Reproductive Health
SHORT NOTES
Introduction Measures Taken by Government to Check Population
According to WHO, reproductive health means a total well Motivate smaller families for using various contraceptive
being in all aspects of reproduction i.e., physical, emotional, methods and by slogans “Hum do Hamare do”, in
social and behavioural. advertisements and posters.
Problems and Strategies Urban couples adopting: “One child norm”.
India was amongst first country in the world to initiate action Statutory raising of marriageable age:
plans at a national level to attain total reproductive health Female- 18 years
such as family planning programmes in 1951. Male- 21 years
Incentives given to couples with small families.
Birth Control/Contraception
Features of an Ideal Contraceptive:
User-friendly
Easily available
Effective
Reversible
No/least side-effects
No interference with libido or act of coitus
Two Principle Methods of Birth Control:
Natural methods
Artificial methods
Natural/Traditional Methods
Periodic abstinence
Amniocentesis Withdrawal method/Coitus interruptus
Analyse foetal cells and dissolved substances from amniotic Lactational amenorrhea
fluids. Based on the principle of avoiding physical meeting of the
Technique used to check for genetic disorders such as Down’s egg and sperms
syndrome, sickle-cell anemia, etc. Chances of failure are high
Statutory ban on this technique in India to prevent female
foeticide. Artificial Methods
Population Stabilisation Barrier methods
According to 2001 census, our population growth rate was Spermicidal jellies
around 1.7 per cent, i.e., 17/1000/year. IUDs
Year Oral pills
1900 1947 2000 2011
POPn Injections and implants
World 2 billion 6 billion 7.2 billion Emergency contraceptives
India approx: close to crossed Surgical methods
350 million 1 billion 1.2 billion Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)/Induced
Reasons for Increase in Population Size: Abortion
Decline in death rate MTP: Intentional or voluntary termination of pregnancy
Rapid decline in maternal mortality rate (MMR) before full term.
Decrease in infant mortality rate (IMR) MTP was legalized in India in 1971.
Increase in number of people in reproducible age 40–50 million MTPs are performed every year.
Increase in health facilities 1/5th of the total number of conceived pregnancies.
1
Intention behind MTP amendment act 2017, (Government of Preventive measures to avoid STDs:
India) Avoid sex with unknown partners/multiple partners
Reducing the incidence of illegal abortion. Always try to use condoms during coitus
Decrease consequent maternal mortality and morbidity.
MTPs are safe upto 12 weeks but riskier in 2nd trimester
Infertility
yet both are legal. Unable to produce children inspite of unprotected sexual
Amniocentesis and MTPs have been misused in context co-habitation.
of female foeticide. Infertility as a problem could be with either the male or
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) female partner.
Alternately named: Venereal diseases (VD) or reproductive In India, female is blamed often than male for the couple
tract infections (RTIs). being childless.
High vulnerability/risk group: 15-24 years.
Bacterial and protozoan diseases are completely curable if Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)
detected early and treated properly.
In-vitro fertilization In-vivo fertilization
Mode of Transmission:
Sexual intercourse. Outside the body in simulated In the female reproductive
Sharing of injection needles, surgical instruments with
conditions in laboratory tract
infected persons. Yes No
Transfusion of blood.
ZIFT, IUT, ICSI GIFT, AI, IUI
From infected mother to foetus.