reproductive health consultation

Reproductive health consultation is not only a service that you need to find if you have an illness or have something to hide. From pubertal development confusion, pregnancy planning, contraceptive choices, postpartum sexual and reproductive recovery, to menopausal discomfort, sexual health problems, and even reproductive-related conflicts between partners, you can get scientific and personalized solutions through formal reproductive health consultation. It is an inclusive sexual health service for all ages and all people, and is by no means the last resort option when you are desperate.

When I was working as a consultant at a community health service center in my third year, I met a little girl who had just entered the second grade of junior high school. She was holding her school uniform and hiding behind her mother. She asked why her period was two years later than that of her classmates. Her mother had always said, "It's better to grow late and don't have to worry about it."”； I also met a young couple who had been married for three years but had not gotten pregnant. The two of them came in with a thick stack of the woman's medical examination sheets. The first thing they asked was "Is there something wrong with my health?" After chatting for a long time, they found out that the man had never done a routine semen test, and he didn't even know the basic common sense that "pregnancy is a matter for two people."

Many people are too prejudiced against this type of consultation. I used to set up a free clinic in the community, and free condoms were neatly displayed. Most of the people passing by walked around. Occasionally, a young man would take one, and he would grab two quickly and stuff them in his pocket when no one was around, as if taking them meant there was something wrong with him. There is also a 62-year-old aunt who suffered from recurrent urinary tract infections and pain during intercourse after menopause. It took almost two years before she dared to ask. She said that "it is a joke for younger people to visit such a place at such an old age." In fact, it is vaginal atrophy caused by the drop in estrogen levels after menopause. She was prescribed topical estrogen ointment worth tens of dollars. After returning for a follow-up visit in half a month, she said her symptoms were basically gone.

The reproductive health consultations on the market now are actually divided into several directions. There is no absolute good or bad. The one you choose depends on your own needs. One is consultation with doctors with clinical background. Most of them are in the gynecology, men's department, and reproductive centers of tertiary hospitals. The advantage is that they can directly connect with examinations and medical intervention. If you suspect that you have organic problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome and erectile dysfunction, it is safest to go to them. The disadvantage is that the clinic time is too tight, and it is difficult to explain to you in detail non-medical issues such as psychological and intimate relationships. There is also a consultant in the public health system, which is the staff of our community and family planning service stations. They provide basically free services. They are good at universal science popularization, contraceptive guidance, free medication distribution, and free pre-pregnancy check-ups. It is most worry-free to contact us for ordinary minor problems. If there is a real disease problem, we will directly issue a referral form for you, so as not to delay things. There is also a category of sexual and reproductive health counselors who have emerged in recent years with a background in psychology. They are good at dealing with problems that do not have clear organic diseases, but do affect the quality of life. For example, after postpartum intercourse, there is no problem after a painful check-up, but in fact it is because of too much psychological stress. ； For example, if adolescent children are confused about their gender identity and are embarrassed to tell their parents and teachers, it is appropriate to talk to them. However, this field is indeed mixed with good and bad. You must find someone with a formal "Reproductive Health Counselor" professional qualification certificate to be reliable.

To be honest, I have seen too many people search online to get half-understood information before seeking consultation, which scares themselves. Last month, a 24-year-old young man came over. When he walked in, he drooped his head and said that he had "premature ejaculation." He spent almost 20,000 yuan on treatment for more than half a year, but it was to no avail. After chatting with him, I found out that he used the duration of the short movie as a standard. He and his girlfriend were too nervous the first time and did not perform well, so they labeled themselves as sick and did not even have a formal examination. I showed him the average length of domestic epidemiological surveys, and talked for half an hour about how to adjust his mentality. Within two weeks of returning home, he sent a message saying that everything was fine.

Many people think that reproductive health is a "private matter of the lower body." In fact, it is closely tied to your emotions, living conditions, and intimate relationships. There used to be a 28-year-old girl who suffered from dysmenorrhea for almost ten years. She took a sack of traditional Chinese medicine and had countless tests but no organic problem was found. After two conversations, she found out that she and her boyfriend who lived together had a fight every time a week before her menstruation, and even more so when she was under high work pressure. She stayed up all night for a week, and her hormone levels were completely disrupted by her emotions and routine. Later, I gave her some suggestions on adjusting her routine, and recommended that she and her boyfriend undergo two sessions of guidance on intimate relationship communication. In the third month, she came to receive folic acid and said that her menstrual cramps were so mild that she did not need to take painkillers.

Of course, I have to remind everyone that there are a lot of people cutting leeks on the Internet now under the banner of "reproductive health consultation". They tell you that "cervical erosion needs detoxification" and "kidney deficiency needs to be replenished", and then they recommend private parts care packages for thousands of dollars and health products with unknown ingredients. These are basically scams. Formal reproductive health consultation is either a free service in a public institution or a clearly priced outpatient fee in a hospital. They will not chase you to sell you something as soon as they come up.

To put it bluntly, your reproductive organs are no different from your heart and lungs. They are all part of your body. If you have any confusion or small questions, it is normal to consult a professional. If you really need it, just go to the community health service center near your home and ask first. Most problems can be solved. If you really want further examination and treatment, you can also go through the formal referral channel. There is no need to blindly search for advertisements on the Internet. The money spent is a trivial matter and it is not worth delaying the problem.