Biology · ZoologyZOO 05
Reproductive Health
Contraceptive methods, STDs, infertility, amniocentesis, MTP — reproductive healthcare
Concept Core
Essential theory — everything NCERT tests on Reproductive Health
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CONCEPTS
WHO definition: total well-being in all aspects of reproduction — physical, emotional, behavioural, social.
India: RCH (Reproductive & Child Health) programme. SAA (Socially Aware Adolescents). Focus: reduce MMR, IMR, maternal and child health.
CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS
Natural: periodic abstinence (rhythm method), coitus interruptus, lactational amenorrhea (up to 6 months post-partum).
Barrier: condoms (male/female), diaphragm, cervical caps, vaults.
IUDs: copper-T (non-medicated/copper-releasing), hormone-releasing (LNG-20). Mechanism: spermicidal Cu ions, uterine motility change.
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES & SURGICAL
Pills: contain synthetic oestrogen + progesterone. Inhibit ovulation, alter cervical mucus.
Emergency contraceptives: within 72 hrs. High-dose hormones prevent implantation.
Sterilisation: vasectomy (male: vas deferens cut), tubectomy (female: fallopian tubes cut/tied). Highly effective, mostly irreversible.
STDs & INFERTILITY
STDs: gonorrhoea (Neisseria), syphilis (Treponema), genital herpes (HSV), Chlamydia, Hepatitis-B, HIV/AIDS. Mostly curable except herpes, HIV, Hepatitis-B.
Infertility: ART — IVF (in vitro fertilisation), ET (embryo transfer), GIFT, ICSI, ZIFT, IUT.
ART & AMNIOCENTESIS
IVF-ET: fertilisation in lab → embryo transferred to uterus.
GIFT: gamete intra-fallopian transfer. ZIFT: zygote intra-fallopian transfer. ICSI: single sperm injected into ovum. IUT: intrauterine transfer.
Amniocentesis: foetal cell analysis for chromosomal/genetic disorders. Banned for sex determination in India (PCPNDT Act).
Fact & Formula Vault
High-yield facts, numbers, and formulas
Contraceptive Types
Natural: rhythm method, coitus interruptus
Barrier: condom, diaphragm
IUD: copper-T, LNG-20
Pills: oestrogen + progesterone
Surgical: vasectomy, tubectomy
STD Agents
Gonorrhoea: Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Syphilis: Treponema pallidum
Genital herpes: HSV (incurable)
HIV/AIDS: retrovirus (incurable)
Chlamydia: Chlamydia trachomatis
ART Methods
IVF: in vitro fertilisation
ET: embryo transfer to uterus
GIFT: gamete into fallopian
ZIFT: zygote into fallopian
ICSI: sperm injected into ovum
Worked Examples
NEET-style questions solved step-by-step
EASYLactational amenorrhea as a contraceptive method is effective up to how many months?▾
Lactational amenorrhea as a contraceptive method is effective up to how many months?
6 months post-partum. High prolactin suppresses GnRH → no ovulation. Effective only if fully breastfeeding AND menstruation has not resumed.
MEDIUMCopper-T (IUD) prevents pregnancy by:▾
Copper-T (IUD) prevents pregnancy by:
(1) Copper ions are spermicidal, (2) Copper ions alter uterine and fallopian tube motility making it hostile to sperm/egg. Also slightly prevents implantation by altering endometrium.
HARDZIFT differs from GIFT in that ZIFT transfers:▾
ZIFT differs from GIFT in that ZIFT transfers:
GIFT transfers gametes (egg + sperm) into fallopian tube. ZIFT transfers the zygote (fertilised egg) into the fallopian tube. Both use the fallopian tube for transfer.
Mistake DNA
Common NEET traps for this chapter
⚠ IVF vs GIFT vs ZIFT
Common confusion: IVF = lab fertilisation → uterus. GIFT = gametes → fallopian. ZIFT = zygote → fallopian.
✓ Fix: IVF → uterus. GIFT → fallopian (gametes). ZIFT → fallopian (zygote).
⚠ STD curability
All STDs are NOT curable. Herpes (HSV), HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis-B have NO cure.
✓ Fix: Bacterial STDs (gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia) = curable. Viral = mostly incurable.
⚠ Amniocentesis ban
Amniocentesis is NOT banned — only its use for sex determination is illegal under PCPNDT Act 1994. It is used for detecting chromosomal/genetic disorders.
✓ Fix: Legal for genetic disorders; illegal for sex determination
Chapter Intelligence
Exam data and last-minute strategy
NEET Frequency
1–2 Q/year. Lactational amenorrhea timing, Cu-T mechanism, IVF/GIFT/ZIFT distinctions, STD causative agents are standard questions.
High-Yield
Lactational amenorrhea = 6 months. Cu-T = spermicidal ions. IVF-ET = test-tube baby. ZIFT ≠ GIFT (gamete vs zygote). HIV, HSV, HBV = incurable STDs.
Strategy
Make 3 tables: (1) contraceptive types, (2) STD agent + type, (3) ART methods. These tables directly answer all NEET questions on this chapter.
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