Chapter 3: Reproductive Health Application Questions | biology Class 12 CBSE

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Chapter 3: Reproductive Health Application Questions | biology Class 12 CBSE | ByteNotes.in

Application Question

Medium difficulty • Concept in a practical situation

Medium

Question 1

Applied Concept

A young couple visits a gynaecologist to discuss contraceptive options. The wife wants a method that does not require daily attention, is reversible, and provides long-term protection. Which IUD type would you recommend and why?

A hormone-releasing IUD such as Progestasert or LNG-20 would be most suitable as it provides long-term contraception without requiring daily action, inserted once by a doctor and effective for an extended period.
Hormone-releasing IUDs work by making the uterus unsuitable for implantation, altering cervical mucus to block sperm, and increasing phagocytosis — a multi-level contraceptive approach superior to non-medicated IUDs.
IUDs are reversible; fertility returns upon removal, making them appropriate for a couple that plans to have children in the future while preventing pregnancy in the interim.

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Application Question

Medium difficulty • Concept in a practical situation

Medium

Question 2

Applied Concept

A 19-year-old girl reports itching, slight discharge, and discomfort in the genital region but hesitates to see a doctor due to social stigma. With reference to STIs, explain the risks of delayed treatment.

The symptoms described — itching, fluid discharge, and genital discomfort — are classic early signs of an STI such as gonorrhoea or chlamydiasis; early-stage infections like these are completely curable with proper treatment.
Delayed treatment due to social stigma allows the infection to progress, potentially causing pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID), ectopic pregnancy, or infertility — complications that are far harder to treat than the initial infection.
The chapter emphasises that absence of significant symptoms in early stages, combined with social stigma, deter infected persons from timely detection, which is precisely why reproductive health education must actively reduce stigma around STIs.

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Application Question

Medium difficulty • Concept in a practical situation

Medium

Question 3

Applied Concept

A woman who recently delivered a baby is fully breastfeeding her child and wishes to use a natural method of contraception. With reference to the lactational amenorrhea method, advise her on its reliability and limitations.

The lactational amenorrhea method is suitable for her current situation: intense and exclusive breastfeeding suppresses ovulation by inhibiting GnRH secretion, thus preventing the return of the menstrual cycle and conception.
This method is effective as a contraceptive only up to a maximum of six months following parturition; beyond this period, ovulation may resume even while partial breastfeeding continues, significantly reducing reliability.
She should be counselled to switch to another contraceptive method before the six-month mark or if breastfeeding becomes less frequent, as the method provides no protection against STIs and has no backup mechanism if ovulation returns early.

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Application Question

Medium difficulty • Concept in a practical situation

Medium

Question 4

Applied Concept

A couple has been trying to conceive for three years without success. The male partner has very low sperm count in his ejaculate. Which ART technique would be most appropriate and how does it work?

Artificial Insemination (AI), specifically Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI), is the most appropriate technique; semen is collected, processed to concentrate functional sperms, and then introduced directly into the uterus.
By bypassing the cervix and placing concentrated sperms closer to the fallopian tubes, IUI maximises the chances of sperm reaching and fertilising the ovum even when the natural sperm count is too low.
If IUI is unsuccessful, ICSI (Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection) may be attempted, where a single viable sperm is directly injected into the ovum under laboratory conditions, effectively overcoming even severe male-factor infertility.

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Application Question

Medium difficulty • Concept in a practical situation

Medium

Question 5

Applied Concept

A woman who underwent unprotected intercourse 48 hours ago is worried about an unwanted pregnancy. What emergency contraceptive options are available to her and what is the time limit for their use?

Emergency contraceptives including progestogens, progestogen-estrogen combinations, or copper IUDs are effective if used within 72 hours of unprotected coitus; since it has been 48 hours, she is still within the effective window.
These methods prevent pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation, preventing fertilisation, or making the uterine environment unsuitable for implantation — they do not terminate an existing established pregnancy.
She should consult a qualified medical professional immediately for appropriate prescription and administration, as the effectiveness of emergency contraception decreases significantly with each passing hour after unprotected coitus.

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Application Question

Hard difficulty • Concept in a practical situation

Hard

Question 6

Applied Concept

A pregnant woman at 10 weeks gestation is told by her doctor that the fetus has been diagnosed with a serious chromosomal abnormality through amniocentesis. Under the MTP Act, can she legally terminate the pregnancy? Explain.

Yes, under the MTP (Amendment) Act, 2017, termination within the first 12 weeks is permitted on the opinion of one registered medical practitioner; at 10 weeks gestation, the pregnancy is within this legal limit.
The ground that applies here is that there is a substantial risk the child, if born, would suffer from serious physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped — a chromosomal disorder confirmed by amniocentesis satisfies this criterion.
The procedure at 10 weeks is in the first trimester and is considered relatively safe; however, amniocentesis must be performed for genuine medical diagnostic purposes, not for sex determination, which remains banned under Indian law.

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Application Question

Easy difficulty • Concept in a practical situation

Easy

Question 7

Applied Concept

A sexually active 22-year-old man wants protection against both unwanted pregnancy and STIs. Which contraceptive method should he use and why is it the best choice in his case?

Male condoms are the most appropriate contraceptive method as they simultaneously prevent conception and provide physical barrier protection against sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.
The condom prevents ejaculated semen from entering the female reproductive tract, blocking fertilisation; as a physical barrier, it also prevents contact with infectious secretions responsible for STI transmission.
Condoms are self-insertable, disposable, readily available without a prescription, and provide privacy — making them user-friendly for young sexually active individuals; they are the only contraceptive that offers dual protection against pregnancy and STIs.

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Application Question

Hard difficulty • Concept in a practical situation

Hard

Question 8

Applied Concept

With reference to the chapter, explain why India, despite significant economic development, faces the risk of resource scarcity due to population growth.

India's population exceeded 1.2 billion by May 2011 with a growth rate of under 2 per cent per year; at this rate of growth, even significant gains in food production, housing, and employment are quickly absorbed by the expanding population.
The chapter warns that such alarming growth could lead to absolute scarcity of basic requirements — food, shelter, and clothing — despite progress, indicating that development gains are consistently outpaced by population growth.
The rapid decline in death rate, MMR, and IMR — positive outcomes of better healthcare — paradoxically drove population explosion by increasing the number of people in the reproductive age group, creating a cycle that requires active population management through contraceptive promotion and education.

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Application Question

Hard difficulty • Concept in a practical situation

Hard

Question 9

Applied Concept

A woman who cannot produce ova wishes to have a child. Her sister is willing to donate an ovum. Which ART method is applicable and describe the procedure.

GIFT (Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer) is the applicable method: an ovum is collected from the donor sister and transferred into the recipient's fallopian tube, where it can be fertilised naturally in vivo.
The prerequisite is that the recipient must have a functional fallopian tube capable of supporting fertilisation and a uterus capable of supporting fetal development — since she cannot produce ova but has a functional reproductive tract, GIFT is ideal.
Alternatively, IVF-ZIFT can be used: the donor ovum is fertilised with the partner's sperm in the laboratory and the resulting embryo transferred into the recipient's fallopian tube, ensuring the genetic contribution of the male partner while using a donor ovum.

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Application Question

Medium difficulty • Concept in a practical situation

Medium

Question 10

Applied Concept

A student reads that 'complete lactation could help as a natural method of contraception.' Evaluate this statement and state whether it is completely true or partially true.

The statement is partially true: lactational amenorrhea is a valid natural contraceptive method because intense, complete breastfeeding suppresses ovulation by inhibiting gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, preventing the menstrual cycle from resuming.
However, it is effective only up to a maximum of six months following parturition; after this period, ovulation may resume even before the first visible menstruation, making the method unreliable without additional contraception.
The key qualifier 'complete' is important — partial or supplementary feeding does not provide the same hormonal suppression as exclusive breastfeeding, and even complete lactation does not guarantee protection if the child starts supplementary feeding before six months.

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Chapter 3: Reproductive Health | Application Questions

A young couple visits a gynaecologist to discuss contraceptive options. The wife wants a method that does not require daily attention, is reversible, and provides long-term protection. Which IUD type would you recommend and why?

A 19-year-old girl reports itching, slight discharge, and discomfort in the genital region but hesitates to see a doctor due to social stigma. With reference to STIs, explain the risks of delayed treatment.

A woman who recently delivered a baby is fully breastfeeding her child and wishes to use a natural method of contraception. With reference to the lactational amenorrhea method, advise her on its reliability and limitations.

A couple has been trying to conceive for three years without success. The male partner has very low sperm count in his ejaculate. Which ART technique would be most appropriate and how does it work?

A woman who underwent unprotected intercourse 48 hours ago is worried about an unwanted pregnancy. What emergency contraceptive options are available to her and what is the time limit for their use?

A pregnant woman at 10 weeks gestation is told by her doctor that the fetus has been diagnosed with a serious chromosomal abnormality through amniocentesis. Under the MTP Act, can she legally terminate the pregnancy? Explain.

A sexually active 22-year-old man wants protection against both unwanted pregnancy and STIs. Which contraceptive method should he use and why is it the best choice in his case?

With reference to the chapter, explain why India, despite significant economic development, faces the risk of resource scarcity due to population growth.

A woman who cannot produce ova wishes to have a child. Her sister is willing to donate an ovum. Which ART method is applicable and describe the procedure.

A student reads that 'complete lactation could help as a natural method of contraception.' Evaluate this statement and state whether it is completely true or partially true.

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