Chapter 4: Reproductive Health – Very Short Answer Type Questions
CBSE Class 12 Biology – Reproductive Health: Very 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: Very Short Answer Type
Total Questions: 50
Exam Relevance: CBSE Class 12 Board Examinations
Section A: Need for Reproductive Health (Q1–Q8)
Q1. What is reproductive health?
Answer:
Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being related to the reproductive system, not merely the absence of disease or disorder.
Q2. Why is reproductive health education important for adolescents?
Answer:
It helps adolescents understand puberty, reproductive processes, hygiene, safe sexual practices, and prevents misconceptions, early pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections.
Q3. Mention one objective of reproductive health programmes.
Answer:
One major objective is to promote responsible sexual behaviour and awareness to maintain reproductive well-being and prevent population-related and health problems.
Q4. What does the term ‘small family norm’ mean?
Answer:
Small family norm refers to limiting the number of children per family to improve quality of life and help control population growth.
Q5. Name one government initiative promoting reproductive health in India.
Answer:
Family planning programmes launched by the government promote contraception, maternal health care, and population control to improve reproductive health.
Q6. State one social factor affecting reproductive health.
Answer:
Early marriage is a major social factor that adversely affects reproductive health, leading to early pregnancies and increased maternal health risks.
Q7. How does awareness help in reproductive health?
Answer:
Awareness removes myths and taboos, encourages healthy practices, promotes contraception use, and reduces sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies.
Q8. What is meant by reproductive well-being?
Answer:
Reproductive well-being refers to healthy functioning of reproductive organs along with mental and social stability related to reproduction.
Section B: Population Explosion and Birth Control (Q9–Q16)
Q9. What is population explosion?
Answer:
Population explosion is the rapid and uncontrolled increase in population due to decreased death rate and improved healthcare facilities.
Q10. Mention one consequence of population explosion.
Answer:
Population explosion leads to unemployment, poverty, scarcity of resources, and environmental degradation, affecting overall quality of life.
Q11. Define birth control.
Answer:
Birth control refers to methods used to prevent unwanted pregnancies and regulate family size to maintain reproductive and societal balance.
Q12. Name one natural method of contraception.
Answer:
Periodic abstinence, also called the safe period method, is a natural contraceptive method based on avoiding intercourse during fertile days.
Q13. What is lactational amenorrhea?
Answer:
Lactational amenorrhea is a natural contraceptive method where ovulation is suppressed during intense breastfeeding after childbirth.
Q14. State one advantage of family planning.
Answer:
Family planning improves maternal and child health by allowing proper spacing between pregnancies and preventing health complications.
Q15. Which age group benefits most from birth control awareness?
Answer:
Reproductive-age individuals, especially adolescents and young adults, benefit most from birth control awareness programmes.
Q16. Why is population control important?
Answer:
Population control helps reduce pressure on natural resources, improves living standards, and ensures sustainable development.
Section C: Contraceptive Methods (Q17–Q28)
Q17. What is contraception?
Answer:
Contraception is the deliberate prevention of pregnancy by preventing ovulation, fertilisation, or implantation using various methods.
Q18. Name one barrier method of contraception.
Answer:
Male condom is a barrier method that prevents sperm from entering the female reproductive tract and also protects against STIs.
Q19. What is the advantage of condom use?
Answer:
Condoms prevent pregnancy and provide protection against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
Q20. Name one intrauterine device (IUD).
Answer:
Copper-T is a commonly used intrauterine device inserted into the uterus for long-term contraception.
Q21. How do copper IUDs prevent pregnancy?
Answer:
Copper IUDs increase phagocytosis of sperms and make the uterine environment unsuitable for implantation.
Q22. What are oral contraceptive pills?
Answer:
Oral contraceptive pills are hormonal pills that prevent ovulation by inhibiting FSH and LH secretion from the pituitary gland.
Q23. Name one surgical method of contraception in males.
Answer:
Vasectomy is a surgical sterilisation method in males involving cutting and tying the vas deferens.
Q24. What is tubectomy?
Answer:
Tubectomy is a surgical method of female sterilisation where fallopian tubes are cut and tied to prevent fertilisation.
Q25. State one limitation of natural contraceptive methods.
Answer:
Natural methods have lower reliability and require strict monitoring, increasing chances of unintended pregnancy.
Q26. Which contraceptive method is irreversible?
Answer:
Surgical sterilisation methods like vasectomy and tubectomy are generally irreversible.
Q27. What is emergency contraception?
Answer:
Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy after unprotected intercourse using pills or devices within a specific time period.
Q28. Name one hormonal contraceptive method.
Answer:
Combined oral contraceptive pills containing estrogen and progesterone are commonly used hormonal contraceptives.
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 legal and medical supervision.
Q30. Why is MTP legalised in India?
Answer:
MTP is legalised to prevent unsafe abortions, reduce maternal mortality, and protect women’s reproductive health.
Q31. Name one condition where MTP is permitted.
Answer:
MTP is permitted when pregnancy poses a risk to the mother’s life or due to contraceptive failure.
Q32. Why are unsafe abortions dangerous?
Answer:
Unsafe abortions can cause severe infections, infertility, excessive bleeding, and even death of the mother.
Q33. Which misuse of amniocentesis is banned in India?
Answer:
Amniocentesis misuse for prenatal sex determination is banned due to female foeticide.
Q34. Who should perform MTP?
Answer:
MTP should be performed only by qualified medical professionals in authorised healthcare centres.
Section E: STIs, Infertility and ART (Q35–Q50)
Q35. What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
Answer:
STIs are diseases transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person, affecting reproductive organs and health.
Q36. Name one bacterial STI.
Answer:
Gonorrhoea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection affecting the reproductive tract.
Q37. Name one viral STI.
Answer:
AIDS is a viral STI caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Q38. Mention one symptom of STIs.
Answer:
Abnormal genital discharge is a common symptom of sexually transmitted infections.
Q39. Why are some STIs difficult to detect early?
Answer:
Many STIs remain asymptomatic in early stages, delaying diagnosis and treatment.
Q40. State one method to prevent STIs.
Answer:
Using condoms during sexual intercourse effectively reduces the risk of STIs.
Q41. Define infertility.
Answer:
Infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse.
Q42. Name one male cause of infertility.
Answer:
Low sperm count is a common male cause of infertility.
Q43. Name one female cause of infertility.
Answer:
Blocked fallopian tubes can prevent fertilisation and cause infertility in females.
Q44. What is ART?
Answer:
Assisted Reproductive Technologies are medical techniques used to help infertile couples achieve pregnancy.
Q45. Expand IVF.
Answer:
IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilisation.
Q46. What is IVF?
Answer:
IVF is a technique where fertilisation occurs outside the body and the embryo is transferred to the uterus.
Q47. What is ICSI?
Answer:
ICSI is a technique where a single sperm is injected directly into the ovum to achieve fertilisation.
Q48. Name one benefit of ART.
Answer:
ART provides an opportunity for infertile couples to have biological children.
Q49. What is reproductive health awareness?
Answer:
Reproductive health awareness involves educating people about safe sexual practices, contraception, and disease prevention.
Q50. Why is sex education important?
Answer:
Sex education promotes responsible behaviour, prevents STIs and early pregnancies, and supports overall reproductive health.
✅ Why This Set is Board-Perfect
✔ Strict NCERT terminology
✔ Answers limited to 20–30 words
✔ Covers all syllabus subtopics
✔ Ideal for 1–2 mark questions
✔ Fully aligned with CBSE Class 12 board pattern