Reproductive

Health

POINTS TO
REMEMBER

1. Reproductive Health-Problems and Strategies REMEMBER

POINTS TO emotional,
Reproductive health means a total well-being in allaspects of reproduction,i.e., physical,
behavioural and social.

Problems
reproductive organs. This causes
(i) There is little knowledge of personal hygiene and hygiene of
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
(ii) Early marriages lead to high maternal and infant mortality rates.
(ii) Due to lack of awareness, there has been a rapid increase in population size.
sex-related issues.
(iv) People encourage beliefs in myths and misconceptions about
Strategies
Government of India as early as 1951.
'Family planning' programmes were initiated by the
Reproductive and Child Health Care (RCH) programmes were launched in 1997 for:
related aspects.
()creating awareness among people about various reproduction
() providing facilities and support for building up a reproductively healthy society.
non-government agencies
With the help of audio-visual aids and print-media, both government and
reproduction-related aspects.
are engaged in creating awareness amongpeople about save them
and
Encouraging sex education in schools, to give the right information to young minds
from myths and misconceptions about sex-related aspects.
changes, safe and hygienic
Proper information about reproductive organs, adolescence and related given.
sexual practices and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) should be
post-natal care of the
Educating people about available birth control options, care for pregnant mothers,
the male and female child.
mother and child,importance of breast feeding, equal opportunities for
social evils like sex-abuse and
Awareness of problems due to uncontrolled population growth and
sex-related crimes, etc.
the chromosome pattern
Statutory ban on amniocentesis (a foetal sex-determination test based on sex-determination to
in the cells found in amniotic fluid surrounding the developing
embryo) for
legally check increasing female foeticides.
2. Population Explosion,
explosion.
The tremendous increase in size and growth rate of populatiorn is called population
2000.
Ihe world population was about 2 billion in 1900and it was 6 billion in
1 billion in
ropulation of India at the time of Independence was about 350 million and it crossed
May 2000.
Reproductive Health 115
 Reasons for High Population Growth
() Rapid decline in death rate due to control of diseases and better public health care.
(ii) Declinein maternal mortality rate (MMR).
(ii)Decline in infant mortality rate (IMR).
(iv) Increase in number of people in reproductive age with advancement in agriculture and be.
means of transport and technology.
Acording to 2011 census report, the population growth rate was about 2 per cent, i.e.,
20/1000/year in India--a rate at which our population could increase rapidly.

Steps to Curb Population Growth

(0) Raising marriageable age of girls to 18 years and of boys to 21 years.
(i) Incentives should be given to couples with small family.
(n) Motivate couples to use contraceptive methods for small families.
(iv) Advertisements and posters with slogans like "Hum Do Humare Do, One Child Norm' should1
displayed to educate people.
3. Birth Control
The most important step tocontrol population growth is to motivate smaller families by using vanog
contraceptive methods.
An idealcontraceptive should be:
() user-friendly (i) easily available
(ii) effective and reversible with no or least side-effects
(i0) non-interfering with the sexual drive/desire and/or the sexual act of the user.
Methods of Birth Control
The contraceptive methods are divided into following categories:
() Natural/traditional methods (ii) Barrier methods
(iii) Intra uterine devices (IUDs) (iv) Oral contraceptives
(v) Injections and implants (vi) Surgical methods.
() Natural methods
"These are natural methods that work on the principle of
avoiding the meeting of ovum and sperm.
(a) Periodicabstinence is a method in which a couple avoids or
day 10-17 of the menstrual cycle,when ovulation is abstains from coitus from
(b) Coitus interruptus or withdrawal is a method in expected to occur.
which male partner withdraws his
penis from the vagina just before ejaculation, so as to
(c) Lactational amenorrhea is based on the avoid insemination.
principle that during the period of lactation after
parturition, ovulation does not oCcur.
(ii) Barrier methods
" These methods prevent the contact of sperm and
are available for both males and females.
ovum with the help of barriers. Such methods
(a) Condoms are barriers made of thin rubber/latex sheath used to
male or vagina and cervix in females. It prevents the cover the penis in the
the vagina of the female. deposition of ejaculated semen in
(b) Diaphragms, cervical caps and vaults are the barriers
made of rubber that are inserted
into the female reproductive tract to cover the cervix
during coitus. They prevent the
entry of sperms through cervix. They are reusable.
(c) Spermicidal creams, jellies and foams are used along with
these barriers to increas
their contraceptive efficiency.
116 Xam idea Biology-Xl
Gi) Intra uterine devices (IUDs)
These devices are inserted by doctors in the uterus through
. There are three types of lUDs available: vagina.
(a) Non-medicated IUDs: These increase phagocvtosis of sperms within the
uterus, e:&
Lippes loop.
() Copper releasing IUDs: Along with phagocytosis of sperms, the copper ions
released
suppress sperm motility and fertilising capacity of sperms, eg., CuT, Cu 7, Multiload 375.
w) Homone releasing IUDs: These make the uterus unsuitable for
cervix hostile to sperms, eg., P'rogestasert, LNG-20. implantation and the
(iv) Oral contraceptive
" This involves uptake of hormonal preparations of either
estrogen combinations in the form of pills by females. progestogens or progestogen
They inhibitovulation and implantation as wellas alter the quality of cervical mucus to prevent
entry of sperms.
Pillsare to be taken for period of 21 days starting within first five days of menstrual cycle. After
gap of 7 days, to be repeated in same pattern.
" 'Saheli", an oral contraceptive for females containing a non-steroidal preparation was developed
by scientists at Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) in Lucknow. It is a once a week pill'.
Pills have high contraceptive value and few side effects.
(v) Injections and implants
Progestogens or progestogen-estrogen combination can also be used by females as injections
or implants under the skin.
Their mode of action is similar to that of pills but their effective periods are longer.
(vi)Surgical methods (Sterilisation)
These are terminal and permanent methods which block the transport of gametes, thereby
preventing conception effectively.
" In males, a small part of the vas deferens is removed and tied up through a small incision on
the scrotum. This is called vasectomy.
"In females, a smallpart of the fallopian tube is removed and tied up through asmall incision
in the abdomen or vagina. This is called tubectomy.
’whta

Falloplan tubes
tied and cut

Vas deferens
tied and cut

Vasectomy Tubectomy
Fig. 3.1 Sterilisation methods
POINTS
TOAREMEMBER
4. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)
It is defined as
intentional or voluntary termination of pregnancy before full term.
MTP was legalised by Government of India in 1971 under strict conditions to
MTP is done in the following situations: avoid misuse.
() Failure of contraceptive used during coitus.
(0) When continued pregnancy is
harmful or fatal toeither mother or foetus or both
(i) Rape cases.
Itissafe during first trimester, i.e.,up to12
weeks of pregnancy.
5. Sexually
Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Infections or diseases that are transmitted through
transmitted diseases (STDs) or venereal diseases (VD) sexual intercourse are collectively called sexn
or reproductive tract
STDs are caused by bacteria (syphilis, infections (RTI)
gonorrhoea),
warts), protozoans, nematodes, ectoparasites virus (AIDS, hepatitis B, genital herpes, geni%
(trichomoniasis,
Early symptoms: Itching, fluid discharge, slight pain chlamydiasis) arnd fungi.
and swellings
Complications due to chronic STDs: Pelvic inflammatory diseasesin the(PID),genitalregion.
ectopic pregnancies, infertility, or even cancer of the abortions, still birt
Transmission of hepatitis-B and HIV also occurs by the reproductive tract.
() Sharing of injection needles or following ways:
(ii) transfusion of
surgical instruments with infected persons;
infected blood;
(iün) transfer from infected mother to the
By following simple principles, STDs can
foetus through placenta.
be prevented.
(i) Avoid sex with
unknown partners/multiple partners.
(ii) Always use condoms during coitus.
(iii)Contact a qualified doctor for any
doubt, in early stage of infection.
6. Infertility
It is the inability toproduce
children in spite of unprotected sexual cohabitation.
The reasons of infertility could be
physical, congenital diseases, drugs,
psychological. immunological, or evet
Specialised health-care units called infertility clinics could help in
of some of these disorders. diagnosis and corrective treatrmet
The infertile couples could be assisted to have children
Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), which are given through
[Link] special techniques
called
(i) Test Tube Baby Programmes
this method, ova from the
lmale) are collected and induced wife/donor (temale) and the sperms from the
to form zygote under
Thisprocess is called in vitro fertilisation (IVE). simulated conditions inhusband/donot
the laboratory.
Toweote early embryo with up to8blastomeres is
or
is called zygote intra fallopian transfer or ZIFT) and iftransferred into the fallopian tube (process
orred intothe uterus (process is called intra
uterine
embryo with more than 8 blastomeres is
In femals who cannot conceive, embryos formed by
transferor IUT)
in vivofertilisation) are transferred.
fusion of gametes in another
female (called
Biology-XII
118 Xam idea
(ii) Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer (GIFT)
" lt is the transfer of an ovum collected from a donor into the fallopian tube of another female
who cannot produce one, but can provide suitable environment for fertilisation and further
development of the embryo.
(ii) Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (1CSI)
It is aprocedure to form an embryoin the
The embryo is later transferred by ZIFT or laboratory
by directly injecting the sperm into an ovum.
IUT.
(iv) Artificial Insemination (A)
In this method, the semen collected either from the husband or a healthy donor is
introduced into the vagina or into the uterus (intra uterine insemination or IUl). artificially
This technique is used in cases where the male is unable to inseminate sperms in the female
reproductive tract or due to very low sperm counts in the ejaculation.

NCERT Textbook Questions

0.1. What do you think is the significance of reproductive health in a
society?
Ans. In a society, if people are aware of birth control methodsto avoid sexually transmitted
diseases
and the importance of breast feeding and post-natal care of the mother and baby, then the
can have healthy children who
society
are the future citizens of a nation.
Q.2. Suggest the aspects of reproductive health which need to be given special
present scenario. attention in the
Ans. (i) Introduction of sex education in school that helps in
eradicating myths and misconceptions
regarding sex-related aspects.
(i) Proper information about reproductive organs, safe and
hygienic sexual practices and
sexually transmitted diseases (STDS).
(ii) Awareness of problems due to uncontrolled population growth, social evils like
and sex-related crimes, etc. sex-abuse
(iv) Strong infra-structural facilities, professional expertise and material
medical assistance and care topeople in reproduction-related problems. support to provide
(v) Educating people about available birth control options, care of
pregnant mothers, post-natal
care of mother and child, importance of breast-feeding, equal opportunities for the male and
female child.
Q.3. Is sexeducation necessary in schools? Why?
Ans. Yes, sex education is necessary in schools because
(0) it will provide proper information about reproductive organs, adolescence, safe and hygienic
sexual practices and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
() it will provide right information to avoid myths and
misconceptions about sex-related queries.
Q.4. Do you think that reproductive health in our country has
mention some such areas of improvement. improved in the past 50 years? If yes,
Ans. Yes, reproductive health in our country has improved in the last 50 years.
Some areas of improvement are:
() Better awarerness about sex-related matters.
(1) Increased number of mnedically assisted deliveries and
better
mother leading to decreased maternal and infant mortality [Link]-natal care of child and
(i) Increased number of couples with small families.