This chapter deals with the study of Reproductive Health, Study notes of Biology

Download This chapter deals with the study of Reproductive Health and more Study notes Biology in PDF only on Docsity! Reproductive Health Reproductive Health It is defined as the total well being in all aspects of reproduction. ● India as a country ensures reproductive health to all, and since 1951, successive governments have introduced a number of programmes to ensure this, e.g., family planning and RCH (Reproductive and Child Healthcare) programmes. ● The aim of these programmes is to create awareness among people about the various aspects of reproductive health. ● Several audio-visual aids and pamphlets have been developed by both governmental and non-governmental organisations. ● Awareness is being created among school children by introducing sex education in schools. ● It is essential to provide medical assistance to people with problems related to STDs, pregnancy, contraception and infertility, especially in villages. ● Amniocentesis (foetal sex determination based on chromosomal pattern) has been banned to check female foeticide. Population Explosion ● Improvement in the quality of life due to all-round development (better health facilities and improved conditions of living) has lead to a large increase in the world population (around 1 billion in the year 2000). ● The causes of population explosion are: ○ Decline in death rate (including maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate) ○ Increase in the number of people in the reproducible age ● Population explosion causes a scarcity of every basic need. ● Therefore, it has become essential to check this increase in population. ● One-child norm, increasing the marriageable age and promoting contraceptive methods are some of the ways to check population explosion. Birth Control ● It is essential to ensure birth control to check population explosion. ● Successive governments have come out with various programmes that encourage smaller families by means of various contraceptive methods. ● Contraceptive methods are of two types: ○ Natural means of contraception ○ Artificial means of contraception Natural Methods ● Avoiding the coming together of ovum and sperm ○ Periodic abstinence:Avoiding coitus from days 10 to 17 of the menstrual cycle ○ Coitus interruptus: Withdrawal of penis before ejaculation ○ Lactational amenorrhea: It is the absence of menstruation during lactation. So, in the lactation period, the chances of conception are almost zero. Artificial Methods ● Physically preventing the coming together of ovum and sperm ○ Barriers: Include condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps and vaults ○ Intra uterine devices (IUDs): They release hormones to cause phagocytosis of sperms, or they release copper ions to decrease sperm motility. ○ Oral contraceptive pills: They contain hormones—either progesterone or progesterone− oestrogen combination. ○ Surgical methods: Include vasectomy (removal of a part of the vas deferens in males) and tubectomy (removal of a part of the fallopian tubes in females) Medical Termination of Pregnancy & Sexually Transmitted Diseases Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) ● Intentional or voluntary termination of pregnancy before the full term ● Also called induced abortion ● Has a role in decreasing population; becomes essential when continued pregnancy may prove to be fatal to the mother, foetus or to both ● In India, MTP is legal, but with certain strict conditions so as to prevent female foeticide.