can ask for support from those closest to you such as family, spouse, or friends.

In addition, don't forget to exercise regularly so that your body stays in shape every day. Exercise can help you reach your ideal body weight and increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Likewise with getting enough sleep. Sleep is the body's natural way of maintaining its own health. If you are sleep deprived it will have a direct impact on your health, including on reproductive function in the long term.

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