Human Reproduction (I) – JSS1 Basic Science Lesson Note (Third Term)

Human reproduction in females involves menstruation, ovulation and fertilisation. Menstruation is the monthly discharge of blood from the vagina of a woman of childbearing age. Ovulation is the release of an egg from a mature ovarian follicle. Fertilisation is the fusion of a sperm and an ovum to form a zygote, which develops into a young one.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define menstruation and state the age ranges and lengths of time linked with it;
2. list four problems associated with menstruation;
3. describe ways of keeping clean during menstruation;
4. define ovulation and state its signs and symptoms;
5. define fertilisation and say where it takes place.

What is menstruation?

Menstruation is the monthly flow or discharge of blood from the vagina of a woman of childbearing age. It is also called a period. The first occurrence of menstruation is called menarche.

The first period usually begins between twelve and fifteen years of age. It may occasionally start as early as eight years old and still be considered normal.

The length of time between the first day of one period and the first day of the next is 28 days on average. Menstruation stops at menopause, which usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age.

The flow of blood usually lasts between 2 and 7 days, and the average is 5 days.

During pregnancy and for some time after childbirth, menstruation does not occur. This state is known as amenorrhea.

What are the menstrual disorders and problems associated with menstruation?

1. Heavy period: This is an unusual and excessive flow of blood. It can also extend the bleeding to seven days.
2. Absence of menstrual periods: This is the absence of menstruation for 3 months or longer in a sexually mature woman who is not pregnant or breastfeeding.
3. Pain and discomfort: Just before or during menstruation, there can be pain that is severe enough to interfere with normal daily activities. The pain is usually felt in the abdomen and lower back. Other signs are abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, headache, sleep problems and mood swings.
4. Bleeding between menstrual periods: Abnormal uterine bleeding, or spotting, can be a symptom of another medical condition, which can range from minor to serious. A woman who experiences abnormal uterine bleeding should contact a healthcare provider.

How do you keep clean during menstruation?

Menstrual hygiene

1. Choose your method of sanitation: It is essential to choose one that has the lowest absorbency rate suitable for your flow. Frequent switching between brands can make you uncomfortable.
2. Change your sanitary pad regularly: Once menstrual blood has left the body, it gets contaminated with the body’s natural organisms. The standard time to change a sanitary pad is once every six hours.
3. Wash yourself regularly: During menstruation, blood tends to enter tiny spaces such as the skin between the labia, or form a crust around the opening of the vagina. Always wash this excess blood away. Washing also helps to prevent bad odour from the vaginal area, so wash your vagina and labia well before you change into a new pad. If you cannot wash before you change, wipe the areas with toilet paper or tissues.
4. Do not use soap or vaginal hygiene products inside the vagina: The vagina has a cleaning mechanism that works on a fine balance of good and bad bacteria. Washing it with soap can kill the good bacteria and make way for infections. You can use soap on the external parts, but do not use it inside your vagina.
5. Use the right washing technique always: Wash the area in one direction, from the vagina to the anus, and never in the opposite direction. Washing in the opposite direction can carry bacteria from the anus to the vagina and urethral opening and lead to infection.
6. Discard used sanitary products properly: Used napkins or sanitary pads can spread infections, so wrap them very well before discarding them. Wash your hands very well afterwards.
7. Beware of a pad rash: You might get a pad rash during a period of heavy flow. It usually occurs when the pad has been wet for a long time and rubs along the thighs, causing chafing. To prevent this, try to stay dry during your periods.
8. Use only one method of sanitation at a time: Some women who have a heavy flow use several pads at a time. This is a bad practice because the pads absorb the blood and you do not see that they are completely used up, so you are unlikely to change at regular and healthy intervals. This can lead to rashes and infections.
9. Have a bath regularly: Having a bath is the best thing you can do for your body during your periods. It cleanses your body and gives you a chance to clean your private parts very well. It also helps to relieve menstrual cramps and backaches and makes you feel much better.
10. Be ready and prepared during your periods: Make arrangements for extra cleaning and sanitary materials. Store them properly so that they do not get contaminated.

What is ovulation?

Ovulation is the part of the female menstrual cycle in which a mature ovarian follicle discharges an egg (also known as an ovum, oocyte or female gamete). The egg then travels down the fallopian tube, where it may be fertilised by a sperm. Ovulation usually occurs between the 10th and 19th day of the menstrual cycle, and this is the time when a woman is most fertile.

Ovulation typically stops at menopause.

Note: Once a female child starts menstruating, ovulation automatically begins, which means she can get pregnant if there is sexual intercourse.

What are the signs and symptoms of ovulation?

1. Change in cervical fluid or mucus: Cervical fluid or mucus that looks like “egg white” is a sign that you are near ovulation or are ovulating. Ovulation takes place on the day a woman has the greatest amount of wet fluid or mucus.
2. Change in basal body temperature: An increase in basal body temperature is a sign that ovulation has taken place. The cervix is soft, high, open and wet.
3. Breast tenderness and sensitivity: During ovulation, the breasts become tender and sensitive.
4. Increased libido or sexual urge: During ovulation, there is an increase in sexual urge in women.
5. Increased sense of vision, smell and taste: During ovulation, these senses become sharper.

What is fertilisation?

Fertilisation is the fusion of the male gamete (the sperm) and the female gamete (the ovum) to form a zygote. It occurs in the fallopian tubes of the female. After fertilisation, the zygote grows and develops to form a young one. The process of fertilisation always results in pregnancy.

Evaluation

1. What is ovulation?
2. State four signs of ovulation.
3. Define menstruation.
4. What is fertilisation, and where does it occur?

Assignment

List five ways of keeping clean during menstruation and give one reason for each.