REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

The term reproductive health simply refers to healthy reproductive organs with normal functions.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), reproductive health means a total well-being in all aspects of
reproduction, i.e., physical, emotional, behavioural and social.
The programmes called ‘family planning’ were initiated in 1951
The purpose of introduction of sex education in schools is to provide right information to the young and to
discourage children from believing in myths and having misconceptions about sex-related aspects.
Amniocentesis: A fetal sex determination test based on the chromosomal pattern in the amniotic fluid surrounding
the developing embryo.
POPULATION EXPLOSION AND BIRTH CONTROL
Increased health facilities, better living conditions are the cause of population explosion.
A rapid decline in death rate, maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) as well as an increase
in number of people in reproducible age are probable reasons for this.
The most important step to overcome this problem is to motivate smaller families by using various contraceptive
methods.
An ideal contraceptive should be user-friendly, easily available, effective and reversible with no or least side-
effects.
BIRTH CONTROL METHODS:
A wide range of contraceptive methods are presently available which could be broadly grouped into the following
categories
1. NATURAL METHODS:
(i) Periodic abstinence
(ii) Withdrawal or coitus interruptus
(iii) Locational amenorrhea
2. BARRIER METHODS:
In barrier methods, ovum and sperms are prevented from physically meeting with the help of barriers such Condoms
diaphragms, cervical caps and vaults.
3. INTRA UTERINE DEVICES (IUDs).
These devices are inserted by doctors or expert nurses in the uterus through vagina. IUDs increase phagocytosis of
sperms within the uterus and the Cu ions released suppress sperm motility and the fertilizing capacity of sperms.
4. CHEMICAL METHODS:
Oral administration of small doses of either progestogens or progestogen–estrogen combinations is another
contraceptive method used by the females. They are used in the form of tablets and hence are popularly called the pills.
5. SURGICAL METHODS:
Surgical methods, also called sterilisation, are generally advised for the male/female partner as a terminal method to
prevent any more pregnancies. Surgical intervention blocks gamete transport and thereby prevent conception.
(a) Vasectomy: Sterilisation procedure in the male is called ‘vasectomy’. In vasectomy, a small part of the vas deferens
is removed or tied up through a small incision on the scrotum.
(b) Tubectomy: In tubectomy, a small part of the fallopian tube is removed or tied up through a small incision in the
abdomen or through vagina.
MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY
Intentional or voluntary termination of pregnancy before full term is called medical termination of pregnancy
(MTP) or induced abortion.
MTPs are considered relatively safe during the first trimester, i.e., upto 12 weeks of pregnancy.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES:
Infections or diseases which are transmitted through sexual intercourse are collectively called sexually transmitted
infections (STI) or venereal diseases (VD) or reproductive tract infections (RTI).
Gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydiasis, genital warts, trichomoniasis, hepatitis-B and HIV leading to
AIDS are some of the common STIs.
One could be free of these infections by following the simple principles given below:
(i) Avoid sex with unknown partners/multiple partners.
(ii) Always try to use condoms during coitus.
(iii) In case of doubt, one should go to a qualified doctor for early detection and get complete treatment if diagnosed
with infection.
INFERTILITY:
The couple unable to produce children in spite of unprotected sex.
The reason of infertility may be:-
Physical, Congenital Diseases, Drugs, Immunological or psychological.
Problems of infertility may be in male or female.
Infertility clinic can diagnose and correct the cause of infertility.
In case there no corrections are possible, some special technologies used to have children called assisted
reproductive technologies. (ART)
Assisted reproductive technologies:
(a) In vitro fertilization:
Fertilization outside the body in the laboratory.
Condition created in laboratory similar to the body.
(b) Embryo transfer:
Popularly known as test tube baby programme.
Ova from the wife/donor and sperm from the husband/donor are collected and induced to form zygote under
simulated conditions in the laboratory.
The zygote or early embryos (with up to 8 blastomeres) could be transferred into the fallopian tube.
ZIFT- Zygote intra fallopian transfer.
IUT- Intra Uterine transfer (embryo with more than 8 blastomeres).
Further development taken place within the female body.
Embryo formed by in-vivo fertilization can also be transfer to assist those female who cannot conceive.
(c) Gamete intra fallopian transfer- GIFT
Transfer of ovum collected from the donor into the fallopian tube of another female who cannot produce it.
Such female can provide suitable environment for fertilization and development.
(d) Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): The sperm is directly injected into the ovum.
After in vitro fertilization either ZIFT or embryo transfer technique is followed.
(e) Artificial insemination (AI)
Semen is collected either from the husband or donor is artificially introduced into vagina or into the uterus (IUI-
intra uterine insemination) of the female.
Such technology is useful in cases either the male partner unable to inseminate the female or very low sperm
counts in the ejaculation.
1. List one drawback of surgical methods of birth control.
2. What are the measures one has to take to prevent from contracting STDs?
3. Mrs. X was blamed for being childless though the problem was due to low sperm counts in the ejaculates of her
husband. Suggest a technique which could help the couple to have a child.
4. Describe the three different practices under natural methods of birth control.
5. What are barrier methods of birth control? Explain.
6. Expand IUDs. Explain the various methods of IUDs.
7. What is sterilization? Explain the various methods.
8. How do oral contraceptives function? What is the advantage of Saheli?
9. What is an ideal contraceptive for women and explain its contraceptive role?
10. Explain the various methods of Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Ans.
1.It is irreversible
2. Avoiding multiple partner,
use of condom
3. IUI
4. Withdrawal, Lactational
amenorrhea, Periodic
abstinence
5. Use of Condoms,
Diaphragms, cervical caps
and vaults
6. Intra Uterine Devices See
 page No. 60 of NCERT
Book
7. See page No. 61 of NCERT
Book
8. See page No. 61 of NCERT
Book
9. An ideal contraceptive
should be user-friendly,
easily available, effective
and reversible with no or
least side-effects. See page
No. 43 of NCERT Book
10. See page No. 64 of NCERT
Book