Lesson 1: Begin at the Beginning

An overview of reproduction, sexually transmitted diseases, and the birth control mainstays of the United States, the condom and the pill. Also information on today's IUDs, and how they differ from the Dalkon Shield.

Basics of Reproduction

The male's primary reproductive roll is the production of sperm cells. Sperm cells are produced daily in the testies, and are stored in the epididymis. It takes approximately three months for the male to create a new, mature sperm cell. Because the process is continuing daily, a male should consider himself always fertile.

The female's roll in reproduction is more complex and several factors come into play for pregnancy to occur. The first is the development and maturation of the ovum or egg. The ovum is released about 14 days before her period would occur. During the 24 hours after the ovum has been released, conception can occur and the sperm can penetrate the egg.

If this happens, the fertilized ovum, now called a zygote, will travel through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. Once in the uterus, the zygote is called a blastocyst. The journey from the fallopian tubes to the uterus takes between 4 and 8 days. Up to this point, the female has been developing a lining in her uterus called the endometrium. It is the endometrium that is shed each month that pregnancy has not occurred. If pregnancy takes place, the blastocyst will have implanted in the endometrium. From this point on, the blastocyst is referred to as the fetus.

The fetus produces hormones, which tell the woman's body that she is pregnant and her period usually will not arrive. If anything happens during this journey: the egg is not released, sperm are kept from the egg, or implantation does not happen due to a lack of endometrium, pregnancy cannot occur.

If no method of contraception is used at all, there is an expected rate of pregnancy of 85%, meaning that out of 100 couples not using any form of birth control 85 will get pregnant the first year without intending to.