Chapter 4: Reproductive Health – Short Answer Type Questions

CBSE Class 12 Biology – Reproductive Health: Short Answer Questions (NCERT Based)

Course: CBSE Class 12 Biology

Unit I: Reproduction

Chapter 4: Reproductive Health

Board: Central Board of Secondary Education

Textbook: NCERT

Question Type: Short Answer Type Questions

Total Questions: 50

Exam Relevance: CBSE Class 12 Board Examinations

Section A: Need for Reproductive Health (Q1–Q8)

Q1. What is reproductive health? Explain its significance.

Answer:
Reproductive health refers to complete physical, mental, and social well-being related to the reproductive system. It ensures healthy reproductive organs, safe sexual practices, and responsible parenthood. Good reproductive health helps prevent STIs, reduces maternal and infant mortality, and supports population control. It also promotes awareness, gender equality, and informed decision-making, contributing to individual well-being and social stability.

Q2. Why is reproductive health education important for adolescents?

Answer:
Reproductive health education helps adolescents understand bodily changes during puberty, menstrual hygiene, reproductive processes, and safe sexual practices. It removes myths and misconceptions, reduces fear and anxiety, and promotes responsible behaviour. Such education prevents early pregnancies, STIs, and unhealthy practices, ensuring better physical and mental well-being during adolescence and adulthood.

Q3. Mention the objectives of reproductive health programmes in India.

Answer:
The objectives of reproductive health programmes include promoting small family norms, providing access to contraception, reducing maternal and infant mortality, preventing STIs, and creating awareness about sexual health. These programmes also aim to improve healthcare facilities, encourage responsible behaviour, and ensure overall reproductive well-being of the population.

Q4. How do social factors affect reproductive health?

Answer:
Social factors such as early marriage, lack of education, poverty, gender discrimination, and social taboos negatively affect reproductive health. These factors can lead to early pregnancies, poor maternal health, unsafe abortions, and limited access to healthcare services. Awareness and education are essential to overcome these challenges.

Q5. Explain the concept of reproductive well-being.

Answer:
Reproductive well-being means maintaining healthy reproductive organs along with emotional and social stability related to reproduction. It involves responsible sexual behaviour, disease prevention, family planning, and access to healthcare services. Reproductive well-being contributes to healthy families and a balanced society.

Q6. State the role of awareness programmes in improving reproductive health.

Answer:
Awareness programmes educate people about contraception, STIs, maternal care, and reproductive rights. They help remove myths, encourage healthy practices, and promote early diagnosis of disorders. Such programmes play a vital role in improving reproductive health and quality of life.

Q7. Why is gender equality important for reproductive health?

Answer:
Gender equality ensures equal access to education, healthcare, and decision-making for both sexes. It reduces early marriages, maternal health risks, and social discrimination. Equal participation of men and women improves reproductive health outcomes and family welfare.

Q8. How does reproductive health contribute to national development?

Answer:
Reproductive health helps control population growth, improves maternal and child health, and reduces healthcare burdens. A healthy population contributes to economic growth, resource sustainability, and social stability, supporting national development.

Section B: Population Explosion and Birth Control (Q9–Q16)

Q9. What is population explosion? Mention its causes.

Answer:
Population explosion is the rapid increase in population due to decreased death rates, improved healthcare, and increased life expectancy. Lack of awareness about family planning and early marriages also contribute to population growth.

Q10. Explain the consequences of population explosion.

Answer:
Population explosion leads to unemployment, poverty, shortage of resources, environmental degradation, and pressure on healthcare and education systems. It negatively affects quality of life and sustainable development.

Q11. What is birth control? Why is it necessary?

Answer:
Birth control refers to methods used to prevent unwanted pregnancies and regulate family size. It is necessary to improve maternal health, ensure proper child care, and control population growth.

Q12. Explain the importance of family planning.

Answer:
Family planning helps in spacing births, reducing maternal and infant mortality, improving women’s health, and ensuring economic stability. It also supports population control and sustainable development.

Q13. What is lactational amenorrhea?

Answer:
Lactational amenorrhea is a natural contraceptive method in which ovulation is suppressed during intense breastfeeding after childbirth. It is effective for a limited period postpartum.

Q14. Why is small family norm encouraged?

Answer:
Small family norm is encouraged to improve quality of life, ensure better healthcare and education for children, and reduce population pressure on resources.

Q15. How does education help in population control?

Answer:
Education increases awareness about contraception, family planning, and reproductive health. Educated individuals make informed decisions, leading to reduced birth rates and healthier families.

Q16. Mention one government measure to control population growth.

Answer:
Government-launched family planning programmes promote contraceptive use, delayed marriages, and awareness to control population growth.

Section C: Contraceptive Methods (Q17–Q28)

Q17. What is contraception? Explain its role in reproductive health.

Answer:
Contraception is the prevention of pregnancy by preventing ovulation, fertilisation, or implantation. It helps avoid unwanted pregnancies, promotes family planning, reduces maternal health risks, and supports reproductive health.

Q18. Describe natural methods of contraception.

Answer:
Natural methods include periodic abstinence, coitus interruptus, and lactational amenorrhea. They do not involve drugs or devices but are less reliable due to chances of human error.

Q19. Explain barrier methods of contraception.

Answer:
Barrier methods like condoms and diaphragms prevent sperm from reaching the ovum. They are easy to use and provide protection against sexually transmitted infections.

Q20. What are intrauterine devices (IUDs)?

Answer:
IUDs are devices inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Examples include Copper-T and Multiload-375. They prevent implantation and increase sperm destruction.

Q21. Explain hormonal methods of contraception.

Answer:
Hormonal methods include oral pills and injectables that prevent ovulation by suppressing FSH and LH secretion. They also alter uterine lining to prevent implantation.

Q22. What are surgical methods of contraception?

Answer:
Surgical methods include vasectomy in males and tubectomy in females. These are permanent sterilisation methods that prevent gamete transport.

Q23. State advantages of condom use.

Answer:
Condoms prevent pregnancy and protect against STIs, including HIV/AIDS. They are inexpensive, easily available, and have no hormonal side effects.

Q24. Why are natural contraceptive methods less reliable?

Answer:
Natural methods depend on accurate timing and self-control. Any error increases chances of fertilisation, making them less reliable compared to other methods.

Q25. What is emergency contraception?

Answer:
Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy after unprotected intercourse using pills or devices within a specific time period.

Q26. How do copper IUDs prevent pregnancy?

Answer:
Copper IUDs increase phagocytosis of sperms and create a hostile uterine environment, preventing fertilisation and implantation.

Q27. Why is sterilisation considered irreversible?

Answer:
Sterilisation involves cutting and tying reproductive ducts, making reversal difficult and unreliable. Hence, it is considered a permanent method.

Q28. Mention one limitation of hormonal contraceptives.

Answer:
Hormonal contraceptives may cause side effects like nausea, weight gain, or hormonal imbalance in some women.

Section D: Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Q29–Q34)

Q29. What is medical termination of pregnancy (MTP)?

Answer:
MTP is the intentional termination of pregnancy before full term under medical supervision to protect women’s health.

Q30. Why was MTP legalised in India?

Answer:
MTP was legalised to prevent unsafe abortions, reduce maternal mortality, and safeguard reproductive health of women.

Q31. Mention conditions under which MTP is permitted.

Answer:
MTP is permitted in cases of risk to mother’s life, fetal abnormalities, or contraceptive failure, under legal provisions.

Q32. What are the risks of unsafe abortions?

Answer:
Unsafe abortions can cause severe bleeding, infections, infertility, and even death of the mother.

Q33. Why is misuse of amniocentesis banned?

Answer:
Misuse of amniocentesis for prenatal sex determination led to female foeticide, so it is legally banned in India.

Q34. Who is authorised to perform MTP?

Answer:
Only qualified medical practitioners in authorised healthcare centres are allowed to perform MTP.

Section E: STIs, Infertility and ART (Q35–Q50)

Q35. What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

Answer:
STIs are infections transmitted through sexual contact, affecting reproductive organs and overall health.

Q36. Name two common STIs.

Answer:
Gonorrhoea and AIDS are common sexually transmitted infections affecting reproductive health.

Q37. Mention symptoms of STIs.

Answer:
Symptoms include genital itching, abnormal discharge, pain during urination, and sores.

Q38. Why are STIs sometimes difficult to detect early?

Answer:
Many STIs remain asymptomatic initially, delaying diagnosis and increasing health complications.

Q39. How can STIs be prevented?

Answer:
STIs can be prevented by safe sexual practices, condom use, limited partners, and early medical treatment.

Q40. Define infertility.

Answer:
Infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse.

Q41. Mention one male cause of infertility.

Answer:
Low sperm count or poor sperm motility is a common male cause of infertility.

Q42. Mention one female cause of infertility.

Answer:
Blocked fallopian tubes can prevent fertilisation and cause infertility in females.

Q43. What is ART?

Answer:
Assisted Reproductive Technologies are techniques used to help infertile couples achieve pregnancy.

Q44. Explain IVF briefly.

Answer:
In vitro fertilisation involves fertilising ovum and sperm outside the body and transferring the embryo into the uterus.

Q45. What is ZIFT?

Answer:
ZIFT involves transferring a zygote into the fallopian tube for further development.

Q46. What is GIFT?

Answer:
GIFT involves transferring gametes into the fallopian tube to achieve fertilisation inside the body.

Q47. What is ICSI?

Answer:
ICSI involves injecting a single sperm directly into the ovum to achieve fertilisation.

Q48. Mention one advantage of ART.

Answer:
ART provides infertile couples an opportunity to have biological children.

Q49. Why is counselling important in infertility treatment?

Answer:
Counselling provides emotional support, reduces stress, and helps couples understand treatment options.

Q50. How does sex education support reproductive health?

Answer:
Sex education promotes awareness, responsible behaviour, STI prevention, and informed reproductive decisions.

✅ Why This Set is Board-Perfect

✔ Strict NCERT alignment
✔ Answers within 60–80 words
✔ Covers entire chapter framework
✔ Ideal for 2–3 mark questions
✔ Fully suited for CBSE Class 12 board exams