Reproductive HealthNEET Zoology · Class 12 · NCERT Chapter 3

You can expect 1 to 2 questions from Reproductive Health in NEET 2027. The most reliable scoring areas are: the types of IUDs and how they work, the names of ART procedures (IVF, ZIFT, GIFT, ICSI, IUI) and what each one involves, Saheli as a non-steroidal oral contraceptive, surgical methods (tubectomy and vasectomy), and the causative agents of common STIs.

Contraceptive methods fall into six categories. (1) Natural methods: periodic abstinence (avoiding sex around ovulation), coitus interruptus (withdrawal before ejaculation), and lactational amenorrhea (no ovulation during exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months). (2) Barrier methods: male condoms, female condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps and vaults. (3) IUDs: Lippes loop (non-medicated), CuT and Multiload 375 (copper-releasing), LNG-20 (hormone-releasing). (4) Oral contraceptive pills: combined pills and Saheli (non-steroidal). (5) Injectables and implants (progestins). (6) Surgical: tubectomy in females, vasectomy in males.

All three are assisted reproductive technologies for infertile couples. IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation): eggs and sperm are collected and fertilised outside the body in the lab (in vitro). The embryo is then transferred into the uterus (IET, or ZIFT if transferred into the fallopian tube at zygote stage). ZIFT (Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer): the fertilised egg (zygote) is transferred into the fallopian tube. GIFT (Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer): unfertilised eggs and sperm are both transferred into the fallopian tube, where fertilisation takes place inside the body. GIFT is used when the woman has functional fallopian tubes.

Saheli is a once-a-week oral contraceptive developed in India. It is non-steroidal, meaning it does not contain synthetic estrogen or progesterone. Its active compound is centchroman (ormeloxifene). It works by preventing implantation and by altering the uterine environment. It has very few side-effects compared to combined hormonal pills. Regular combined oral contraceptive pills contain synthetic estrogen and progestin and are taken daily. The NEET key fact: Saheli is non-steroidal.

MTP was legalised in India in 1971 through the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act. It can be performed legally up to 20 weeks of pregnancy (extended to 24 weeks for special categories under a 2021 amendment). MTP must be performed by a registered medical practitioner at an approved facility. MTP is considered safe in the first trimester (up to 12 weeks). The misuse of MTP for sex-selective abortion (female foeticide) is a serious social concern and is illegal under the PCPNDT Act.

Bacterial STIs: gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), syphilis (Treponema pallidum), chlamydiasis (Chlamydia trachomatis). Most bacterial STIs are curable with antibiotics. Viral STIs: genital herpes (Herpes simplex virus), genital warts (Human papillomavirus, HPV), hepatitis B (Hepatitis B virus, HBV), HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Viral STIs are generally not curable, only manageable. The protozoal STI to know is trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis), which is curable.

ICSI stands for Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection. In this procedure, a single sperm is injected directly into the cytoplasm of an egg cell under a microscope. The fertilised egg is then transferred to the uterus. ICSI is used when the male partner has very low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or when conventional IVF has failed. It allows fertilisation even with very few viable sperm.