Ladies, be healthy for your loved ones and take charge of your reproductive health with these resources, including a free app for pre-screening and the best Valentine’s Day Challenge! Check out this and more right here on Newsymom!

This is Public Health is brought to you in partnership with the Tuscarawas County Health Department.

It’s no wonder that right after January’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month comes Valentine’s Day… when millions of people put that reproductive health to the test. However, whether you’re sexually active or not, there’s so much more to your reproductive health than you know! Use this moment to check in on your body and take steps to be the healthiest you can be: for your friends, your family, and yourself!

Before we talk about the steps you can take for a healthy system, what is reproductive health?

Reproductive health covers the state of the male and female reproductive systems during all life stages. In other words, the study of reproductive health answers the question, “What happens to the reproductive system as we age?”

For guys or gals, knowing what “the norm” is for our bodies is so helpful in identifying disease, screening for cancer, and protecting our reproductive system.

How can I be proactive for my reproductive health?

It all starts with prevention! Follow this checklist for measures you can take to care for your reproductive health.

• Schedule your annual visit for the appropriate tests, screenings, and vaccinations (such as the HPV vaccine)
• Have a routine Pap smear done, starting at age 21
• Keep track of your menstrual cycles (Using a cycle-tracking app like Eve. is super helpful!)
• Regularly check your breasts for lumps
• Practice safe sex (using condoms and your preferred method of birth control) 
• Regularly get STD tests performed
• Watch out for new symptoms and report them to your doctor
• Pro tip: Use the WHO Women’s Health Chatbot on Viber to pre-screen your symptoms, check out prevention tips, and learn more about your reproductive health!

Will You Take the Valentine’s Day Challenge?

Here’s the challenge: Grab your partner and start the conversation about reproductive health! Take it to the next level and make a date to go to the Tuscarawas County Health Department for birth control, pre-pregnancy planning, and STD testing!

The Tuscarawas County Health Department offers reproductive health services for men and women alike! They’ll help you with any of the following services:

• Birth control options and family planning
• Pregnancy testing, pre-pregnancy planning
• Basic infertility services
• STD testing and treatment
• Pap exams
• Women’s health tests and treatment (unusual symptoms such as bad period cramping, mammograms, pre-menopausal care, etc.)
• Men’s health tests and treatment (unusual symptoms, infertility services, etc.)
• Referrals

Medicaid, Medicare, and most insurances are accepted, but NO ONE is denied services based on inability to pay. 

Make a date with the Tuscarawas County Health Department by calling (330) 343-5555 x. 100.

For more information, visit the Tuscarawas County Health Department website at www.tchdnow.org or find them on Facebook (@tchdnow) for more information about their services.

Melissa Klatt

Reporting