Basic Reproductive Health and Common Sense about Healthy Sexual Life

I. The Connotation of Reproductive Health

The World Health Organization defined health in 1948 as:

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Reproductive health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being concerning all matters relating to the reproductive system and its functions and processes and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Reproductive health means that people

are able to have responsible, satisfactory and safe sexual relations;

have the ability to reproduce and the freedom to decide whether and when to reproduce;

have access to, and choose safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of fertility management;

have the right to access appropriate healthcare services that enable women to conceive and give birth safely and to have a healthy baby.

II. Male Reproductive Organs and Reproductive Physiology

Reproductive Organs

(1) Scrotum: A skin sac containing the testes, the "incubator" for sperm production.

(2) Penis: The male sexual organ, with functions of urination and ejaculation. (3) Testes: Organs that produce sperm and secrete male hormones.

(4) Epididymis: Stores sperm and matures sperm (enabling them to motility and fertilization).

(5) Vas deferens and ejaculatory ducts: Transport sperm.

(6) Urethra: Functions for both urination and ejaculation.

(7) Seminal vesicles: Their excretory ducts merge with the ends of the vas deferens to form the ejaculatory ducts. The seminal vesicle fluid they secrete accounts for about 80% of semen and provides nutrients to sperm.

(8) Prostate gland: Opens into the prostatic urethra and secretes prostatic fluid, which accounts for about 10% of semen.

(9) Bulbourethral glands: Open into the bulbourethra and secrete fluid that, along with sperm, seminal vesicle fluid, and prostatic fluid, constitutes semen.

Reproductive Physiology

Normal male sexual function includes the generation of libido, penile erection, intercourse, and ejaculation. This process, controlled by the cerebral cortex, occurs through the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis and the feedback mechanism of male hormones, where various organs complete the male sexual physiological process of sperm storage, sperm maturation, and ejaculation.

III. Harmonious Sexual Life

Sexual desire is an impulse induced by various stimuli such as hugging, kissing, and sweet talk, involving sight, touch, hearing, and smell. Male sexual desire is relatively strong and easily aroused. Female sexual desire is not easily aroused and has a process of increasing intensity. After middle age, female sexual desire is stronger than male sexual desire. Female sexual desire reaches its peak in the first few days of menstruation. Men who understand the characteristics of female sexual desire can guide it accordingly.

The sexual response cycle, or a healthy and complete sexual physiological response process, can be divided into the excitement phase, plateau phase, orgasm phase, and resolution phase.

Excitement Phase

The preparatory stage before intercourse. In men, this is mainly manifested as pelvic congestion and penile erection; in women, it is characterized by the exudation of a large amount of fluid. Women typically experience a longer plateau phase than men, so husbands need to be patient and use actions like hugs, kisses, and sweet talk to arouse their wives.

Plateau Phase

The physiological responses of the excitement phase continue and intensify. Plateau phase generally lasts from 30 seconds to several minutes, during which both partners experience heightened sensitivity to contact in the genital area.

Orgasm Phase

Orgasm lasts approximately a few seconds. For men, it is marked by ejaculation; for women, it is characterized by rhythmic contractions of the vagina and uterus.

Regression Phase

The body returns to its pre-arousal state. The regression phase is longer for women than men, so husbands should not simply finish but continue to kiss and caress their wives.