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Reproductive Health – Class 12 Biology notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 12 Biology, chapter 3. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Reproductive health means a responsible, safe and healthy reproductive life. It covers awareness, population control, contraception, safe medical termination, STI prevention and help for infertility.

Contraception

Natural methods: periodic abstinence, withdrawal, lactational amenorrhoea.
Barrier (condoms, diaphragms), IUDs (Copper-T, hormone-releasing), oral pills, injectables, implants.
Surgical (sterilisation): vasectomy in males, tubectomy in females.

STIs and infertility

STIs include gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B; prevention by safe practices and early treatment.
Assisted reproductive technologies: IVF with embryo transfer (ZIFT, IUT), GIFT, ICSI, artificial insemination (IUI).
Amniocentesis is misused for sex determination, which is banned in India.

Key terms

IUD: intra-uterine device placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy
IVF: in vitro fertilisation, fertilisation outside the body
MTP: medical termination of pregnancy, legal in India under conditions

Important questions with answers

Why is MTP legal in India only under certain conditions?2 marks

To prevent misuse such as female foeticide while allowing safe termination when continuing pregnancy would harm the mother or the foetus, or in other legally permitted cases, by registered medical practitioners.

Name three STIs, their causes and two ways to prevent them.3 marks

Gonorrhoea and syphilis (bacteria), genital herpes and HIV/AIDS (viruses). Prevention: avoid sex with unknown or multiple partners and use condoms; seek early medical check-up and treatment.

What is infertility? Describe any four assisted reproductive technologies.5 marks

Infertility is the inability to conceive after two years of unprotected sexual activity, due to physical, congenital, disease or psychological causes in either partner. ARTs: (1) IVF–ET: fertilisation outside the body, then embryo transfer – ZIFT (zygote or early embryo up to 8 blastomeres into the fallopian tube) or IUT (embryo with more than 8 blastomeres into the uterus). (2) GIFT: an ovum from a donor is transferred into the fallopian tube of a woman who cannot produce ova. (3) ICSI: a sperm is injected directly into the ovum in the laboratory. (4) Artificial insemination (AI/IUI): semen from the husband or a donor is introduced into the vagina or uterus, used when the male has a low sperm count.

Quick revision

Vasectomy cuts the vas deferens.
Tubectomy cuts the fallopian tubes.
Sex determination via amniocentesis is illegal in India.

Exam tips

Copper ions from Copper-T reduce sperm motility and fertilising ability.
Classify contraceptives into natural, barrier, IUDs, hormonal (pills, injections, implants) and surgical, with one example each.

Practice MCQs

Copper-T is an example of
1. barrier method
2. surgical method
3. oral pill
4. IUD
Show answer
Answer: (d) IUD. Intra-uterine device.
Vasectomy is a sterilisation method for
1. females
2. both
3. males
4. neither
Show answer
Answer: (c) males. Vas deferens is cut.
Which of these is a sexually transmitted infection
1. typhoid
2. syphilis
3. malaria
4. cholera
Show answer
Answer: (b) syphilis. Syphilis.
In IVF, fertilisation takes place
1. inside the uterus
2. in the ovary
3. in the fallopian tube
4. outside the body
Show answer
Answer: (d) outside the body. In vitro.
Saheli, the oral contraceptive pill developed in India, is
1. a steroidal pill taken daily
2. an injection
3. an IUD
4. a non-steroidal pill taken once a week
Show answer
Answer: (d) a non-steroidal pill taken once a week. Developed by CDRI, Lucknow.
Lactational amenorrhoea is effective as contraception for about
1. 1 month
2. 2 years
3. 6 months after birth
4. 1 week
Show answer
Answer: (c) 6 months after birth. Up to about 6 months with full breastfeeding.
In ICSI, the sperm is
1. placed near the egg
2. injected directly into the ovum
3. placed in the uterus
4. frozen first
Show answer
Answer: (b) injected directly into the ovum. Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection.
In GIFT, what is transferred into the fallopian tube
1. an embryo with 8 blastomeres
2. a zygote
3. an ovum from a donor
4. sperm only
Show answer
Answer: (c) an ovum from a donor. Gamete intra-fallopian transfer.

All chapters of Class 12 Biology

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.