Introduction

Having covered the human reproductive system in the previous chapter, the natural next question is: what does it mean for that system to be healthy? Reproductive health isn't just about reproductive organs functioning normally — the World Health Organisation defines it more broadly, as complete well-being in every aspect of reproduction: physical, emotional, behavioural, and social. By that definition, a reproductively healthy society is one where people's reproductive organs function normally AND where emotional and behavioural interactions around sex and reproduction are healthy too. Why does this matter, and what's actually being done to achieve it? That's what this chapter covers.