Reproductive Health – Key Vocabulary

Flashcards summarising essential vocabulary and definitions from the lecture on reproductive health, contraceptive methods, population control, STIs, MTP, and infertility management.

Reproductive Health

Total physical, emotional, behavioural, and social well-being in all aspects of reproduction.

WHO Definition of Reproductive Health

Defines reproductive health as complete well-being—physical, emotional, behavioural, and social—in reproduction.

Family Planning Programme (1951)

India’s first national initiative to achieve reproductive health and regulate population growth.

RCH (Reproductive and Child Health Care)

Current Indian programme that integrates family planning with maternal, child, and adolescent health services.

Sex Education

School-based instruction that dispels myths and provides accurate information on reproductive matters.

Population Explosion

Rapid, often uncontrolled, rise in population due to lower death, MMR, and IMR rates and a larger reproductive age group.

MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate)

Number of maternal deaths per 1,000 live births in a given time period.

IMR (Infant Mortality Rate)

Number of infant deaths (under 1 year) per 1,000 live births in a given time period.

Hum Do Hamare Do

Indian slogan promoting the two-child norm for population stabilisation.

Ideal Contraceptive

User-friendly, easily available, effective, reversible, with minimal side-effects, and no interference with sexual act.

Natural/Traditional Contraception

Contraception techniques avoiding ovum–sperm meeting without devices or drugs (e.g., periodic abstinence).

Periodic Abstinence

Avoiding coitus from days 10-17 of menstrual cycle (fertile period) to prevent conception.

Withdrawal (Coitus Interruptus)

Male withdraws penis before ejaculation to avoid insemination.

Lactational Amenorrhoea

Temporary post-partum infertility during exclusive breast-feeding (effective up to 6 months).

Barrier Methods

Physical devices preventing sperm from reaching ovum, e.g., condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, vaults.

Male Condom

Disposable latex sheath covering penis, preventing semen entry; brand example: Nirodh.

Female Condom

Latex pouch lining vagina and covering cervix to block semen.

Diaphragm, Cervical Cap, Vault

Reusable rubber devices inserted in female tract to cover cervix; often used with spermicides.

Spermicides

Creams, jellies, or foams that destroy sperm, enhancing barrier effectiveness.

IUDs (Intra-Uterine Devices)

Devices placed in uterus to prevent pregnancy; include non-medicated, copper-releasing, and hormone-releasing types.

Lippes Loop

Non-medicated plastic IUD that increases phagocytosis of sperm.

Copper-T (CuT)

Copper-releasing IUD; Cu ions reduce sperm motility and fertilising capacity.

Multiload-375 / Cu-7

Other copper-based IUD models offering long-term contraception.

Progestasert / LNG-20

Hormone-releasing IUDs that make uterus unsuitable for implantation and cervix hostile to sperm.

Oral Contraceptive Pills

Tablets containing progestogen or combined estrogen-progestogen taken for 21 days to inhibit ovulation and implantation.

Saheli

Indian once-a-week non-steroidal oral contraceptive pill developed by CDRI, Lucknow.

Injectables & Implants

Long-acting progestogen (± estrogen) formulations administered via injection or sub-dermal implant.

Emergency Contraception

High-dose hormones or IUDs used within 72 h of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.

Surgical Sterilisation

Permanent contraception through surgery—vasectomy in males, tubectomy in females.

Vasectomy

Removal or tying of a small segment of vas deferens through scrotal incision to block sperm transport.

Tubectomy

Removal or tying of a section of fallopian tube via abdominal/vaginal incision to block ovum transport.

MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy)

Intentional, legal termination of pregnancy before term; governed by MTP Act (amended 2017).

Amniocentesis

Sampling of amniotic fluid to detect genetic disorders; banned for sex determination in India.

STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)

Diseases transmitted via sexual contact, e.g., gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydiasis, genital herpes, HIV/AIDS.

PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)

Complication of untreated STIs causing infection of female reproductive organs, leading to infertility, ectopic pregnancy.

Infertility

Inability of a couple to conceive after 2 years of unprotected intercourse.

ART (Assisted Reproductive Technologies)

Medical techniques aiding conception, including IVF, ZIFT, GIFT, ICSI, and AI/IUI.

IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation)

Fertilisation of gametes outside body followed by embryo transfer—popularly ‘test-tube baby’.

ZIFT (Zygote Intra-Fallopian Transfer)

Transfer of laboratory-formed zygote/early embryo (≤8 cells) into fallopian tube.

IUT (Intra-Uterine Transfer)

Placement of embryo (>8 cells) directly into uterus for further development.

GIFT (Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer)

Transfer of donor ovum into recipient’s fallopian tube for in vivo fertilisation.

ICSI (Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection)

Laboratory technique where a single sperm is injected into an ovum to form embryo.

AI/IUI (Artificial Insemination/Intra-Uterine Insemination)

Introduction of semen from husband or donor into vagina or uterus to aid conception.