Midterm 2 BIOL030

Reproductive Health and Physiology

Braxton Hicks:
- Painless uterine contractions
- Indicate that delivery is near
- Serve as practice for labor
Vernix:
- Waxy white substance found coating newborns' skin
- Protects skin of the fetus during gestation
Colostrum:
- Thin, watery fluid rich in proteins and antibodies
- Produced by breasts prior to milk production

Quickening vs. Vernix:
- Quickening: The first fetal movements felt by the mother
- Vernix: The protective substance on fetal skin

Primary Mechanisms:
- Combination Oral Contraceptives: Hormonal birth control pills containing estrogen and progestin
- Barrier Methods: Methods like condoms, diaphragms that prevent sperm from reaching the egg
Emergency Contraception:
- Can be used if:
  - No protection used during intercourse
  - Regular birth control was missed
  - Condom failure (broke/slipped)
  - Forced sex
- Not reliable as a regular birth control method
- Types include Copper-T (IUD), Plan B, Ella
- Effectiveness varies; OTC (over-the-counter) methods are often easiest

Stage 1:
- Initial contractions and cervical dilation until fully dilated (10 cm)
- Phases:
  - Latent: Early dilation, variable duration
  - Active: Faster dilation
  - Transition: Final dilation, strong contractions
Stage 2:
- Birth of the baby
Stage 3:
- Delivery of the placenta

Oxytocin:
- Stimulates uterine contractions
- Stimulates milk flow
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG):
- Management of pregnancy, secreted by blastocyst
- Detectable as early as 7 days post-conception
- Maintains progesterone production during early pregnancy

First Trimester:
- Germinal stage: Formation of zygote
- Develops into morula and then blastocyst
- Embryo stage lasts until 8 weeks
Second Trimester:
- Visible gonadal differentiation
- Fetus begins to move around 5 months
Third Trimester:
- Fetus enlarges significantly
- Begins responding to familiar sounds

BDSM:
- Consensual practices involving bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism
- Importance of consent and power dynamics
Risk-Aware Consensual Kink (RACK):
- Involves informed consent regarding risks in BDSM practices

Transmission of Infections:
- Can occur through unprotected sex
- Preventive measures include barrier methods like condoms

HIV Transmission Mechanisms:
- Through blood, semen, or vaginal fluids
PrEP and PEP:
- PrEP: daily preventative pill
- PEP: emergency treatment post-exposure, effective within 72 hours

Sequence:
- Zygote > Morula > Blastocyst
- Implantation into the uterus starts embryonic development
Physiological Changes in Pregnancy:
- Hormonal shifts support pregnancy and fetal development

Phases of Labor:
- First stage can last up to 14 hours
- Second stage involves active delivery
- Third stage involves the expulsion of the placenta

Nervous System Response to Danger:
- Fight, flight, freeze, flop, fawn as reactions to trauma
Amygdala's Role:
- Critical for emotional processing; activates in response to trauma

Factors impairing fertility include irregular ovulation, advanced age, structural problems, and infections
Timing of Conception: Most likely occurs during ovulation

Factors in forming bonds and attraction
Importance of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine in love and attachment
Episiotomy relevance in childbirth for surgical interventions

Lochia: Vaginal discharge after birth
Lactation: Process of milk production post-birth
Hypogonadism: Low function of ovaries/testes
Vasectomy: Surgical sterilization method for males
Sexual Fluidity: Concept introduced by Lisa Diamond regarding variability in sexual attraction over time
Placenta Function: Transfers nutrients and oxygen to the fetus while removing waste.