Sexual & Reproductive Health Awareness Day

Sexual & Reproductive Health Awareness Day: The biological traits that distinguish humans as female or male are sex. These physical traits tend to differentiate between males and females in humans, even though they are not mutually exclusive, and some people have both. “Sex” commonly refers to “sexual activity” in many languages. However, the definition above is recommended for technical reasons when discussing sexuality and sexual health.

Sexuality: What Is It?

Without a thorough assessment of sexuality, which underlies significant behaviors and consequences connected to sexual health, sexual health cannot be well defined, understood, or operationalized. The working definition of sexuality includes:

• Sex
• Gender identities and roles
• Sexual orientation
• Eroticism
• Pleasure
• Intimacy
• Reproduction

It is a fundamental component of being human throughout life. Interactions between biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, legal, historical, religious, and spiritual elements impact sexuality.

About Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day

Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day is flagged every year on February 12 by the world health organisation. This day provides an opportunity to promote knowledge about issues related to sexual and reproductive health as well as STI prevention. One of the leading public health issues continues to be sexually transmitted illnesses. Health awareness events draw attention to health problems, attempt to improve the situation and save lives, and occasionally advocate the prevention of diseases getting worse.

Human rights regarding sexual health, sexual pleasure, eroticism, fulfilment, infections (HIV/AIDS, STIs, and RTIs), violence, female genital mutilation, sexual dysfunction, and mental health about sexual health are essential topics causes for concern.

It is not wrong to inform a life partner of your infertility. Counselling might occasionally help couples who don’t always deal with infertility well to prevent problems in their union. Although the results are unexpected, the infertility phase is difficult with personal experiences.

Continuum of Sexual Health

Not just throughout a person’s reproductive years but also through adolescence and into elder age, sexual health is essential.

The quality, safety, and respect of our relationships—with ourselves, others, our families and friends, and the society in which we live—including the gender norms that influence our experiences, impact our sexual health. Additionally, it is reliant on fundamental human rights.

A positive and respectful attitude toward sexuality and romantic relationships has an emphasis in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) working definition of sexual health, which we cannot separate from sexual well-being.
Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day Objective

• Disseminate information and raise awareness about sexual and reproductive health issues.
• Reduce the number of STIs or illnesses spread by unsanitary sexual behaviour, and prevent and control STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases).
• Enhance sexual well-being and inform them about various supplements and medications.

Objectives of Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day

Boys and girls in their teens and adolescence should receive sex education.

• Inform people about healthy and safe sexual and contraceptive behaviours.
• Create family planning clinics or institutions where people can discuss their options with a doctor in private.
• Encourage people to feel at ease discussing healthy sex.

What is Sexual and Reproductive Health?

The current working definition of sexual health does not just refer to the absence of sickness, malfunction, or infirmity; it relates to a condition of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being connected to sexuality. The sexual liberties of all individuals must be respected, defended, and upheld to achieve and maintain sexual health.

Right to Sexual and Reproductive Health

A person’s right to a healthy body, autonomy, education, and healthcare access allows them to choose who to have sex with and how to prevent STIs and unplanned pregnancies. These rights collectively are referred to as “sexual and reproductive health.” To ensure that everyone can enjoy joyful and safe sexual encounters free from coercion, prejudice, or health hazards, sexual health is an essential component of total health and well-being.

People can exercise this right thanks to access to sexual and reproductive health services. It can shape reproductive system-related medical care, such as treating an STI or promoting reproductive autonomy through contraception and abortion services.

People need the right information including safe and effective methods of contraception. They must be informed and given the tools to safeguard against STIs. Women also need access to qualified healthcare professionals and resources when they decide to start a family so they can have a healthy pregnancy, safe delivery, and a healthy child. Every person has the freedom to determine what decisions they want to make with their sexual and reproductive health

Multiple human rights connect to women’s sexual and reproductive health, such as:

• The right to life
• The right to get freedom from torture
• The right to health
• The right to privacy
• The right to education
• The prohibition of discrimination

Sexual and reproductive health violations: Causes and Effects

Women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights violations are frequently on by deeply ingrained attitudes and societal norms. Women are commonly valued based on their capacity for reproduction due to patriarchal conceptions about women’s duties in the family. Early marriage and pregnancy, or several pregnancies spaced too closely together—often due to attempts to create male offspring due to the preference for sons—has a terrible effect on women’s health and can even have deadly repercussions. Infertility is also often blamed on women, who experience rejection and other forms of discrimination.

Problems with Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness and How to resolve them

In India, every topic related to sex faces several issues. Finding the institutions that would carry out the program was one of the challenges this program faced. It was resolved by looking into the institutions frequently found in neighbourhoods with a high concentration of low-income residents. The absence of staff to assist in administering the program was another challenge.

It was resolved by hiring and educating more healthcare professionals to manage the tasks associated with this program. Finding those with modest incomes proved to be rather challenging at first. Many are teenagers from low-income families, street children, and single parents.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the health of the sexual and reproductive systems is essential to society. The strategy adopted in the United States involved reducing poverty. It considers that low-income members of the community are particularly susceptible to issues with sexual and reproductive health.

It involved giving this population access to education and care around sexual and reproductive health. The improvement of sexual and reproductive health education in the United States has greatly benefited from this program. Overall, the initiative was effective.

FAQs on sexual & reproductive health awareness day

What diseases are transmitted sexually? Why are they seen as diseases that invite themselves?

Sexually transmitted illnesses are passed from one person to another during a sexual act. Among the sexually transmitted diseases are HIV and gonorrhoea. People are victims of these illnesses by

• Having intercourse with unidentified or numerous partners.
• Coitus without using protection.
• Ignoring the disease’s signs and symptoms.

How can one contract HIV?

A person contracts HIV when the following from an infected person enters their system.

• Blood
• Semen
• Vaginal secretion
• Breast milk

The mouth, anus, sex organs (the penis and vagina), and broken skin are all possible entry points for the virus into circulation.

Even though a person with HIV feels fine, they can still spread the disease to others. HIV-positive pregnant mothers can also infect their unborn children.
Common ways for HIV transmission

• To use a needle, share one.
• Indulging into unprotected coitus

Is vulvar discharge typical?

Vaginal discharge from a woman is clear or slightly hazy, non-irritating, and odourless. The volume and consistency of discharge can differ during a typical menstrual cycle. There may be a tiny amount of a very thin or watery discharge at one point in the month, followed by a more significant, thicker discharge at a different matter. These excretions are all regarded as typical.

A vaginal discharge is typically seen as abnormal when it has an odour or is upsetting. The annoyance could itch, burn, or do both. Even though the itching may be present at any time of day, it is frequently worst at night. Sexual activity often makes these sensations worse. If the discharge’s quantity, colour, or smell has changed, it is crucial to visit your gynaecologist.

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