LESSON 5:

THE PROCESS OF
REPRODUCTION
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
 At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

 define fertilization, conception and pregnancy;

 explain how pregnancy occurs and its prevention; and

 identity the complications of early pregnancy in the

growing adolescent.
INTRODUCTION

Although human beings are fully sexually

differentiated at birth, the differences
between males and females are accentuated
at puberty.

This is when the reproductive system

matures, secondary sexual characteristics
develop, and the bodies of males and females
appear more distinctive.
•Female puberty usually begins at about 8-13
years of age; the reproduction maturation of boys
lags about two years behind that of girls.

•The physical changes of female puberty include

breast development, rounding of the hips and
buttocks, growth of the hair in the pubic region
and the underarm, and the start of menstruation.
HOW DOES ONE OVULATE?

The major landmark of puberty among females is the

onset of the menstrual cycle, the monthly ovulation cycle
that leads to menstruation (loss of blood and tissues lining
the uterus) in the absence of pregnancy.

The menstrual cycle is from the first day of a period until

the day before the next period starts.

Normally, it lasts around 28 days, on the average, but can

be as short as 21 or as long as 40.

 Whatever the length, ovulation will happen about 10-16

days before the start of the next period.
How does pregnancy occur?
 For pregnancy to proceed, the sperm needs to meet up with an
egg.

 Pregnancy officially starts when a fertilized egg implants in the

lining of the uterus.

 Pregnancy happens2-3 weeks after sexual intercourse.

 Conception is the process that begins with fertilization of an egg

by the sperm and ends with implantation.

 When a male and female have a sexual intercourse, the penis fits
into the womans vagina.
 How does pregnancy occur?
 Ejaculation or coming releases the sperm via the penis
into the vagina.
 The sperm swims through the female's cervix, into the
womb, and finally into the fallopian tubes.
 Once the egg or ovum has been released into the
fallopian tube, hundreds of sperm swim up to reach it.
 Finally, the sperm penetrates the egg in the fallopian tube
where fertilization takes place and eventually, becomes
an embryo.
How does pregnancy occur?

 Once the embryo(fertilized egg) attaches to the inner

lining of the uterus (endothelium), a fetus develops
within five to seven days from a ball of cells floating in
the uterus, which officially begins pregnancy.

 A normal pregnancy lasts 37-42 Weeks (nine months).

'This is measured from the first day of the last period.
How does pregnancy occur?

 Pregnancy is discussed in terms of trimesters (three-

month periods),since each trimester is very different
from the rest.

 After eight weeks, the embryo is officially referred to as

a fetus. 
THE PROCESS OF FERTILIZATION AND IMPLANTATION
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT
TEENAGE PREGNANCY?
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT
TEENAGE PREGNANCY?

 Teen pregnancy has a tremendous impact on the educational, social,

and economic lives of young people.

 Early parenting reduces the likelihood that a young woman will

complete high school and pursue the necessary post-secondary
education needed to compete in today’s economy,


 Although there is a decline in teenage pregnancy rates it has been

steady over the past two decades.

 Teens are still engaging in sexual activity and teen girls are still
getting pregnant. 
CHART FOR CONTRACEPTION
Type of How it works Effectiveness Benefits Instruction or Benefits Other
Contraceptive Use than Conception
Method

Pill: contains Alters natural Theoretically Low cost, Taken daily None
synthetic ovulation cycle 99-100 easily after menstrual
estrogen percent, but available, and cycle begins
women have controlled by
conceived on woman
the “pill”

PILLS
CHART FOR CONTRACEPTION
Type of How it works Effectiveness Benefits Instruction or Use Benefits Other
Contraceptive than Conception
Method

Injection: Not Known Given by the None

given in the doctor
first days of the
menstruation
and then every
three months

INJECTION
CHART FOR CONTRACEPTION
Type of How it works Effectiveness Benefits Instruction or Benefits Other
Contraceptive Use than Conception
Method

Withdrawal: Prevents the Theoretically No cost under Dependent on None

removal of the semen from 85% but in the control of the man
penis from the going into the reality about the man and
vagina before vagina 70% woman
ejaculation involved

WITHDRAWAL
CHART FOR CONTRACEPTION
Type of How it works Effectiveness Benefits Instruction or Benefits Other
Contraceptive Use than Conception
Method

Intrauterine Inserted inside Theoretically Long lasting Inserted by the None

Device (IUD) the uterus by a 95-98% and relatively doctor in the
doctor inexpensive first few days
of
menstruation:
should be
examined
every few
months

Intrauterine
Device (IUD)
CHART FOR CONTRACEPTION
Type of How it works Effectiveness Benefits Instruction or Benefits Other
Contraceptive Use than Conception
Method

Condom: Rolled over the 80-85% Low cost Do use with Can be
rubber sheath penis accessible and oil-based effective in
that fits over reduces risk if lubricants prevention of
the penis STDs/STIs such as STIs and
creams and HIV/AIDS
lotions

COMDOM
CHART FOR CONTRACEPTION
Type of How it works Effectiveness Benefits Instruction or Benefits Other
Contraceptive Use than Conception
Method

Implantable Continuous Not known Continuous Implant of the None

Hormone release of birth control capsule in the
Device : hormones for five years upper arm;
continuous done by the
release of doctor
hormone

IMPLANTABLE
HORMONE
DEVICE
 CHART FOR CONTRACEPTION
Type of How it works Effectiveness Benefits Instruction or Benefits Other
Contraceptive Use than Conception
Method

Calendar Allows the Theoretically No cost, and Woman must None

Method: woman to keep 85% , but in under the keep track with
Woman track or “safe” reality about control of a the help of a
predicts the days for sex 60% woman calendar
day of
ovulation by
keeping a
calendar of the
length or each
menstrual
cycle

CALENDAR
METHODS
 CHART FOR CONTRACEPTION
Type of How it works Effectiveness Benefits Instruction or Benefits Other
Contraceptive Use than Conception
Method

Sterilization: Passageway Theoretically Highly Doctor None

vasectomy for for the sperm 100 % but effective, performs an
males and or the eggs is exceptions permanent, and operation
tubal ligation surgically tied have been one time
for females know to take expense
place

TUBAL
LIGATION
VASECTOMY
HEALTH EFFECTS OF EARLY
PREGNANCY

 Obstructed labor –also known as labour dystocia, is when the

baby does not exit the pelvis during childbirth due to being
physically blocked, despite the uterus contracting normally.

 Common maternal complications of obstructed labour

include sepsis, paralytic ileus, postpartum haemorrhage, 
fistula formation.

 Common fetal complications of obstructed labour are severe

asphyxia, neonatal sepsis and death
HEALTH EFFECTS OF EARLY
PREGNANCY
Common maternal complications of
obstructed labour
HEALTH EFFECTS OF EARLY
PREGNANCY
Common fatal complications of
obstructed labour
HEALTH EFFECTS OF EARLY
PREGNANCY

 A vesico-vaginal fistula - is an

opening that develops between the
bladder and the wall of the vagina.

The result is that urine leaks out of

the vagina, she will not able to hold
her urine or feces and this will make
her a social outcast.(upsetting)
ADDITIONAL COMPLICATIONS FACED BY
TEENAGE PREGNANT

• excessive vomiting;

• severe anemia;

• hypertension;

• convulsions;

• difficulty in breast feeding (if the girl is too young to produce milks

• premature and low birth weight babies;

• infection;

• prolonged labor; and

• high maternal mortality or death. 

THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING