🌸 Chapter 3
Reproductive Health
(SUMMARY NOTES )
🧬
Reproductive Health – Quick Revision Notes (Class 12 Biology, NCERT)
🩺 Definition
Reproductive health is a state of physical, emotional,
behavioral, and social well-being in all aspects of reproduction — not
merely the absence of disease or disorders.
🌸 1. Reproductive Health in
India
- First country to launch Family
Planning Programme in 1951.
- Later expanded into Reproductive
and Child Health (RCH) Programme.
Objectives
- Create awareness about
sex and reproduction.
- Provide medical aid to
mothers and children.
- Control population growth.
- Prevent STDs and infertility.
📚 2. Importance of Sex
Education
- Informs youth about puberty
changes.
- Promotes safe and
responsible sexual behavior.
- Helps prevent unwanted
pregnancies & STDs.
- Develops respect and
understanding between genders.
🦠3. Sexually Transmitted
Diseases (STDs)
Definition
Diseases transmitted mainly through sexual contact
with infected persons.
Common STDs
|
Bacterial |
Viral |
Other (Protozoa/Fungal) |
|
Gonorrhea |
HIV/AIDS |
Trichomoniasis |
|
Syphilis |
Genital Warts (HPV) |
Candidiasis |
|
Chlamydia |
Genital Herpes |
— |
Symptoms
- Itching or sores in genital
area
- Discharge or burning during
urination
- Fever and rash in some cases
Prevention
✅ Use condoms
✅ Avoid multiple partners
✅ Maintain hygiene
✅ Seek early treatment
✅ Screen blood before transfusion
👶 4. Birth Control /
Contraception
Need
- To control population
- Prevent unwanted pregnancies
- Maintain maternal and child
health
Types of Contraceptive Methods
|
Method |
Example |
Mechanism / Note |
|
Natural / Traditional |
Periodic Abstinence, Withdrawal, Lactational Amenorrhea |
Avoid fertilization naturally |
|
Barrier |
Condoms, Diaphragms, Spermicides |
Block sperm entry; prevent STDs |
|
IUDs (Intrauterine Devices) |
CuT, Cu7, LNG-20, Multiload 375 |
Prevent sperm motility or implantation |
|
Oral Contraceptives |
Mala-D, Saheli |
Hormonal pills; inhibit ovulation |
|
Surgical (Permanent) |
Vasectomy, Tubectomy |
Block sperm/egg transport permanently |
Important Notes
- Saheli: Non-steroidal pill; contains centchroman
(developed by CDRI, Lucknow).
- Lactational Amenorrhea: Natural protection up to 6
months post-childbirth.
- IUDs: Popular reversible method for
females.
⚕️ 5. Medical Termination of
Pregnancy (MTP)
Definition
Intentional or voluntary termination of pregnancy before
20 weeks.
Need
- Unwanted pregnancy due to rape
or failure of contraception
- Risk to mother’s health
- Detection of fetal
abnormalities
Law
- MTP Act (1971) → legalized under strict
conditions.
⚠️ Misuse: For female feticide → hence monitored strictly.
🧫 6. Amniocentesis
Definition
Technique of withdrawing amniotic fluid to test fetal
cells for genetic/chromosomal abnormalities.
Used to Detect
- Down’s Syndrome
- Hemophilia
- Sickle Cell Anemia
⚠️ Misuse → Sex determination, leading to female
feticide
🚫 Banned under PCPNDT Act (1994)
🧬 7. Infertility
Definition
Inability of a couple to conceive after one year of
regular unprotected intercourse.
Causes
- Physical or anatomical defects
- Hormonal imbalance
- Psychological stress
- Genetic factors
🧫 8. Assisted Reproductive
Technologies (ART)
|
Technique |
Full Form |
Description |
|
IVF |
In Vitro Fertilization |
Fertilization outside the body; zygote transferred to
uterus → Test tube baby |
|
ZIFT |
Zygote Intra-Fallopian Transfer |
Zygote transferred into fallopian tube |
|
GIFT |
Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer |
Ovum and sperm placed into fallopian tube |
|
ICSI |
Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection |
Sperm injected directly into ovum |
|
AI |
Artificial Insemination |
Semen introduced into uterus artificially |
Advantages
- Helps infertile couples
conceive
- Overcomes low sperm count or
blocked tubes
Ethical Concerns
- Expensive
- Misuse for gender selection
- Emotional issues with
“test-tube babies”
⚡ 9. Key NCERT Keywords
|
Term |
Meaning |
|
RCH |
Reproductive and Child Health Programme |
|
MTP |
Medical Termination of Pregnancy |
|
STD |
Sexually Transmitted Disease |
|
ART |
Assisted Reproductive Technology |
|
IVF |
In Vitro Fertilization |
|
IUD |
Intra Uterine Device |
|
PCPNDT |
Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act |
🧠10. NEET Quick Facts
- Saheli pill → Centchroman →
Non-steroidal, once-a-week pill.
- Copper-T → Prevents sperm motility and
implantation.
- First test-tube baby: Louise Brown (1978, UK).
- HIV → Retrovirus → destroys CD4
T-cells.
- Vasectomy → Cut vas deferens (male).
- Tubectomy → Cut fallopian tube (female).
- Lactational amenorrhea effective up to 6 months after
childbirth.
📊 11. Important Diagrams
(For Board Exams)
1.
Contraceptive
methods
(flowchart/table)
2.
Copper-T
/ IUD structure
3.
Steps
of IVF (Test Tube Baby)
4.
Chart
showing ART techniques
🧩 12. Common Board / NEET
Questions
|
Type |
Example Question |
Answer Hint |
|
1 Mark |
Define reproductive health. |
Physical, emotional, social well-being related to
reproduction. |
|
2 Marks |
What is amniocentesis? Why is it banned in India? |
Prenatal test for genetic defects; banned due to sex
determination misuse. |
|
3 Marks |
Name and explain any three contraceptive methods. |
Natural, barrier, surgical, etc. |
|
4 Marks |
What are ART techniques? Explain IVF and ZIFT. |
Assisted methods for infertility treatment. |
|
5 Marks |
Explain need, types, and examples of contraceptive
methods. |
Full explanation with table and examples. |
🧾 13. Flowchart Summary
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
│
├── Awareness & Education (RCH,
Sex Education)
│
├── Control of STDs
│
├── Family Planning / Contraception
│
├── Natural
│
├── Barrier
│
├── IUD
│
├── Oral
│
└── Surgical
│
├── MTP (Legal Abortion)
│
├── Amniocentesis (Prenatal
Diagnosis)
│
└── Infertility & ART (IVF,
ZIFT, GIFT, ICSI, AI)
🎯 Final Tips for Scoring
95%+
✅ Memorize definitions & NCERT examples.
✅ Draw and label diagrams neatly.
✅ Use flowcharts and tables in long answers.
✅ Revise laws & acts (MTP Act 1971, PCPNDT Act 1994).
✅ Practice previous year CBSE + NEET questions.
