Reproductive health

• Reproductive Health


  Healthy reproductive organs with normal physiological function, including physical, emotional, social and behavioural well-being
• Aspects of Reproductive Health


  • Physical
  • Emotional
  • Social
  • Behavioural
  • Well-Being
• Reproductive Health refers to the complete well-being in all aspects of reproduction
• Population explosion is the biggest issue worldwide
• Strategies to overcome reproductive health problems

  1. Overpopulation and population explosion

  2. Creating awareness about reproduction

  3. Introduction of sex education in schools

  4. Providing information on reproductive organs and STDs

  5. Educating people about birth control methods

  6. Care of mother and child

  7. Prevention of sex abuse and sex related crimes

  8. Amniocentesis

  9. Research on reproduction related areas

  10. Improving medical facilities
• Population


  Number of individuals of the same species in a particular area at a specific time
• Demography


  Statistical and scientific study of human population
• World population in 1900 was 2 billion, in 2000 it rocketed up to 6 billion, and in 2011 it was 7.2 billion
• India's population was 350 million at the time of independence, crossed 1 billion in May 2001, and is currently 1.44 billion as of March 2024
• Problems caused by overpopulation

  • Demand for food and space
  • Deforestation
  • Pollution
  • Diseases
  • Unemployment
  • Crime
  • Socio-economic conditions
• India was one of the first countries to initiate the Family Planning Programme in 1951, later renamed as the Reproductive and Child Health Care Programme
• Amniocentesis


  Prenatal diagnostic technique involving withdrawal of amniotic fluid by puncture to detect chromosomal abnormalities, genetic disorders, etc.
• Amniocentesis is a regulated and controlled technique to prevent its misuse for sex determination
• Population growth rate less than 2.1% is ideal according to the 2011 census
• Protogynous


  Females mature first
• Ideal characteristics of contraceptives

  • Easily available
  • Effective for contraception
  • Least or no side effects
  • Do not interfere with sexual desire, hormonal control or gamete formation
  • Provide protection against sexually transmitted infections
  • Reversible with ability to achieve pregnancy
• Human sexual reproduction


  1. Gametogenesis

  2. Gamete transfer

  3. Fertilisation

  4. Zygote formation

  5. Embryonic development

  6. Implantation

  7. Parturition (birth)
• Biological birth control methods

  • Gossypol (inhibits male spermatogenesis)
  • Vasectomy (cuts and ties off vas deferens)
  • Tubectomy (cuts and ties off fallopian tubes)
  • Oral contraceptive pills
  • Injectables/progestogens
  • Implants
• Natural birth control methods

  • Periodic abstinence
  • Lactational amenorrhea
  • Withdrawal method
• Barrier contraceptive methods


  • Physical barriers (condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps)
  • Chemical barriers (spermicides)
• Intrauterine devices (IUDs)


  • Non-medicated (Lippes loop)
  • Copper-releasing (CuT, Multiload 375, CuT-380A)
  • Hormone-releasing (progestogens)
• Hormonal contraceptive methods


  • Oral contraceptive pills (combined, progestogen-only)
  • Injectables
  • Implants
• SAHELI


  A new non-steroidal, once-a-week oral contraceptive pill developed by CDRI, Lucknow, with no/least side effects
• Permanent contraceptive methods


  • Vasectomy (males)
  • Tubectomy (females)
• Amniocentesis is usually done when a woman is between 14-18 weeks pregnant
• Amniocentesis can be used to detect Down's syndrome and other developmental defects in the foetus, but not for sex determination which is illegal
• Amniocentesis can detect genetic abnormalities in the foetus, but cannot be used for artificial insemination or embryo transfer to a surrogate mother
• Diaphragms


  Increase phagocytosis of sperm within the uterus
• Contraceptive pills


  Inhibit ovulation and implantation
• Intrauterine devices (IUDs)


  Increase phagocytosis of sperm within the uterus
• Amniocentesis


  Usually done when a woman is between 14 - 16 weeks pregnant
• Amniocentesis


  Used for prenatal sex determination
• Amniocentesis can be used for detection of Down's syndrome
• Amniocentesis can be used for detection of cleft palate
• Cleft palate


  Developmental defect where the palate bone is unfused, resulting in a gap
• Jaundice indicates liver damage
• Amniocentesis can detect the sex of the foetus
• Amniocentesis can detect Klinefelter's syndrome
• Amniocentesis can detect Down's syndrome
• Detecting any genetic abnormality is a permissible use of amniocentesis