World Health Organisation (WHO) defines the reproductive health as "a state of well being of individuals in physical, functional, emotional, behavioural and social aspects of reproductive system."
 

I. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs):
    The disease or infection transmitted through sexual contact is known as STD or Venerial Disease (VD). All the STDs (except HIV, genital herpes and hepatitis - B) are curable, if they undergo complete medical treatment. Untreated STDs in women may lead to pelvic inflammatory diseases, abortions, still births, ectopic pregnancy, infertility or cancer of reproductive tract. To control the STDs, one should follow -
i. Avoiding sexual contact with unknown or multiple partners.
ii. Using condoms.
iii. Consulting a qualified doctor for early detection of STD and getting complete treatment.

Some of the common STD's and the causative organisms are shown below.

II. Birth Control: 
        India is facing the problem of population explosion. Probable reasons for this explosion are....
i. Decline in death rate.
ii. Decline in maternal mortality rate.
iii. Decline in infant mortality rate.

        To overcome the population explosion, birth control is the only solution. The two measures taken by the Government in this aspect are - rising the marriageable age of the females to 18 years and males to 21 years, and providing incentives to the couples with small families (with one or two children).
 

III. Contraception:
The intentional prevention of conception by natural or artificial methods is known as contraception. Contraceptives prevent pregnancy by interfering in ovulation, fertilisation or implantation. The available contraceptive methods are as follows.
 

1. Natural methods:
i. Periodic abstinence - Avoiding coitus from 10th day to 17th day of menstrual cycle (when ovulation occurs.)
ii. Coitus interruptus - Male withdraws his penis from vagina just before ejaculation.
iii. Lactational amenorrhea - Ovulation generally does not occur during the period of lactation by the mother.

2. Barriers:
i. Condoms for males.
ii. Diaphragms, cervical caps, vaults etc., for females.
iii. Spemicidal creams, jellies, foams etc.
 

3. Intra Uterine Devices (IUD)
i. Non medicated IUD - loops
ii. Copper T
iii. Hormone releasing IUD
 

4. Oral contraceptives:
i. Progesterone or Progesterone - estrogen combination tablets (commonly called pills)
ii. Once a week pill, namely, Saheli (developed by CDRI, Lucknow).
 

5. Contraceptive injections and others:
i. Injection of depot medroxy progesterone acetate provides protection against pregnancy for 3 months.
ii. Contraceptive implant.
iii. Vaginal ring
iv. Skin patches - releasing hormones.

6. Surgical methods: Permanent contraception
i. Vasectomy - for males
ii. Tubectomy - for females
 

IV. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)
        Intentional or voluntary termination of pregnancy before the full term of gestation is known as MTP or induced abortion. Govt of India legalised the MTP with certain conditions through an act in 1971.
 

V. Amniocentesis.
i. It is a diagnostic procedure to detect genetic disorders in the unborn baby.
ii. In this process, the doctor extract some amniotic fluid, from which, the foetal cells are separated.
iii. The cells are stained and the chromosomes are observed under microscope to identify the genetic abnormalities.
iv. By amniocentesis, genetic disorders like Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome, Turner's Syndrome etc., can be detected.

VI. Infertility:
i. It is a biological inability of a person to contribute to conception.
ii. The reasons for infertility are physical, diseases, genetic, drugs, psychological or immunological problems etc,
iii. In India, the female is generally blamed for infertility, but in most of the cases, the problem lies with the male partner.
iv. Many types of modern medical facilities are available to over come this problem in these days.
 

VII. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
        If corrections for infertility are not fruitful, the couple may get children by ART. Some of the ART techniques available are as follows:
1. Invitro fertilisation and embryo transfer - In this method, ovum and sperm of the parents are fertilised outside and the developing embryo (at 8 celled stage) is transfered to the mother's uterus for further development. (Test Tube Baby Procedure)
2. Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer - In this method, ovum and sperm are fertilised out side and the zygote is transfered to the Fallopian tube for further course of development.

3. Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer (GIFT) - In this method, when ovaries are defective, an ovum is collected from a donor and transfered into the fallopian tube of the receipient for fertilisation and further development.
4. Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection - In this method, sperm is injected into the ovum in the laboratory and later, embryo is transfered to uterus of mother.
5. Artifical Insemination - In this method, semen is collected from the male partner and is released in the uterus of female partner for further developmental process.
 

VIII. Surrogacy
i. When female partner have problems in providing environment for the development of the embryo in her uterus, surrogacy is the available solution.
ii. In this process, the sperm and ovum of parents are fertilised and the zygote is transfered into the uterus of a surrogate mother for further development.

A woman, who provides her uterus for the development of embryo of some other and carries it until delivery is known as surrogate mother.