This wonderful period in your life between the ages of 10-19 years during your transition from childhood to adulthood is known as adolescence. Puberty coincides with adolescence. During this period the secondary sexual characteristics begin to appear. With these changes many psychological, physical and social changes take place. Some of these changes are common to both males and females and some are different. Although these changes are natural, being aware of them can help you to cope with them successfully.

Do you remember learning about how to cope with diseases, accidents, disasters, abuse, exploitation and ambitions, in grade 6?

Reproductive health

You are a united creation of your mother and father. They brought you to this world. In the future you will become a father or a mother. Producing children helps in the preservation of mankind. All living beings produce the young in order to preserve their kind. The human reproductive system is designed to produce children.

Reproductive health is defined as physical, mental and social well-being in matters related to reproduction at all stages of life.

Let's study the structure and functions of the female and male reproductive systems.

Female reproductive system

The embryo formed by the fusion of the father's sperm and the mother's ovum (egg) develops into a foetus inside the uterus (womb). Thereafter until birth takes place after nine months, it is nourished and protected in the uterus. As the uterus is a muscular organ, when the embryo grows the uterus also expands.

Sperm ejected by the penis inside the vagina during sexual intercourse, travels through the vagina into the uterus. Thereafter, the sperm fuses with the ovum in the oviduct. If a child is not conceived in this process some parts of the inner lining of the uterus collapses and passes out through the vagina together with blood. This process that happens every 28 days is known as menstruation.

The different functions of each organ of the female reproductive system

1. Ovary -Production of female reproductive cells (ova- eggs)

2. Fallopian tubes - Transportation of the ovum produced in the ovary to the uterus

3.Uterus - Nourishing and protecting the embryo until birth

4. Vagina - Provides a passage for the sperm to pass from the penis to the cervix, facilitation of menstruation and child birth

Male reproductive system

The male reproductive system consists of a few organs externally visible. The male sperms required to produce an embryo are produced inside the testes. In order to maintain the low temperature for the formation of sperms, the scrotal sac is formed outside the body.

A liquid secreted by the seminal vesicle mixes with sperm. The penis ejects semen into the vagina during sexual intercourse.

The different functions of each organ of the male reproductive system.

1. Testes - Produces sperms

2. Scrotal sac - Holding the testes outside the body keeping the temperature low

3. Penis - Ejects semen into the female reproductive system

4. Prostate glands - Nourishes the sperms and produces the secretion necessary for the sperms to swim

Appearance of secondary sexual features

Around the age of 10-11 years the physical growth in girls is faster than that of boys. During this age girls appear to be bigger than boys. That is the beginning of puberty in girls. In the case of boys the rate of growth between the ages of 16-18 is greater than that of girls of the same age.

The reproductive systems that remained dormant during childhood in both males and females become active during adolescence. The main physical changes that take place during this period is the beginning of the menstrual cycle in girls and the production of sperms in the testes in boys. These changes are due to the production of certain hormones in the body. These hormones are oestrogen and progesterone in the case of girls and testosterone in the case of boys. These hormones are responsible not only for physical changes, but also for certain psychological and social changes.

Physical features

Psychological features

Social features

• Desire to associate with the opposite sex.

• Association of peers.

• Interest in group activities.

• Revolt against injustice and wrong doing.

• Desire to be involved in community service.

• Desire to attain adulthood.

• Desire to identified as a competent person.

• Interest in leadership.

Although the physical changes are different, the social and psychological changes are often the same among both boys and girls.

Let us get ready for adolescence

Although the secondary sexual characteristics you learnt are natural, you have to be ready to face them.

How do we get ready for these changes? What are the skills that we should develop?

Physical readiness

1. Develop awareness about the following facts:

• The structure and function of the reproductive system.

• Menstrual cycle.

• Ejaculation of sperms.

• Secondary sexual characteristics.

2. Have nutritious food

It is vital that you take a nutritious diet since, during your adolescence you undergo a speedy growth, both physically and psychologically. Nutritional deficiencies at this stage retards growth while making the child less active. During this period additional amounts of iron, calcium and protein are necessary. Malnutrition in girls at this stage can lead to low birth weight in their babies later in life.

3. Engage in exercises and sports Both physical and mental well-being can be achieved by engaging in exercises or outdoor activities for at least one hour a day. This will help you to cope better with the changes that take place during adolescence and also maintain good health.

4. Refrain from wrongful sexual conduct and avoid unwanted pregnancies Refraining from wrongful sexual conduct both during your adolescence and adulthood will lead to a healthy life. You will also avoid venereal diseases (sexually transmitted diseases). By engaging in good hobbies like reading books, doing sports,listening to songs and drawing, you can balance your life style.

5. Maintenance of personal hygiene Keeping your reproductive organs clean is important to avoid diseases of the reproductive system. It is the responsibility of girls to properly dispose used sanitary towels during menstrual period.

Mental readiness

1. Try out good and new things

2. Identify and develop ones skills

3. Engage in creative activities eg: singing writing of poetry and articles drawing (art)

4. Personality development through sports

5. Don't allow yourself to get misled by commercial advertisements.

6. Refrain from smoking, using narcotic drugs and obscene books, films and literature. Be strong enough to keep away from what is not good for you and resist attempts by others to persuade you to do such things. You should also help your friends to do the same.

Social readiness

You must be a well disciplined, good person if you wish to be recognised as a pleasant young man or a woman. The above mentioned matters about mental and physical readiness are important for that purpose.

In addition the following factors are important for social readiness.

Myths about the reproductive system

Menstruation - A girl's first menstruation is known as attaining menarche. All girls do not attain menarche at the same age. Different factors such as nutritional level, genetic factors and environmental factors can have a bearing on this. Menstruation can be irregular in the first two or three years but usually it takes place every twenty eight days in a cycle.

It is a myth that bathing during the menstrual period will make the blood travel upwards and make the individual ill. Hygiene is compulsory during this period.

Although the menstruation period is considered unclean (kili) it is ones own blood that passes out of the body. The difference with the blood that seeps from a wound and menstruation is that it has mucus and some tissues of the uterus lining passing with it.

There is a myth that girls should not consume fish and meat ('pilee food') during the menstrual period. The requirement of protein is high as this is a period of growth. During this period food containing protein such as fish, meat, eggs and milk is important.

There can be minor aches and pains in the stomach and in the back. If there is no discomfort you do not have to keep away from sports activities. It is good to follow your daily routine.

Ejaculation of semen - The production of semen in the testes starts during puberty. The passing out of semen during one's sleep at night is known as nocturnal ejaculation which is a natural occurrence. It is a myth that the passing out of semen makes the body weak.

Factors that influence reproductive health

Healthy habits

This includes; Getting proper nourishment Maintaining personal hygiene Engaging in sports and exercise Getting rest and exercise These healthy habits will have an influence on reproductive health.

Peer pressure

It is natural during adolescence to desire association with the opposite sex and the society. It is important to take correct decisions without allowing yourself to get misled by bad influence. Your peers are more or less of the same level as you as far as mental development and intelligence are concerned. Therefore when you have a problem, get used to seeking advice from a decent adult like a teacher or your own parents.

There is a danger of getting used to smoking, taking liquor and narcotic drugs during this period. There can be friends and some adults who may encourage you to indulge in these activities. You or even others can meet with accidents while bathing in rivers and the sea or even cycling at high speed. Get used to resisting and avoiding such things. Do not associate with such individuals and keep away from such situations. Even adults if they care for you, should not encourage you to do such things nor should they do any harm to you. Get advice from parents and teachers before taking decisions in such situations. Don't take decisions with your friends without informing your parents and teachers.

Harmful sexual acts

Getting sexual desire and feelings is natural with the emergence of secondary sexual characteristics. But the body developing during adolescence is not yet the same as that of an adult. The uterus is not ready for child birth till you are at least 19 years old. In Sri Lanka you have to reach the age of 18 in order to get married. It is only after reaching the right age and after marriage, one should indulge in sex. That will account for one's physical and mental well-being. That way, unnecessary childbirths and sexually transmitted diseases can be avoided. Since motherhood and fatherhood are noblest of attainments in the world, it should be undertaken only at the proper time, happily, and when you are ready for it.

Sexually transmitted diseases are those that get transmitted through sexual activity.

eg: AIDS, syphilis, genital herpes, gonorrhoea and genital warts.

These diseases pose a threat to good health and cause one to be cornered in the society.

Hormones

Hormones are chemicals produced by various glands in the body necessary for its functions. These hormones are transported from the glands to various parts of the body by the blood. The hormones oestrogen and progesterone in females and testosterone in males help in the growth and maintenance of the reproductive system. These hormones also influence emergence of secondary sexual features during adolescence.

In order to facilitate reproduction, the male and female reproductive systems are differently adapted in structure and function.

The secondary sexual characteristics of both males and females emerge during the ages between 10-19 (adolescence). Hormones, hereditary and environmental factors influence this process.

During this stage, it is important to successfully cope with the physical, psychological and social changes experienced, by having correct awareness and the necessary skills and being ready to face it physically, mentally and socially. You should not be misguided by myths.

Reproductive health is affected by healthy habits, peer pressure, harmful sexual acts and hormones.

By improving reproductive health you can avoid unnecessary child birth and sexually transmitted diseases and achieve physical, social and mental well-being.