Reproductive health is defined as a state of complete physical, emotional, behavioural, and social well-being in all matters related to the reproductive system and its functions, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Definitions [7]
Definition: Reproductive Health
Define amniocentesis.
It is a technique in which amniotic fluid is withdrawn from the uterus of a pregnant lady and the amniotic cells are cultured and studied for cytological observations to determine any chromosomal abnormalities.
Definition: Amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is a technique used to diagnose fetal abnormalities by drawing a sample of amniotic fluid by a hypodermic needle inserted through the mother’s abdomen into the uterus
Define sex ratio.
The sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. In most sexually reproducing species, the ratio tends to be 1:1.
According to the United Nations, the sex ratio is defined as the number of males per 100 females.
Definition: Population Explosion
A population explosion means very rapid growth of the population, much faster than economic growth. In India, this has mostly happened because of a high birth rate and a much lower death rate in recent times.
Definition: Induced Abortion or Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)
Intentional or voluntary termination of pregnancy before full term is called medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) or induced abortion.
Definition: Azoospermia
Azoospermia is defined as the absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate semen on atleast two occasions and is observed approximately in 1% of the population.
Key Points
Key Points: Reproductive Health
- Reproductive health, as defined by WHO, refers to complete physical, emotional, behavioural, and social well-being in all aspects related to reproduction.
- India’s Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programmes aim to promote reproductive health through family planning, maternal and child care, awareness creation, and access to medical facilities.
- Education and awareness, including sex education for adolescents, help prevent myths, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unsafe practices, and promote hygienic and responsible sexual behaviour.
- Preventive measures such as menstrual hygiene, genital cleanliness, planned parenthood, immunisation, and statutory bans on sex determination are essential for a healthy society.
- Sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and gonorrhoea adversely affect reproductive health, highlighting the need for early diagnosis, treatment, and improved medical infrastructure.
Key Points: Amniocentesis
- Amniocentesis is a prenatal diagnostic technique in which amniotic fluid is withdrawn from the uterus to detect fetal genetic and developmental abnormalities.
- It is usually performed before the 15th week of pregnancy, especially in women above 35 years or those at risk of genetic disorders.
- The test helps identify chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, trisomy 13, trisomy 18, neural tube defects, and certain metabolic disorders.
- Although medically beneficial, misuse of amniocentesis for sex determination is illegal and ethically unacceptable.
Key Points: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) or Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)
Key Points: Infertility
- Infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive despite regular, unprotected intercourse, and it may arise due to defects in the male partner, female partner, or both.
- Male infertility commonly results from poor sperm production or quality, such as oligospermia (low sperm count), azoospermia (absence of sperms), asthenozoospermia (poor motility), or teratozoospermia (abnormal structure).
- Female infertility may be caused by poor egg production, hormonal imbalance, defects in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, or improper functioning of fimbriae.
- Mechanical or physiological barriers, such as blockage of reproductive passages or thick cervical mucus, may prevent the meeting of sperm and egg, leading to infertility.
- Diagnosis and treatment involve identifying the underlying cause through medical tests and treating it by hormonal therapy, surgery, immunosuppressive drugs, or lifestyle modifications under medical supervision.
Key Points: Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
| ART Method | Gametes Used | Site of Fertilisation | Stage Transferred | Site of Transfer | Main Indication |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IUI | Sperm only | Inside body (fallopian tube) | No embryo transfer | Uterus | Low sperm count |
| IVF | Ovum + sperm | Outside body (laboratory) | Early embryo | Uterus | Blocked fallopian tubes |
| ET | Ovum + sperm | Outside body | >8 blastomeres | Uterus | After IVF |
| ZIFT | Ovum + sperm | Outside body | ≤8 blastomeres (zygote) | Fallopian tube | Tubal infertility |
| GIFT | Ovum + sperm | Inside body | Gametes | Fallopian tube | Ovulation-related issues |
| ICSI | Single sperm + ovum | Outside body | Early embryo | Uterus | Severe male infertility |
| Cryopreservation (FET) | Embryo | Outside body | Frozen embryo | Uterus | Future pregnancy |
| Surrogacy | Ovum + sperm | Outside body (IVF) | Embryo | Surrogate uterus | Uterine problems |
| TESE | Sperm | — | Used in ART | — | Azoospermia |
Concepts [9]
- Concept of Reproductive Health
- Amniocentesis
- Social Impact of Sex Ratio, Female Foeticide and Infanticide
- Population Explosion in India
- Induced Abortion or Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) or Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)
- Infertility
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
- Detection of Foetal Disorders During Early Pregnancy
