Class 12 Biology Chapter 3 – Reproductive Health Solutions (Exercise Questions)
Understand the important concepts of reproductive health with easy-to-follow solutions. The detailed Class 12 Biology Chapter 3 – Reproductive Health question answer helps students learn important topics effectively without any further help. All the questions present in the NCERT Books are answered in a simple manner, which saves time and reduces stress.
Question 1. What do you think is the significance of reproductive health in a society?
Answer:
Reproductive health provides the overall physical, emotional, social, and behavioural well-being of an individual in all phases of reproduction. Its importance comprises:
Decreasing the likelihood of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as AIDS, hepatitis, and gonorrhoea by creating awareness about their prevention and transmission.
Gaining information about family planning and birth control assists in population control and enhances society's well-being.
Question 2. Suggest the aspects of reproductive health that need to be given special attention in the present scenario.
Answer:
The following reproductive health areas need extra focus:
Making sure that the right information regarding reproductive organs, STDs, AIDS, and safe sex is available.
Informing individuals about means of birth control, checkups for pregnant women, and care for the mother and infant.
Question 3. Is sex education necessary in schools? Why?
Answer:
Yes, school sex education is necessary because:
Teenagers need to study reproductive organs, the changes that come with puberty, safe sexual activities, and STDs during adolescence.
It improves awareness concerning methods of birth control and provides an understanding of healthful reproduction.
Educating school students means there will be an educated and more reproductive healthy community.
Question 4. Do you think that reproductive health in our country has improved in the past 50 years? If yes, mention some such areas of improvement.
Answer:
Yes, reproductive health has also improved a lot in the last 50 years because of several initiatives:
Family planning schemes were initiated as early as 1951.
Reproductive Health awareness campaigns are carried out through the media and NGOs.
Maternal and infant mortality rates have come down dramatically.
Female foeticide has been curbed by prohibiting amniocentesis for sex determination.
Mass immunisation drives for infants and children have been undertaken.
Question 5. What are the suggested reasons for the population explosion?
Answer:
The reasons for population growth are:
Substantial reduction of death rates, maternal death rate, and child death rate.
Increase in population in the childbearing age.
Better medical infrastructure increases life spans.
Illiteracy leads to unawareness regarding birth control mechanisms.
Question 6. Is the use of contraceptives justified? Give reasons.
Answer:
Yes, the use of contraceptives is justified because:
The increasing population can result in shortages of basic resources such as food, shelter, and healthcare.
Contraceptives effectively and safely control population growth and are generally safe when used correctly.
Contraceptive methods are simple to use, inexpensive, and readily available.
Question 7. Removal of the gonads cannot be considered as a contraceptive option. Why?
Answer:
Gonad removal is not considered a practical contraceptive option because, although it causes permanent sterility, it also eliminates sex-hormone production and causes severe physiological and psychological consequences. Therefore, it is not used as a routine method of contraception for ethical, medical, and hormonal reasons.
Question 8. Amniocentesis for sex determination is banned in our country. Is this ban necessary? Comment.
Answer:
Yes, amniocentesis for sex determination should be banned because:
The procedure was being used to detect the sex of the foetus, resulting in female foeticide.
The ban reduces gender-based abortions and supports gender equality.
Question 9. Suggest some methods to assist infertile couples to have children.
Answer:
Infertile couples may be treated by various assisted reproductive technologies (ART), which include:
- IVF (In-vitro Fertilisation): Ova and sperm are fertilised in vitro, resulting in embryos that are then transferred to the uterus (embryo transfer).
- GIFT (Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer): Unfertilized sperm and oocytes (gametes) are placed together directly into the fallopian tube so fertilisation occurs in vivo.
- ZIFT (Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer): A zygote (fertilised ovum) formed in vitro is transferred into the fallopian tube.
- AI (Artificial Insemination / IUI): Process of placing washed sperm into the female reproductive tract (commonly intrauterine insemination) to increase chances of fertilisation.
- ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection): A single sperm is injected directly into an ovum in vitro to form an embryo, which is then transferred.
Question 10. What are the measures one has to take to prevent contracting STDs?
Answer:
To avoid sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), do the following:
Practice the use of condoms during sex regularly and properly.
Stay away from sexual activity with unfamiliar or multiple sex partners.
Practice good sexual hygiene and see a doctor in case of symptoms.
Question 11. State True/False with an explanation
(a) Abortions could happen spontaneously, too. (True/False)
Answer:
(a) Abortions could happen spontaneously, too.
True, abortion, which is the medical termination of pregnancy, can happen spontaneously, too.
Question 11.
(b) Infertility is defined as the inability to produce viable offspring and is always due to abnormalities/defects in the female partner. (True/False)
Answer:
(b) Infertility is defined as the inability to produce viable offspring and is always due to abnormalities/defects in the female partner.
False. Male partners could also be responsible for infertility.
Question 11.
(c) Complete lactation could help as a natural method of contraception. (True/False)
Answer:
(c) Complete lactation could help as a natural method of contraception.
True. During complete lactation, no ovulation takes place, so no menstrual cycle and no chances of fertilisation.
Question 11.
(d) Creating awareness about sex-related aspects is an effective method to improve the reproductive health of people. (True/False)
Answer:
(d) Creating awareness about sex related aspects is an effective method to improve the reproductive health of the people.
True. Creating awareness about sex-related aspects is an effective method to improve the reproductive health of people.
Question 12. Correct the following statements :
(a) Surgical methods of contraception prevent gamete formation
Answer:
Surgical methods of contraception do not prevent gamete formation. They act as a contraceptive by not allowing the transfer of gametes, thus preventing unwanted pregnancies.
(b) All sexually transmitted diseases are completely curable.
Answer:
Some sexually transmitted diseases are completely curable if detected earlier. Aids is a sexually transmitted disease that is still incurable.
(c) Oral pills are very popular contraceptives among rural women.
Answer:
Oral pills are very popular contraceptives among urban women.
(d) In ET techniques, embryos are always transferred into the uterus.
Answer:
In the ET technique, an embryo of the 8-cell stage or less is transferred to the fallopian tube, while one or more than 8 blastomeres are transferred to the uterus.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12- Subject-wise
Important Questions from Class 12 Biology Chapter 3 Solutions
Here are some of the important questions that will help you focus on important concepts and strengthen your understanding for the exams. To practice this type of question, students can depend on the NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 3 – Reproductive Health.
Question 1: Diaphragms are contraceptive devices used by females. Choose the correct option from the statements given below:
i. They are introduced into the uterus.
ii. They are placed to cover the cervical region.
iii. They act as physical barriers to sperm entry.
iv. They act as spermicidal agents.
Options
i and ii
i and iii
ii and iii
iii & iv
Answer: The correct answer is option 3), (ii), and (iii)
Explanation: Diaphragms are categorised as barrier contraceptives for females. Their function is to obstruct pregnancy by being positioned in the vagina, where they cover the cervix. This placement prevents sperm from moving into the uterus. They serve as physical obstacles that hinder sperm from reaching the egg, thereby diminishing the likelihood.
The inaccurate statements are as follows:
i. Insertion into the uterus is not correct. Diaphragms are vaginal devices that cover the cervix, not placed within the uterus itself.
iv. Diaphragms are not inherently spermicidal. Although they can be used with spermicides, which are chemicals that eliminate sperm, the diaphragms on their own are barriers, not agents of sperm destruction. The spermicide is an additional component applied to the diaphragm for enhanced contraceptive properties.
Question 2: Emergency contraceptives are effective if used within:
Options
72 hrs of coitus
72 hrs of ovulation
72 hrs of menstruation
72 hrs of implantation
Answer: The correct answer is option 1), 72 hrs of coitus
Explanation: Emergency contraceptives are most effective when taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, but some types can be used up to 5 days after. The sooner they are taken, the higher the chances of preventing pregnancy. They work by delaying ovulation, preventing fertilisation, or altering the uterine lining. However, their effectiveness decreases as time passes after intercourse.
Question 3: The method of directly injecting sperm into an ovum in Assisted Reproductive Technology is called:
Options
GIFT
ZIFT
ICSI
ET
Answer: The correct answer is option 3), ICSI
Explanation: Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is one of the assisted reproductive technologies; it is injected directly into the cytoplasm of an ovum by a single sperm. It finds application especially when sperm have difficulty in achieving fertilisation in vitro, such as male-factor infertility. This ensures bypassing natural barriers, therefore enhancing the likelihood of successful fertilisation, usually with the in vitro fertilisation technique.
NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Solutions