From habits like smoking and drinking to stress, a lot of factors can affect your reproductive health and cause issues in a relationship.
How To Maintain Good Reproductive Health
One of the major reasons why people are not aware of the importance of reproductive health is that talking about it is taboo in our country and people avoid discussions around the topic. Being aware of good reproductive health practices is essential not only for physical well-being, but emotional as well. Knowledge on factors that affect your reproductive health will help you lead a healthy and happy life. Dr. Sangeeta Gomes, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Sarjapur, Bangalore, has shared seven tips to maintain good reproductive health:
Avoid Smoking And Drinking
Habits like smoking and drinking can affect reproductive health, along with physical health. Among males, it can affect sperm production and in females it can causes hormonal disturbances leading to problems like Polycystic Ovarian disorder (PCOD), Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) and Infertility.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise helps boost physical, mental as well as reproductive health. A good life is linked to fitness and mental health. Regular exercise reduces stress and improves mood. Regular exercising is also important when you are trying to conceive. Kegel exercises also play a major role in strengthening pelvic floor muscles.
Eat A Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet with the required vitamins and minerals can boost reproductive health. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like spinach, walnuts, kidney beans etc. Zinc is also an antioxidant that improves reproductive. Increasing nutrition intake is also necessary to manage weight during pregnancy. Increased body weight can cause complications in the pregnancy like diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery, big babies and increased risk of c-section. Make sure that you do not eat any processed foods and avoid caffeine if you are trying to conceive as they can increase the risks of complications during pregnancy.
Reduce Stress
Stress can cause several issues in a relationship as it affects levels of hormones in the body which impact our mood. This can result in low libido. Stress is also a contributing factor to infertility for both men and women. It can lead to obesity which increases the risk of infertility. Therefore, you should work on reducing stress by taking up some healthy practices like meditating, exercising regularly, etc. Spend some quality time with your partner over weekends, doing the things you love.
Get Tested For STDs
STDS can affect your reproductive and physical health. You should be well aware of STDs and how they spread. If you feel like you have contracted it from someone through signs and symptoms, get tested immediately as early treatment can reduce the impact of the condition. Regular screening for STDs is also important to protect yourself and your partner from the transmission of infections.
Take Precautions
Both men and women need to adopt safe practices during intercourse. Use contraception during intercourse to avoid unplanned pregnancies. The use of condoms can also be beneficial to prevent the transmission of STDs and other infections. Since birth control pills are not effective in avoiding the spread of infections, you should always use a condom until and unless you are planning a pregnancy.
Communicate With Your Partner
More than physical intimacy, emotional connect is also important in a relationship. Build a strong relationship with your partner by sharing your likes and dislikes. If you are facing any problems related to your reproductive health, convey the same to your partner.
Credit: thehealthsite.com