IUHSS

PARAPPUR, Malappuram

ZLGY-MM: XII 4. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Reproductive health refers to a total well-being in all aspects of b. Barrier methods - Prevent meeting of ovum and sperms with the
reproduction. help of barriers.
 Condoms (Eg: Nirodh) -Barriers made of thin rubber/ latex
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH – sheath that are used to cover the penis in the male or vagina and
PROBLEMS & STRATEGIES cervix in the female.
India initiated reproductive health programmes (family Condoms are popular because:-
planning) in 1951.Currently named as ‘Reproductive & Child * It protects the user from contracting STDs.
Health Care (RCH) programmes’. * Disposable
* Can be self-inserted (privacy to the user).
Social Problems
regarding RCH Strategies:-  Diaphragms, Cervical caps, Vaults
reproductive health:- Barriers made of rubbers that are inserted into the female
A. Create awareness among the people. reproductive tract to cover the cervix during coitus.
1. Myths and Spermicidal creams, jellies and foams along with barriers
B. Introduction of sex education in
misconceptions. increase contraceptive efficiency.
schools.
A. Educate about post-natal care, c. Intra Uterine Devices (IUDs)-Devices that increase
2. Unhealthy children importance of breast-feeding. phagocytosis of sperms within the uterus.
B. Provide immunisation. This includes-
3. Infertility A. Provide medical assistance  Non-medicated IUDs (e.g. Lippes loop)
4. Spreading of STDs A. Provide medical help  Copper releasing IUDs (e.g. CuT, Cu7, Multiload 375) - The
5. Uncontrolled A. Educate about available birth control
Cu ions released suppress motility and the fertilising capacity of
population growth options.
A. Ban amniocentesis (a foetal sex sperms.
determination test based on the  Hormone releasing IUDs (e.g. Progestasert, LNG-20)- Make
6. Illegal female the uterus unsuitable for implantation or the cervix hostile to the
chromosomal pattern in the amniotic
foeticide. sperms.
fluid surrounding the developing
embryo).  Inserted by experts in the uterus through vagina.
 Ideal contraceptives for the females who want to
POPULATION EXPLOSION & BIRTH delay pregnancy or space children.
CONTROL d. Oral Contraceptives- Oral administration of progestogen–
 Population growth rate is shooting out in recent years. estrogen combination in the form of tablets (pills).
 Pills (eg: Mala-D) are taken daily for 21 days starting preferably
Reasons for population growth
within the first 5 days of menstrual cycle.
- Increased health facilities and better living conditions.
 They prevent conception by-
- Decline in death rate, maternal mortality rate (MMR) and
1. Inhibiting ovulation.
infant mortality rate (IMR).
2. Making uterus unsuitable for implantation.
- Increase in number of people in reproducible age.
3. Prevent entry of sperms by altering the quality of cervical
- Assistance to infertile couples, etc.
mucus.
Population Control  Saheli –It is a non-steroidal ‘once a week’ pill for female with
- Motivate smaller families by using contraceptive methods. few side effects and high contraceptive value.
- Aware peoples about the slogan Hum Do Hamare Do (we
two, our two). e. Injectables & implants- Progestogens -estrogen can be used as
- Statutory rising of marriageable age of the female (18 years) injections or implants (consisting 6 cylinders) under the female
and males (21 years). skin of upper arm by a simple surgery.
 Their mode of action is similar to that of pills and their effective
Contraceptives: periods are much longer.
An ideal contraceptive should be-
o User-friendly, easily available, cheaper, effective and reversible. Progestogens or progestogen-estrogen combinations or IUDs
o No or least side-effects. within 72 hours of coitus as emergency contraceptives. It avoids
o It should not interfere with sexual drive, desire & sexual act. pregnancy due to rape or casual intercourse.
a. Natural methods - Avoiding chances of ovum and sperms f. Surgical methods(sterilisation)- Surgically blocking gamete
meeting. transport and thereby prevent conception.
 Periodic abstinence - Avoiding coitus from day 10 to 17 of the  It is very effective (failure rate 0%) but their reversibility is very
menstrual cycle (fertile period). poor.
 Coitus interruptus (Withdrawal) – The male partner withdraws  Vasectomy – Sterilization procedure in males. In this, a small
penis from the vagina just before ejaculation. part of the vas deferens is removed or tied up through a small
 Lactational amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) –This is due incision.
to absence of ovulation during the period of lactation.  Tubectomy- Sterilization procedure in females. In this, a small
 Advantage of Natural method- No side-effects part of the fallopian tube is removed or tied up through a small
Disadvantage- Chance of failure is high incision in the abdomen or through vagina.

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 Side effects of contraceptives:
Intra Uterine Transfer (IUT): Transfer of embryos with more
Nausea, abdominal pain, breakthrough bleeding, irregular
than 8 blastomeres into the uterus.
menstrual bleeding, breast cancer etc.

MEDICAL TERMINATION OF 2. Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer (GIFT):

 Transfer of an ovum collected from a donor into the fallopian
PREGNANCY (MTP) tube of another female
 MTP or induced abortion: Intentional or voluntary termination  This technique is done for females who cannot produce ovum,
of pregnancy before full term. but can provide suitable environment for fertilisation and
 MTPs are relatively safe during the 1st trimester. development.
Importance of MTP 3. Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI):
 To avoid unwanted pregnancy due to rapes, casual relationship, etc.  A single sperm is injected directly into an egg. Then the
 Essential in cases where the continuous pregnancy could be fertilised egg is implanted into the woman’s uterus.
harmful or even fatal to either the mother, or the foetus or both.
 MTP helps to decrease the population. 4. Artificial insemination (AI):
Problems related with MTPs  The semen collected from the husband or a healthy donor is
 Majority of the MTPs are performed illegally. artificially introduced into the vagina or the uterus (IUI– intra-
 Misuse of amniocentesis. If the foetus is female, it is followed uterine insemination) of the female.
by MTP.  This technique is done for the male partner having inability to
inseminate female or low sperm counts etc.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
(STDs)
 Diseases or infections transmitted through sexual intercourse is
called STD/ Venereal Disease(VD)/ Reproductive Tract
Infection(RTI)
STD

Curable Non curable

Gonorrhoea Genital herpes
Syphilis Hepatitis-B
Chlamydiasis AIDS
Genital warts
Trichomoniasis
 Symptoms - Itching, fluid discharge, slight pain, swellings, etc., in
the genital region.
 Consequences- Pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID), abortions,
still births, ectopic pregnancies, infertility, cancer of the
reproductive tract.

Precautions to avoid STDs

o Avoid sex with unknown/multiple partners,
o Always use of condoms during coitus
o In case of doubt, one should go to a qualified doctor for early
detection and get complete treatment.
Hepatitis-B & HIV are also transmitted-
* By sharing of injection needles, surgical instruments etc.
* By transfusion of blood.
* From infected mother to foetus.

INFERTILITY
 It is the inability of male or female to produce children even after
2 years of sexual co-habitation.
 The reasons for infertility may be physical, congenital diseases,
drugs, immunological or psychological.
 Infertile couples could be assisted to have children through
certain special techniques called Assisted Reproductive
Technologies (ART).

1. In Vitro fertilisation(IVF/ Test Tube Baby Programme):

Step 1. Ova from the wife/donor and sperms from the husband/donor
are collected
Step 2. Induced to form zygote.
Step 3. Embryo transfer (ET). It is 2 types:
 Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer (ZIFT): Transfer of zygote or
early embryos (with up to 8 blastomeres) into fallopian tube.

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