Reproductive and Sexual Health
Reproductive and sexual health is the area of gynecology concerned with the physiology of the female reproductive system across the life course and with the conditions that affect fertility, sexual function, the menstrual cycle, the menopausal transition, and the breast. It frames these as interrelated dimensions of health rather than isolated diseases, spanning normal development from menarche to menopause as well as the disorders that interrupt it.
Definition
Reproductive and sexual health refers to a state of physical and functional wellbeing in relation to the reproductive system and its processes across the female life course, encompassing fertility, the menstrual cycle, sexual function, the menopausal transition, and breast health.
Scope
This area orients the reader to the major topics grouped beneath it: female infertility and subfertility, female sexual dysfunction, the menopause and climacteric, menarche and menstrual cycle disorders, and breast anatomy, physiology, and benign disease. It treats each as a reference subject within women's reproductive physiology and gynecologic practice and points to the detailed topic entries for specifics.
Sub-topics
Key concepts
- Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis
- Reproductive life course (menarche to menopause)
- Fertility and subfertility
- Menstrual cycle as a vital sign
- Sexual response and dysfunction
- Climacteric and ovarian senescence
Mechanisms
The reproductive system is governed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, in which pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone drives pituitary secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, which in turn regulate ovarian follicular development and the cyclical production of estrogen and progesterone. The integrity of this axis underlies normal menstruation and fertility, and its activation at puberty and decline at the menopause bound the reproductive years. The topic entries beneath this area examine how disruptions at different points in this system produce infertility, menstrual disorders, and the symptoms of the climacteric.
Clinical relevance
Reproductive and sexual health spans much of routine gynecologic and primary care, because the menstrual cycle, fertility, sexual function, the menopausal transition, and breast health are common reasons people seek care. This area serves as an orienting overview of how these subjects relate; it is reference-educational and does not provide diagnostic criteria or treatment recommendations, which belong to current clinical guidelines.
Epidemiology
The conditions grouped under this area are common across the female population. Infertility affects a substantial minority of couples worldwide, sexual concerns are reported by a large proportion of women, all women who live long enough reach menopause, and menstrual disorders and benign breast complaints are among the most frequent gynecologic presentations. The individual topic entries summarize the relevant frequencies in more detail.
Evidence & guidelines
Professional bodies including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the relevant menopause and sexual-medicine societies issue guidance across these subjects. This overview cites foundational and consensus sources to orient the reader; the detailed topic entries carry the topic-specific evidence and guideline references.
Related topics
Seminal works
- asrm-definitions-2013
- davis-2015
Frequently asked questions
- What does the area 'Reproductive and Sexual Health' cover?
- It is an orienting overview of female reproductive physiology and its disorders across the life course, grouping the topics of infertility, sexual dysfunction, menopause, menstrual disorders, and benign breast disease.
- Is this a clinical guideline?
- No. It is a reference-educational overview describing how these subjects relate; diagnosis and management belong to current clinical guidelines cited within the individual topic entries.