MTP and STD

Reproductive ​health​ of individuals has a significant role to play in the

society. Creating awareness about the general health as well as the
reproductive health​ of the population is more of a social goal in
today’s society. Let us educate ourselves about important matters such
as MTP and STD.

​Medical Termination Of Pregnancy (MTP)

An intentional termination of a pregnancy before it reaches full term is

called medical termination of pregnancy (MTP). It is an induced
abortion. In ​India​, MTP is legalized but with certain riders, so that
people do not misuse it. These riders and restrictions have been put in
place so that illegal ​female​ feticides can be controlled and monitored.
However, in some ​countries​, MTP is still not accepted or legal as there
are many religious, ethical and social issues involved.

MTP is mainly done to get rid of unwanted pregnancies that arise out
of casual unprotected ​sex​ or sometimes even failure of the
contraceptives or even unfortunate incidents of rape.
There are also other medical reasons when MTP is performed. When
there is an issue in the pregnancy or the developing fetus, which is
likely to be fatal for both the other and the fetus, then MTP is done.
MTP is generally safe during the first trimester of the pregnancy.

But, there are many disturbing trends that come to light when one
speaks of MTP. Many unqualified people do it risking the lives of
both the fetus and the mother. Secondly, when through some illegal
means, the sex of the child is determined and if found to be a female
child, MTP is performed. These practices are dangerous, risky and
very disturbing. Here it is very important to spread the right
information about the abortions and provide counselling.

Browse more Topics under Reproductive Health

● Amniocentesis and Birth Control
● Assisted Reproductive Technology

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

Source – Pinterest

Sexually transmitted diseases or an STD is a ​disease​ or infection that

is transmitted from one person to the other through sexual intercourse.
Some of these diseases include Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B,
Genital herpes, Chlamydiosis, Genital warts, AIDS etc. Most of the
STD’s can be curable if detected early and proper treatment is given.
The exceptions are the dreaded AIDS, Hepatitis B, and Genital
Herpes.

The symptoms of the STD’s or venereal diseases can range from

itching, mild pain, fluid discharge, swelling etc., occurring in the
genital region. In the case of females who are infected, symptoms are
rarely seen, which is the main cause for not being detected early.
There is a lot of social stigmas attached to an STD, which deters the
infected persons from taking timely medical help. Even the absence of
significant symptoms is another cause. All this leads to further
complications that can include ​cancer​, infertility, ectopic pregnancies
or stillbirths or even pelvic inflammatory diseases.

STD’s pose a major threat to a healthy society. The only probable

solution to overcome this problem is the prevention or early detection
these diseases so that medical attention can be given at the right time.
The reproductive ​healthcare​ programs should focus on issues like
STD’s also.

Solved Questions For You

Q; Is MTP legal in India? Under what conditions is MTP advised?

Ans. In India, MTP is legal. It is advised when the pregnancy is

harmful to both the fetus and the mother. The other conditions when
MTP is advised are to get rid of unwanted pregnancies due to casual
sex or failure of the contraceptives.
Amniocentesis and Birth Control

Estimations suggest every six person in the world is an Indian. No

wonder India is the second most populated country in the world. This
population explosion in our country can lead to scarcity of even basic
necessities. This is the reason that from the past two decades, the
Indian government has come up with several campaigns, strict
measures and birth control options to check the ever-growing
population growth rate of our population. In this topic, we will study
about birth control and the different options available for birth control.

Birth Control

Birth Control is the process of avoiding pregnancy for individuals who

do not want to have a baby even after sexual intercourse. There are
many birth control methods that help in avoiding pregnancy. Birth
Control techniques have been present since ages but it was not until
20th century that effective and safe birth control techniques have
come upon a larger scale.

Birth control methods vary according to the preference of the people

and it also depends upon the health of the people opting for birth
control method. One thing to note here is no birth control method
except abstinence and surgical sterilization is an absolute sure
technique for preventing pregnancy.

Population Explosion and the Need for Birth Control

It is very important to understand why it is important to opt for birth

control methods. Yes, the reason is the ever-growing population
growth rate in India. Past few decades have brought an overall
development in different sectors thereby improving the standard of
living of the people and the quality of life.

Moreover, the advancement in medical facilities in combination with

better standard of living has led to an explosive impact on the
population. According to estimations, the population of the world in
1900 increased to almost 6 billion by the year 2000. The pattern was
similar in case of India and now the population in India is the second
highest population in the world.

Another reason for the increase in population growth rate is decreased

in death rate. Maternal mortality rate and Infant mortality rate have
gone down significantly. Moreover, there was also an increase in the
number of people falling in the reproducible age category.

Help from the Government

Different programmes by the government have led to a decrease in

population growth rate but it is just marginal. The alarming growth
can bring absolute scarcity even in the basic necessities such as
shelter, food, clothing, etc. even after progressing towards
development.

This led Government to take serious measures to overcome the

problem of population explosion. Therefore, the government initiated
campaigns related top smaller families and use of different
contraceptives methods to overcome the problem of population
explosions. Additionally, the government came up with incentives for
couples having small families.

The statutory raising of marriageable age was another measure taken

by the Government the bring a check on population explosion.
However, birth control methods are one of the most effective
measures. Birth control methods fall into the category of Natural or
Traditional Methods, Barriers, Oral Contraceptives, IUDs, Injectables,
Surgical Methods, and Implants.

Properties of an Ideal Contraceptive

The ideal contraceptive must be

● user-friendly
● effective
● easily available
● with no long-term side effects.

Natural Methods

Natural Methods describes processes that avoid chances of the

meeting of sperm and ovum.

● Period Abstinence: This method is when a couple abstains from

coitus during the estimated date of ovulation in the menstrual
cycle, usually from day 10 to day 17. This time period of the
menstrual cycle is the fertile period where the chances of
fertilization are high. Thus, avoiding coitus during this time
 period can decrease or even prevent the chances of the
conception of pregnancy.
● Coitus Interruptus: This natural method of birth control is
possible by avoiding insemination. In this method, the male
partner withdraws penis prior to ejaculation in the vagina of the
female.
● Lactational Amenorrhea or Absence of Menstruation: This
method is possible during the high lactation period just after
parturition because at this time the ovulation does not occur.
Thus, the cycle does not occur. Hence, chances of conception
are nearly nil during the time when the mother breastfeeds a
child entirely. However, the efficacy of this method is around
for six months after parturition. There are nil chances of side
effects in this method due to the absence of any medicines and
device. However, there is a very high chance of failure by this
method.

Artificial Methods
These methods include barrier method, hormonal method, IUDs and
Surgical Methods.

Barrier Method

A barrier between the female sex cells and male sex cells is put up in
this method that helps in blocking the sperms from reaching the
eggs/ova present. Therefore, barrier methods help to avoid fertilization
of ova and the sperm and prevent conception. It is available for both
men and women.

● Barrier Method for Women to Avoid Birth Control: Items like

a diaphragm, cervical shield, female condom, cervical cap,
contraceptive sponge are a few examples of natural barrier
methods in case of women that helps to prevent the sperm
fertilize with the ova thereby avoiding conception.
● Barrier Method for Male to Avoid Birth Control: Use of male
condoms helps to prevent conception.
● Hormonal Methods to Avoid Birth Control: This birth control
method interferes with a woman’s hormonal balance in the
body. Interference of hormonal balance may result in
prevention of ovulation, fertilization, or implantation of
fertilized egg. Hormonal interference is possible to achieve by
 contraceptive pills, birth control injections, vaginal rings, and
progestin-releasing patches.

IUDs

IUDs or Intrauterine devices are examples of implantations. They

resemble small T-shaped devices that can be planted in the uterus.
They are mainly of two types

● Copper IUD- This device can release minute quantities of

copper in the uterus which in turn help in the prevention of
sperms reaching the ovary.
● Hormonal IUD- This type of IUD releases progestin hormone
in the body and thus prevents egg formulation.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Surgical Methods

Surgical Operation is one of the accurate methods to avoid pregnancy

because this method renders both men and women (whoever is
undergoing the procedure) infertile. In case of women, the surgical
procedure refers to as Tubal Ligation. In case of men, the process is
known as Vasectomy.

● Tubal Ligation: This surgical procedure involves the sealing or

cutting of the fallopian tube. Therefore, the eggs will not reach
the uterus thus avoiding the chances of pregnancy entirely.
 ● Vasectomy: In this method, the vas deferens cut and sealed so
that the sperms are unable to get into the ejaculation stream.

Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis or Amniotic Fluid Test is a prenatal diagnostic medical

procedure. This test helps in the determination of genetic arrangement
by studying the chromosomal pattern of the cells. The amniotic fluid
is taken out from a pregnant woman’s uterus to conduct this
procedure.

Amniotic fluid envelopes the developing fetus in the womb of the

mother and it contains fetal cells and waste from the fetus. Hence, this
fluid helps in the mapping of prenatal diagrams for the determination
of genetic disorders, chromosomal abnormalities, cystic fibrosis,
sickle cell disease and anaemia.

The test is conducted between 14-16 weeks of pregnancy. The fluid

can also be tested in the 11 to 13 weeks of pregnancy. However, this
test is often misused to determine the sex of a fetus in India. If the test
results indicate the fetus to be a female, then it leads to female
foeticide in India.

The Actual Purpose of Amniocentesis

● To help in getting timely medical treatment of a child before or
after birth
● In case of abnormalities, the test gives the parents an
opportunity to abort the fetus.
● It also helps the soon to be parents to prepare economically,
psychologically, socially and medically in case of any health
problem in the fetus.

Solved Question for You

Question: The percentage ratio of natality over mortality is

1. Population Density
2. Vital Index
3. Total Count
4. All of the above
Solution: Option 2. The percentage ratio of natality over mortality is
Vital Index.

Assisted Reproductive Technology

Infertility is the inability to conceive or give birth to a child. Infertility

is on a gradual rise in India. Strange right since India is among the
most populated countries in the world. However, reports suggest that
infertility has become one of the common problems in India with over
10 to 14 percent of Indian population suffering from the pain of not
having a child. Thanks to latest development in science and
technology now it is possible for any couple to have a child with
assisted reproductive technology.

Cause of Infertility

India is witnessing a rise in infertility and in the last five years there is
an increase of 20 to 30 percent in infertility. Infertility affects rural as
well as an urban phenomenon. Moreover, it is just not restricted to
women. Men infertility is equally possible. However, the social stigma
in Indian society is largely ignored and the women are always blamed
for unable to bear children.

So it is very important to be educated about infertility and its causes

and how it is possible to solve infertility with the help of assisted
reproductive technology. There a number of reasons for infertility
including congenital, drugs, diseases, immunological or sometimes
psychological. A person affected by any of the above reasons can
suffer from infertility.

Browse more Topics under Reproductive Health

● MTP and STD
● Amniocentesis and Birth Control

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Assisted Reproductive Technology is a number of different processes

for the treatment of infertility. It helps to own pregnancy in different
methods like in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, and fertility medications.
ART falls into the category of field endocrinology and
cryopreservation, reproductive technology and infertility treatments,
and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

ART also helps in solving abnormalities due to genetic issues in the

fertile couples. Couples also choose ART if they are incongruous to
particular communicable diseases. ART techniques help to reduce the
infection risks at the time of pregnancy parturition and lactation.

Infertility is not an easy condition and is certainly very difficult to deal

and face. However, there are many ART treatments available that help
to deal with this situation and solve it. Various types of ART to solve
infertility complications are

● In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

● GIFT
● ZIFT
● Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
● Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
● Surrogacy
● Donor Eggs
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In Vitro Fertilization or IVF is one of the most common types of ART

techniques. Majority of the patients opt for IVF over other ART
methods. In this method, a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm are
undergoing combination in the laboratory. The next step is to transfer
the embryo inside the woman’s uterus immediately after the
fertilization of the embryo.

The method starts with the keeping track of the woman’s ovulatory
process and stimulating it in order to remove an egg (ovum or ova)
from the woman’s ovaries. The eggs are kept with sperm in a liquid
for fertilization in a laboratory. The fertilization of egg results in the
formation of zygote.

Furthermore, the zygote undergoes embryo culture for the duration of

2-6 days. Finally, transfer of the embryo culture in the same or another
woman’s uterus takes place with the aim for the establishment of a
successful pregnancy.

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)

Earlier before the advancement of technology, Gamete Intrafallopian

Transfer (GIFT) was very common for couples having infertility
issues. In this method, eggs from woman and sperms from man
undergo combination by employing laboratory techniques in the lab.

Later, the eggs are implanted in the fallopian tube of the female. The
fertilization occurs inside the body of the women by applying GIFT
treatments and not in the lab. Couples who want a natural treatment so
that the fertilization and implantation process occurs inside the
woman’s body opt for this form of assisted reproductive technology.

(Source: explorebiotech)

Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)

This is another form of assisted reproductive technology. ZIFT is

similar to IVF and embryo transfer. However, the primary difference
is that the embryo transfer after fertilization is done in the fallopian
tube in case of ZIFT whereas in case of IVF the embryo is transferred
in the uterus. The other name of this method is TET (tubal embryo
transfer) due to the transfer of embryo directly into the tubes. The next
step in the process is to transfer the fertilized egg in the fallopian tube
at 24 hours.

Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection

It is a special form of in vitro fertilization technique that helps in the

formation of an embryo in the man by direct injection of the sperm
into the egg/ovum. In this technique, it is possible to directly inject a
single sperm cell into the cytoplasm of the ova. This technique helps
in the preparation of gametes and formation of embryos which is
finally transferred into the uterus of the woman.
Source: explorebiotech

Source: Wikipedia

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine Insemination is the process of transfer of a man’s sperm

into a woman’s uterus with the help of a long narrow tube. Moreover,
it is possible to apply this method in combination with stimulation of
ovulation. Together the processes can sometimes increase the chances
of pregnancy.

The success rate of this technique completely depends upon the reason
of infertility. Additionally, it is possible to increase the success rate of
this method by nearly 20 percent if the inseminations take place on a
monthly basis with fresh or frozen sperms. However, the increase of
success rate depends upon woman’s age, fertility medications,
infertility diagnosis and many other reasons.

(Source: Wikimedia)

Surrogacy

Surrogacy refers to the process where another woman bears a baby of

the couple facing infertility issues. The formation of the baby can take
place either by fertilization of egg and sperm from the couple or from
donor egg and sperm. Thus, we can say a surrogate act as the carrier
of the baby.

Donor Eggs

This ART method is applicable when it is not possible to see the

woman’s eggs or there is some defect in the formation of eggs. The
eggs/ova of the donor is taken. Therefore, the donor eggs further
undergo fertilization with the man’s sperm. Moreover, the embryo
remains in incubating condition until the transfer of the embryo to the
woman’s uterus. The same process is applicable using sperm from a
donor if the same problem lies in male member of the couple.

As we can see, there are many options available for the treatment of
infertility. However, these techniques require very high precision
technique along with expensive instruments and experienced and
trained professionals. The numbers of centres are gradually increasing
but still, there are very few centres in the country. Moreover, many
factors such as religious, social and emotional play an important role
and sometime deterrent in the adoption of this method.

The main aim of the method is to have children. However, one thing
that majority of the couple unable to have children overlook is that
there are many orphan and destitute children in need of proper a life.
These children will not even survive till maturity if they do not get a
good life. Moreover, there are laws in India that help a couple to adopt
these children.
The couples if opting for this option for parenthood, not only they will
be able to have a child but they will also be able to give a proper and
healthy life for the children who are in dire need for this.

Solved Question for You

Question: What is the primary difference between ICSI and classical

IVF technology?

Solution: There are many differences between Intra Cytoplasmic

Sperm Injection and In vitro fertilization. However, the primary
difference is in the insemination. ICSI requires a single sperm cell to
fertilize with oocyte whereas the IVF require almost 50 to 100
thousand for fertilization with the oocyte. The reason for the
difference is that IVF undergo acrosome reaction and it involves
thousands of sperm cells. Fertilization leads to the formation of
proembryo which is then transferred to the uterus for further
development.