Sexual and Reproductive Health

Sexual Health and Reproductive Health (SH/RH)

• Reproductive health means the absence of disease or disability related to the reproductive system, along with mental and social well-being

Reproductive Health

• This includes individuals having a satisfying and safe sex life
• Individuals must be able to reproduce and have the right to use this ability freely
• Sexual health is important and has a positive effect on personal health of all age groups
• Sexuality is important individuals health, well-being, and quality of life
• Sexuality has recently become a factor in the concept of reproductive health

Sexual Health

• It is a fundamental dimension of life
• It includes sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, eroticism, love, and reproduction
• Sexuality begins at birth and continues throughout life
• It is influenced by ethical, cultural, and moral factors
• WHO (World Health Organization) states that sexual health consists of physical, emotional, intellectual and social aspects, enriching personality, communication, and love
• All people have the right to access sexual information and to have sex for pleasure or reproduction

Sexual Health Components

• Combines the body and the mind
• Values are shaped by attitudes, behaviors, physical appearances, beliefs, emotions, personality, likes, dislikes, and socialization
• Influenced by social norms, culture, and religion
• Involves giving and receiving sexual pleasure in addition to procreation
• Encompasses all of life
• Includes procreation, sexual satisfaction, and is influenced by ethical, cultural, and moral factors
• Ensures positive sexuality/sexual health in individuals by taking into account conditions of the genitals
• Includes the physiological, psychological, spiritual and emotional state of that person, therefore the whole body

Sexual Health vs. Disability

• Affects reproductive and sexual functions
• The absence of fear, shame, guilt, and false beliefs that can suppress sexual reactions and negatively impact relationships
• Care/counseling includes not only reproductive and sexually transmitted disease, but strengthening relationships

Emergence of Sexual/Reproductive Health Concepts

• Issues related to women's reproductive health were brought to the foreground, including focus on fertility problems between the ages of 15-49
• There were then discussions around maternal and child health and family planning
• The concept of (SH/RH) emerged, emphasizing the individual's needs and combining reproduction, women's health and family planning
• At the İnternational Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994, it was pointed out that people live in conditions prevent them from protecting reproductive health
• There was also a need to increase accessibility in reproductive health
• There was a concept that emphasizes individual needs and rights that had entered the world agenda around reproductive health
• Women’s health needs were within a framework of gender equality
• In 1995, at the 4th World Conference on Women held in Beijing, gender equality and development was adopted to empower women and develop reproductive health
• There are recommendations at this conference on issues that directly/indirectly affect women's sexual and reproductive health, which include
• Women's education, equality, and social empowerment
• Elimination of discrimination against girls Ensuring reproductive health/rights
• Providing better maternity services in a way that benefits the whole society
• Prevent unhealthy miscarriages

Focus of SH/RH development

• Informing teens about sexual and reproductive health to benefit from services
• Preventing the spread of STDs/HIV
• Increase the quality and effectiveness of reproductive health services especially in risky groups and rural areas,
• Mobilize resources for SH/RH development

CS/ÜS Elements

• Normal function of reproductive organs
• Healthy and happy sex life
• Ability to experience sexuality and fertility
• Being able to decide when and how many children to have
• Have healthy children through planned pregnancies
• Preventing STD infections for men and women is necessary for a lifetime of happiness

Scope of Sexual/Reproductive Health Services

• Includes;
• Information-education communication for responsible reproduction and sexual behavior
• Non-formal family planning services, information-education, communication and counseling
• Maternal health services and safe motherhood with prenatal, healthy birth, postpartum care and breastfeeding
• Effective control of genital tract infections
• Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and fighting AIDS
• Preventing and treating infertility
• Putting an end to unsafe abortions
• Preventing and treating malignancies of reproductive organs, and nutrition
• Includes infant/child health, adolescent health/sexuality, healthy lifestyles, regulation of environmental, social, cultural and behavioral factors.

Perspectives on Sexuality

• It is a complex whole consisting of biological, psychological, social, cultural, traditional, moral, religious, anthropological, political and economic dimensions
• The biological perspective includes sex functions, hormones, the body's central nervous system, the five senses, and genitals
• Each factor affects a person's body like things such as diseases, drugs, pregnancy, and menopause can affect an individual's sexuality
• A healthy body leads to a healthy and happy sex life
• The psychological perspective is the functionality of the necessary infrastructure to live sexuality in a healthy way
• It determines how sexuality is experienced, with whom it will be experienced, when, where and how it will be stimulated and satisfied
• Functions depend on the nervous system
• Attitudes, behaviors, cognitive functions, past experiences, traumas and learned behavior all contribute to how an individual determines their choices
• Sociocultural impacts: Family, environment, beliefs and moral attitudes all determine sexual attitudes and behaviors
• Dysfunctions can come from sociocultural causes. Vaginismus, for example, is a result of conservative structures and mythologies
• A combo of all three are important to an individual's health and happiness
• When an individual has a sexual dysfunction, they must take the three factors into account
• Approaches define humans as a biopsychosocial entity and base all treatment plans on this info
• Deterioration affects all kinds of health, mental health, family and social health

Sexual Rights

• The World Health Organization aims to standardize society
• Includes issues related to general health where deterioration causes an interruption in physical health
• Both men and women experience deterioration that negatively impacts familial and social health
• The World Health Organization defines sexual health as the state of complete physical, psychosocial and sociocultural well-being and continuity
• Human rights are universal and should be based on dignity
• Sexual health is a right, sexual health must be defended
• Sexual rights need to be reinforced and respected where possible, otherwise it is not possible
• Sexual freedom means individuals can't be stopped when expressing their potential
• Abuse and harassment do not qualify as sexual freedom
• Sexual autonomy guarantees power in individuals in making their own decisions within the framework of their own personal/social ethics
• Individuals must control and enjoy bodily freedoms, without torture, injury, and any violence of any kind
• They can have the right to privacy and to act freely as long as the rights of others are not infringed
• Sexual equality means there will not be any discrimination
• Pleasure is a resource of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being
• Individuals have a right to express themselves through communication, touch, and emotional expression
• All should marry or not, or be divorced, with all sensible conditions available
• There are rights to choose to procreate or not
• Sexual information can be given based on studies, in accessible places
• Lifelong sexual education starting and continuing from birth