Reproductive Health: A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system.
Population Explosion & Birth Control:
Need for population control and family planning.
Birth Control Methods:
Natural methods: Rhythm, withdrawal.
Barrier methods: Condoms, diaphragms.
IUDs (Intrauterine devices): Copper-T, loop.
Oral contraceptives: Pills.
Implants and surgical methods: Vasectomy (male), Tubectomy (female).
Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP):
Induced abortion for specific reasons, e.g., contraceptive failure, potential birth defects.
Legal in India up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs):
Transmitted through sexual contact.
Examples: Gonorrhea, syphilis, genital warts, AIDS (caused by HIV).
Prevention: Condom use, regular check-ups, early detection.
Infertility:
Inability to produce offspring in spite of unprotected sexual cohabitation.
Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs):
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): Fertilization outside the body. Embryo transfer can be done at 8-cell stage (ZIFT – Zygote IntraFallopian Transfer) or at blastocyst stage (IUT – Intra Uterine Transfer).
Artificial Insemination: Directly injecting sperms into the female genital tract.
GIFT (Gamete IntraFallopian Transfer): Transfer of harvested ova and sperms into the fallopian tube.
ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection): Injecting sperm directly into the egg.
Reproductive Health Education:
Addressing reproductive aspects of adolescent health.
Importance of awareness, education, and counseling.
Overcoming misconceptions and myths.
Amniocentesis:
A prenatal diagnostic technique to detect chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.
Misuse for sex determination leading to female feticide. Hence, legally banned for this purpose in India.