Questions & explanations
1. Which procedure involves introducing semen collected from the husband or a healthy donor into the female reproductive tract to treat infertility due to low sperm count or inability to inseminate?
- A. Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
- B. Artificial insemination (AI)
- C. In vitro fertilization (IVF)
- D. Surrogacy
Answer: B. Artificial insemination (AI)
Artificial insemination (AI) is the technique where semen is artificially introduced into the vagina or uterus (IUI) to overcome issues like low sperm count or inability to inseminate. ICSI injects sperm directly into the egg, IVF involves fertilization outside the body, and surrogacy involves another woman carrying the pregnancy.
2. Which of the following is a major reproductive health concern that has led to the development of various resources and measures?
- A. Infertility
- B. Population explosion
- C. Sexually transmitted infections
- D. Maternal mortality
Answer: B. Population explosion
Population explosion, or rapid increase in population, is a major reproductive health concern that drives the need for resources and measures to manage reproductive health. While infertility, STIs, and maternal mortality are also concerns, the question specifically refers to the one mentioned in the context as a major concern.
3. Which of the following is NOT a reason for infertility?
- Physical and congenital factors
- Diseases and drugs
- Immunological or psychological factors
- Excessive exercise and dieting
Answer: Excessive exercise and dieting
Infertility can be due to physical, congenital, diseases, drugs, immunological, or psychological factors. Excessive exercise and dieting are not listed as standard causes, though they may affect fertility indirectly; however, the question asks for the option that is NOT a reason according to the given principles.
4. In which assisted reproductive technique is a sperm directly injected into the cytoplasm of an ovum to form an embryo?
- A. In vitro fertilization (IVF)
- B. Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)
- C. Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
- D. Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)
Answer: C. Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
ICSI involves the direct injection of a single sperm into the cytoplasm of an ovum to achieve fertilization, especially in cases of severe male infertility. IVF involves mixing sperm and eggs in a dish, GIFT transfers gametes into fallopian tubes, and ZIFT transfers a zygote into the fallopian tube.
5. Which of the following is a simple principle to prevent sexually transmitted infections?
- Avoid sex with unknown or multiple partners
- Use condoms only during oral sex
- Take antibiotics before sexual activity
- Wash genitals with soap after coitus
Answer: Avoid sex with unknown or multiple partners
Avoiding sex with unknown or multiple partners reduces the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections. Condoms should be used during coitus, not just oral sex. Antibiotics do not prevent STIs and may contribute to resistance. Washing after sex does not prevent infection.
6. Which of the following is a measure to control population growth?
- A. Lowering the marriageable age of females to 16 years
- B. Providing incentives to couples with large families
- C. Statutory raising of marriageable age of females to 18 years and males to 21 years
- D. Discouraging the use of contraceptive methods
Answer: C. Statutory raising of marriageable age of females to 18 years and males to 21 years
Raising the marriageable age helps delay marriage and childbearing, thereby reducing population growth. Lowering the age would have the opposite effect, incentives for large families encourage more children, and discouraging contraceptives increases birth rates.
7. Transfer of an early embryo up to the 8-blastomere stage into the fallopian tube is called:
- Intra-uterine transfer (IUT)
- Zygote intra-fallopian transfer (ZIFT)
- Gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT)
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
Answer: Zygote intra-fallopian transfer (ZIFT)
ZIFT involves transferring a zygote or early embryo (up to 8 blastomeres) into the fallopian tube. IUT is for embryos with more than 8 blastomeres transferred into the uterus. GIFT involves transferring gametes, not embryos. IVF is the fertilization step.
8. Which of the following contraceptive methods works by physically preventing the meeting of ovum and sperm?
- Oral contraceptive pills
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
- Barrier methods such as condoms and diaphragms
- Hormonal implants
Answer: Barrier methods such as condoms and diaphragms
Barrier methods like condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, and vaults physically block the sperm from reaching the ovum. Oral pills and hormonal implants work by altering hormones, while IUDs act via spermicidal or implantation-preventing mechanisms.
9. Which mechanism is NOT associated with the action of intrauterine devices (IUDs)?
- Increasing phagocytosis of sperms
- Suppressing sperm motility by copper ions
- Inhibiting ovulation
- Making the cervix hostile to sperms (hormone-releasing IUDs)
Answer: Inhibiting ovulation
IUDs primarily act by increasing phagocytosis of sperms, copper ions suppress sperm motility, and hormone-releasing IUDs alter the uterine environment and cervical mucus. Inhibition of ovulation is a mechanism of oral contraceptive pills, not IUDs.
10. Condoms are typically made of which material and what is their additional benefit besides preventing conception?
- Latex; they also protect against sexually transmitted infections
- Silicone; they also regulate menstrual cycles
- Polyurethane; they also enhance fertility
- Rubber; they also prevent ovulation
Answer: Latex; they also protect against sexually transmitted infections
Condoms are usually made of thin rubber or latex sheath. Besides preventing pregnancy, they provide protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The other options either describe incorrect materials or incorrect additional benefits.
11. Which of the following STIs is NOT completely curable even if detected early?
- Gonorrhoea
- Syphilis
- Chlamydiasis
- Genital herpes
Answer: Genital herpes
Except for hepatitis-B, genital herpes, and HIV, other STIs like gonorrhoea, syphilis, and chlamydiasis are completely curable if detected early and treated properly. Genital herpes is caused by a virus that remains in the body and can recur.
12. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) followed by embryo transfer is popularly known as:
- Artificial insemination
- Test-tube baby programme
- Surrogacy
- Gamete intra-fallopian transfer
Answer: Test-tube baby programme
IVF with embryo transfer is commonly called the test-tube baby programme. Artificial insemination involves placing sperm into the female tract. Surrogacy involves another woman carrying the pregnancy. GIFT is a different ART procedure.