Good Health And Well Being

Sexual and Reproductive Health-Care Services for Students (2024)

MAHE, Manipal provides comprehensive, student-centred sexual and reproductive health-care services through clinical facilities, educational initiatives, counselling systems, specialist centres, and community-facing programmes.

1. Access to Sexual & Reproductive Health Information, Counselling, and Support

The Student Support Centre (SSC) plays a central role in supporting students’ well-being by offering:

• Confidential counselling on sexual health, emotional well-being, and interpersonal concerns.
• Referrals to specialist departments for reproductive and mental health issues.
• Awareness programmes focused on healthy relationships, consent, menstrual health, contraception, sexual safety, and stigma-free health-seeking behaviour.

These services ensure that students can access sexual and reproductive health support in a safe, professional, and judgement-free environment.

2. Specialist Access: Department of Reproductive Science

MAHE offers advanced reproductive health expertise through the Department of Reproductive Science, enabling student referrals and promoting knowledge-building in reproductive medicine.

Key Functions:

• Conducts cutting-edge research on reproductive health, fertility, embryology, and reproductive disorders.
• Trains students and future specialists through structured academic programmes.
• Provides compassionate, patient-focused reproductive care, including specialised onco-fertility services.
• Encourages interdisciplinary collaboration in reproductive biology, genetics, and clinical sciences.
• Engages in community outreach, strengthening public awareness on reproductive health.

Divisions within the Department:

• Centre of Excellence in Clinical Embryology
• Division of Reproductive Biology
• Division of Reproductive Genetics

Programme links:

• MSc Clinical Embryology: https://www.manipal.edu/kmc-manipal/program-list/msc-clinical-embryology.html

• Department of Medical Genetics: https://www.manipal.edu/kmc-manipal/department-faculty/department-list/medical-genetics.html#:~:text=About%20the%20Department

3. Manipal Assisted Reproduction Centre (MARC)

The Manipal Assisted Reproduction Centre (MARC) enhances reproductive health access through clinical services, laboratory support, and research.

Key Services at MARC:

• Comprehensive assisted conception treatments for subfertile couples.
• Fully equipped andrology laboratory for male infertility evaluation, semen analysis, and semen banking.
• State-of-the-art embryology laboratory with micromanipulation, laser hatching, and other advanced technologies.
• Ongoing research and innovation in infertility treatment and reproductive health management.

Centre link:

While MARC primarily serves patients, its expertise and facilities are accessible to students for education, observerships, counselling referrals, and awareness initiatives.

4. Clinical Education, Awareness Programmes & CME Activities

MAHE strengthens student awareness and professional training related to reproductive health through CME events and workshops that promote deeper understanding of anatomy, clinical skills, ethics, and medico-legal responsibilities.

CME & Workshop: “Unveil the Female Pelvis” – 31 August 2024

Organised by the Departments of Anatomy and Obstetrics & Gynaecology (OBG), KMC Mangalore, this hands-on CME and workshop focused on:

• Female pelvic anatomy
• Reproductive and obstetric clinical considerations
• Pelvic health awareness
• Practical demonstrations enhancing understanding of female reproductive structures

The event helped medical students, interns, and trainees develop clinical competency, while also boosting awareness of pelvic health—a key dimension of sexual and reproductive well-being.

Through the Student Support Centre, Department of Reproductive Science, MARC, and a range of CME workshops, MAHE ensures that students receive free access to sexual and reproductive health information, education, and referral-based clinical services, fulfilling the requirements of THE Impact Rankings Metric 3.3.4.

This comprehensive framework promotes student health, reproductive awareness, and gender-sensitive care across the campus ecosystem.