Men's reproductive and sexual health

The role of red ginseng in men's reproductive health: a literature review

BACKGROUND

Red ginseng (RG) is a traditional herb commonly used in China, Korea, and other East Asian countries. Recently, it has demonstrated a better clinical value in men's reproductive health (MRH). The present review aimed to examine the effects of RG treatment on MRH.

RESULTS

Overall, 42 articles related to RG application in MRH were reviewed, of which 31 were animal experiments and 11 were clinical studies. Furthermore, this review analyzed the use of RG in some male reproductive diseases in clinical trials and determined the associated mechanisms of action. The mechanism of action of RG in MRH may be related to oxidative stress, regulation of sex hormones and spermatogenesis-related proteins, and anti-inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of RG for the treatment of male infertility, erectile dysfunction, and prostate diseases has the potential to contribute to MRH.

Men's utilisation of sexual and reproductive health services in low- and middle-income countries: A narrative review

Background

Men have poor access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Nevertheless, in LMIC and high-income countries (HICs), low SRH utilisation happens on account of several factors, such as individual, health system-related, and sociocultural factors. Identifying and addressing men's SRH service underutilisation remains essential to improving their sexual health and averting higher mortality and early morbidity associated with poor health seeking behaviour (HSB) among men.

Aim

This narrative review identifies factors influencing whether men do or do not utilise SRH services in LMICs.

Setting

We report on articles published in LMICs: Africa, Asia and South America.

Method

In this narrative review, we searched for quantitative and qualitative articles published between 2004 and 2021 from international databases, including Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, Scopus, PubMed, Medline, and reference lists of retrieved published articles.

Results

A total of 2219 articles were retrieved, from which 36 met the inclusion criteria. Factors contributing to poor uptake of SRH services by men included: a lack of access and availability of SRH services, poor health-seeking behaviour among men, and SRH facilities not being perceived as 'male-friendly spaces'. Furthermore, our review reveals that decreased use of SRH services is attributed to factors such as a lack of focus on men's SRH.

Conclusion

The current underutilised state of SRH services calls for urgent implementation of evidence-based interventions. Identifying men's SRH service inhibitors and enablers will assist programme managers and policymakers in designing SRH services tailored to their sexual health needs.

Contribution

Despite numerous global interventions to motivate men, the findings provide insight into the underutilisation of SRH services. The study also reveals the inadequate comprehensive investigation of men's SRH service utilisation, especially older men, to comprehend men's problems fully. Further research needs to be conducted on SRH issues, including vasectomy, mental health, and chronic conditions related to sexual and reproductive health. The analysis can assist SRH policymakers and program managers in strengthening the policies to motivate men to engage better with SRH services.

[Sexual and reproductive health in young men in Chile: results of a qualitative studySaúde sexual e reprodutiva de jovens do sexo masculino no Chile: resultados de um estudo qualitativo]

Objetivo

Describir, a partir de las percepciones de adolescentes y personal de atención de salud, las formas en que los adolescentes varones se relacionan con la atención de salud sexual y reproductiva, las transformaciones percibidas en este ámbito y las estrategias desplegadas por Espacios Amigables para la atención de salud adolescente para acercarse a ellos.

Métodos

Estudio cualitativo etnográfico en Espacios Amigables para la atención de adolescentes y jóvenes de cinco municipios de la Región Metropolitana de Chile. Se utilizaron las técnicas de entrevistas semiestructuradas (N = 38), grupos de discusión (N = 5) y observación participante.

Resultados

Se identifica una falta de perspectiva de masculinidades en la atención de salud sexual y reproductiva en adolescentes, que se percibe como un ámbito enfocado principalmente para el género femenino. La mayoría de los adolescentes varones percibe a los servicios de salud como distantes y acuden principalmente en casos de emergencia. Se identifica una baja asistencia de hombres a servicios de salud sexual y reproductiva en Espacios Amigables ubicados en centros de atención primaria de salud. Sin embargo, aquellos ubicados fuera de estos como, por ejemplo, un centro exclusivo de atención de salud adolescente y servicios integrados en las escuelas, convocan a mayor número de varones.

Conclusiones

Una mayor oferta de servicios de salud sexual y reproductiva para adolescentes no necesariamente implica un aumento en el acceso de hombres. Para que esto suceda, es importante invitarlos desde temáticas que les resulten de interés, acercar los servicios de salud hacia donde ellos están, potenciar el trabajo intersectorial, e incorporar un enfoque de masculinidades para su atención.

Hooking up and risk behaviors among first semester college men: what is the role of precollege experience?

Some scholars assert that a hookup culture exists on college campuses and that individuals who attend college are socialized into a hookup script. This study examines hooking up among first-semester college men (N = 158), with specific attention to precollege heavy episodic drinking (i.e., binge drinking) and precollege hookup experience. We found that freshman men begin a pattern of hooking up well before attending college. After controlling for known correlates of hooking up, men had more hookup partners during their first semester at college if they engaged in greater levels of precollege binge drinking and had greater precollege hookup experience. Men were also more likely to have penetrative sex hookups (i.e., oral sex and/or intercourse) if they had done so prior to college. Precollege binge drinking and precollege hookup experience were also associated with unplanned sexual activity when drinking, and men were more likely to have unprotected sex when drinking during their first semester if they engaged in more frequent precollege binge drinking. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.

Sex, commitment, and casual sex relationships among college men: a mixed-methods analysis

Using a sample of 200 emerging adult male college students, we examined how men varied in the meanings they gave to sex and their self-reported engagement in two types of casual sex relationships (hookups and friends with benefits). Using qualitative methods, we conducted a content analysis of men's written responses to a series of questions about the meanings they ascribed to sex (i.e., intercourse), their perceived connection between sex and commitment, and how they believed these meanings were related to their sexual behavior. Three groups of men emerged: Committers, Flexibles, and Recreationers. Groups were then compared on social desirability, demographic characteristics (e.g., race/ethnicity, year in school, religious service attendance), and self-reported casual sexual behaviors in the past 12 months. Analyses showed that men in the Flexibles and Recreationers groups engaged in significantly more hookups and had significantly more friends with benefits partners in the past 12 months than did men in the Committers group. Implications for relationship education intervention aimed at men and research on casual sex relationships are discussed.

College men, unplanned pregnancy, and marriage: what do they expect?

We conducted a qualitative content analysis of written responses from 148 college men to questions about pregnancy resolution and marriage in the event of an unplanned pregnancy. We used Marsiglio's ( 1991 ) concepts of procreative consciousness and responsibility as a source of theoretical sensitivity during data analysis. Men's written comments were analyzed using a modified version of the grounded theory method of open, axial, and selective coding. Three distinct groups emerged: "I expect to raise my child" (86.5%); "I don't expect to raise the child" (10.1%); and "I expect to let my partner decide" (3.4%). Several subgroups also emerged among men who intended to raise the unplanned child: Yes, I expect to get married; "No, I don't expect to get married"; "I don't know if we'd marry"; and "My partner and I would coparent." Across subgroups, conditional variations and reasons underlying expectations were noted. Much variability was observed in men's descriptions of their procreative responsibility. A majority expressed high expectations for personal obligation and responsibility if involved in an unplanned pregnancy. Future research on men's sexual and reproductive health and procreative consciousness and responsibility are discussed.

Beyond Gender Profiling in Lifestyle Medicine

This review discusses evidence-based perspectives on lifestyle risk reduction for men. Implications for clinical best practices and social policy are considered. Directions for future research also are highlighted.