Question

diagram. Activity 2 On learning that you are studying the reproductive system for your biology class, your roommate mentions that he/she is not really sure how a birth-control pill works. He/she also would like to know what are some contraceptive options available to women and men other than the pill or the use of condoms, respectively. Using your knowledge of the reproductive system and its function, what explanation and information would you provide to your roommate? You can receive one extra credit point for drawing out the stages in the female menstrual cycle and indicating times when a woman could get pregnant. Submit a picture of this drawing with the completed activity. Remember that the goal of this activity is to provide you with a means to make connections between physiology and ways in which these physiological processes are often regulated to maintain the health of individuals. Back to Top

Answer 1

Ans.

Birth control pills are of two types:

• Combination pills (Estrogen + Progestin)
• Progestin only pills (Only Progestin)

Combination pills: It can be monophasic pill, multiphasic pill or extended cycle pill.

Monophasic pill are taken in one month cycle and each pill has got same dose of estrogen and progestin. Each pill is taken daily. During the last week placebo or inactive pill is taken daily to have menses.

Multiphasic pill are taken in one month cycle. Each pill is taken daily. During last week placebo or inactive pill is taken daily to have menses. In multiphasic pill each pill has different doses of estrogen and progestin to be taken during the cycle.

Extended cycle pill are taken in thirteen week cycle. During the last week i.e. in thirteenth week, inactive pills are taken daily to have menses.

The pills belonging to combination pills has to be taken daily but can be taken any time of the day.

Progestin only pills: Here all the pills in the cycle are active. There is no inactive pills. One pill has to be taken daily at the same time.

Both the combination pill and progestin only pill act by inhibition of follicular development, inhibition of ovulation, inhibition of formation of corpus luteum, altering endometrium of uterine wall so that implantation of fertilized egg does not take place. These pills also act by altering the mucus of cervix so that sperm can not penetrate inside the egg and thus prevents fertilization.

Contraceptive options other than pills and condoms are IUD (Intra uterine device), Vasectomy, Tubal ligation and Fertility awareness.

Menstrual cycle phase is of 28 days on an average. It is divided into stages such as: Follicular stage, Ovulation stage and Luteal stage. First half of menstrual cycle is Follicular stage which lasts from Day one to day 14 of cycle. Second half of cycle is Luteal stage which lasts from 14 th day to 28th day of cycle. In-between Follicular and Luteal stage is Ovulation stage which happens somewhere between 12th to 14th Day of the cycle when egg is released from Follicle and this is the time when a woman can get pregnant if the sperm fertilises the egg and the fertilized egg gets implanted on the uterine wall.