A man should care for his family and love his wife – the responsibility of men in family planning.

A man should take care of his family and love his wife.

Li Yuqiang

October 28th is "Men's Health Day." A reporter interviewed Mr. Li Shiqin, Deputy Director of the Shenzhen Family Planning Research Institute, about the role men should play in family planning and eugenics. He believes men should bear a relatively greater responsibility and called for strengthened research on male reproductive health and male contraception methods.

This expert, specializing in men's health research, has his own unique insights into male reproductive health. He explains that reproductive health should include: satisfactory, safe, and responsible sexual activity; normal reproductive capacity, free from the threat of infertility; the ability to autonomously decide whether to have children, the timing of conception, and the number of offspring; and the absence of reproductive system diseases, including reproductive organ developmental abnormalities, reproductive tract inflammation, sexually transmitted diseases, and tumors. However, he particularly emphasizes that in my country, reproductive health should also center on family planning. Family planning is not just a woman's responsibility; men play a crucial role, and perhaps even bear greater responsibility.

Family planning is a product of the women's liberation movement and a result of women's struggle for their rights. Initially, the concept of "contraception and birth control" was proposed to address the disorderly and endless reproduction of women, which caused significant damage to their physical and mental health, while also imposing heavy burdens on them and preventing them from achieving mental liberation. However, this problem was unilaterally placed on women. Men, on the other hand, acted as they pleased, often leading to unintended pregnancies, miscarriages, induced abortions, and even various infections, harming women's physical and mental health. Now it is necessary to emphasize that men should play a crucial role in family planning, and that men's reproductive health bears a greater responsibility for women's health and for family planning.

Contraception and family planning should prioritize prevention. For women, contraception methods include IUDs and tubal ligation. While male contraception exists, it is rarely practiced. If men take contraceptive measures, the problem of female contraception is largely solved. However, research on male contraceptive methods is still in its early stages in terms of maturity.

Many female reproductive diseases are related to men. Due to the still low rate of condom use, the problem of reproductive system infections is becoming increasingly serious. Women's physiological structure makes them more susceptible to infection. If a man has a reproductive system infection, it is easily transmitted to a woman. Therefore, male reproductive health is of great importance. However, providing health services for men in China does not seem to be on the agenda. For example, in Shenzhen, apart from a few hospitals with andrology departments, most lack specialized departments for treating male reproductive diseases, leaving patients to seek treatment haphazardly.

Given the crucial role of male reproductive health in family planning, Li Shiqin called for greater attention from the government and society. He proposed providing men with access to counseling services on reproductive issues and expanding male-focused services within the family planning network. He also suggested that research institutions develop more male contraceptive methods to offer men more options. Furthermore, he urged medical institutions to vigorously promote andrology research to provide effective treatments for male reproductive diseases.

Excerpted from Shenzhen Evening News, October 27, 2001