Midterm 2 BIOL030

Reproductive Health and Physiology

Terminology

• 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

Differences in Terms

• Quickening vs. Vernix:

  • Quickening: The first fetal movements felt by the mother

  • Vernix: The protective substance on fetal skin

Contraceptive Methods

• 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

Pregnancy and Birth

Stages of Pregnancy

• Trimester Overview:

  • 1st: 0-13 weeks

  • 2nd: 14-27 weeks

  • 3rd: 28-40 weeks

Stages of Labor

• 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

Hormonal Roles

• 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

Trimester Details

• 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

Human Sexuality

Sexual Orientation and Behavior

• Factors influencing sexual orientation and variability

• Sternberg's Love Model:

  • Three components: intimacy, passion, commitment

Paraphilias and BDSM

• 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

Sexual Health

• Transmission of Infections:

  • Can occur through unprotected sex

  • Preventive measures include barrier methods like condoms

HIV/AIDS and STIs

• 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

Human Development

Developmental Stages

• Sequence:

  • Zygote > Morula > Blastocyst

  • Implantation into the uterus starts embryonic development

• Physiological Changes in Pregnancy:

  • Hormonal shifts support pregnancy and fetal development

Labor and Delivery Phases

• Phases of Labor:

  • First stage can last up to 14 hours

  • Second stage involves active delivery

  • Third stage involves the expulsion of the placenta

Trauma Responses

• 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

Infertility Causes

• Factors impairing fertility include irregular ovulation, advanced age, structural problems, and infections

• Timing of Conception: Most likely occurs during ovulation

Partner and Love Dynamics

• Factors in forming bonds and attraction

• Importance of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine in love and attachment

• Episiotomy relevance in childbirth for surgical interventions

Additional Terms

• 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.