PROCESS OF SPERMATOGENESIS
o Normally an ejaculation of semen averages 2.5
ml of fluid containing 50 to 200 million
spermatozoa per millimetre or an average of 400
million sperm per ejaculation.
At the time of ovulation
Reduced viscosity (thickness) of woman’s cervical
mucus
Easy for spermatozoa to penetrate it
Spermatozoa deposited in the vagina
Reach the cervix within 90 seconds
Outer end of the fallopian tube within 5 minutes after
deposition
MECHANISM OF SPERMATOZOA
 Spermatozoa move through the cervix and the
body of the uterus and into the fallopian tube
toward a waiting ovum by the combination of
movements by their flagella (tails) and uterine
contractions. All of the spermatozoa that reach
the ovum cluster around its protective layer of
corona cells. Hyaluronidase (a proteolytic
enzyme) is released by the spermatozoa,
dissolves the layer of cells protecting the ovum.
One spermatozoa penetrates the cell membrane
of the ovum. Once penetration in the cell takes
place, cell membrane changes composition. It
becomes unreceptive to other spermatozoa.
Chromosomal material of the spermatozoa and
ovum fuse to form a zygote.
Reproductive Process
Reproductive Potentials
 A woman’s reproductive lifespan begins after
menarche and terminates with menopause.
 A large of germ cells present at birth decreases
by puberty to 300,000
 A woman releases no more than 500 ova during
ovulation throughout her lifetime.
 Reproductive activity in the male begins with
sperm production at onset of puberty and is
continuous through his lifetime.
 New sperm is generated every 74 days and the
capacity to reproduce is associated with sexual
excitement, penile erection and ejaculation.
Definition of related terms
Conception: the beginning of pregnancy including
fertilization and implantation of the embryo onto the
uterine wall.
Pregnancy: also refers to gestation. It is the time during
which one or more offspring develops inside a woman’s
body [WHO]
Menstruation: is the periodic shedding of blood, mucus,
epithelial cells from the uterus.
Ovulation: is the discharge of a mature ovum from the
ovary. (
Fertilization: is the union of an ovum and spermatozoon
within 24 hours after ovulation, occurring in the outer
third of the fallopian tube (ampulla)
Implantation: [Nidation] refers to the attachment of the
fertilized egg to the uterine lining (endometrium) which
occurs 8-10 days after fertilization.
Placentation- refers to the formation, type and structure
or arrangement of the placenta
Clinical Signs of Ovulation
Two clinical signs of ovulation are:
1. Mittelschmerz- abdominal pain in the ovarian
region
2. Spinnbarkheait- an elastic cervical mucus
discharge
 The hormones responsible for growth of the
ovarian follicle are:
 Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
 Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Reproductive Development
Physiologic readiness for childbearing begins when:
Hypothalamus synthesizes and release gonadotropin
releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH triggers the anterior
pituitary gland to release FSH and LH. FSH and LH
initiate the production of androgen and estrogen. This
initiates visible signs of maturity and secondary sex
characteristics.
Coitus
 The insertion of erect penis into the vagina after
repeated thrusting movements of the penis. The
male experiences ejaculation of semen
concurrent with orgasm.
 Orgasm is an involuntary climax experienced by
both men and women involving a series of
muscular contractions, profound physiologic
bodily response and intense sexual pleasure.
Sexuality
 Encompasses a complex of emotions, attitudes,
preferences and behaviours related to
expression of sexual self.
 Sex is a dynamic aspect of life, intertwined with
biologic and psychosocial components that
cannot be separated.
 Biologic gender is used to denote a person’s
chromosomal sex. Male (xy) or female (xx)
 Gender identity or sexual identity means a
person’s inner sense of being male or female
 Gender role is the male or female behaviour a
person exhibits, maybe culturally influenced.
Developmental Tasks of sexual identity
A. Gender identity- muscularity and feminity
B. Sex role standards- attitudes and attributes to
differentiate roles.
C. Sexual partner preference- responsible sexuality
commitment to a relationship, responsible,
responsible reproductive health care and
decisions on childbearing.
Sexual Response
 Sexual response has four phases:
 Excitement
 Plateau
 Orgasmic
 Resolution
 Women have three identifiable sexual response
patterns with wider range of duration and
intensity of orgasms.
 Males have one basic sexual response pattern;
excitement progresses steadily to plateau,
orgasm and resolution.
Excitement: rapid erection of penis in men and clitoral
enlargement and vaginal lubrication in women.
Plateau: Cowper gland releases fluids with continuous
enlargement and thickening of the penis in men, while
full elevation of uterus with concurrent rising of cervix in
females.
Orgasm: climactic expulsive contraction of the entire
urethra with ejaculation in men and orgasmic platform or
contraction of the outer third of vagina in women
Resolution: the return to pre arousal states in both
sexes
TERMINOLOGY
 Nulligravida: refers to a woman who has never
been pregnant
 Primipara: is a woman who has completed one
pregnancy with a fetus that reached the age of
viability
 Parity: refers to the number of past pregnancies
that has reached the period of viability.
 GPAL: means gravida, para, abortus, living;
used to identify the numbers and types of
pregnancies, births, abortions and living children
a patient may have had.
 Term: refers to the age of gestation of 38 to the
end of 42 weeks of pregnancy
 FHR: Fetal heart rate is a significant indicator of
fetal well-being. It is heard below the mother’s
umbilicus LOA (left occiput anterior) or ROA
(right occiput anterior) another position.
Viability
The possibility of survival outside the uterus, after 24
weeks of gestation, at least 20 cm in length, or at least
600g in weight, regardless of number of foetuses and
whether the fetus was born alive or dead.
FETAL HEART RATE
 It is heard by Doppler at about 10 weeks.
 Using the fetoscope by the 16th week
 Using the stethoscope by 18-20 weeks
pregnant woman may feel kicks and jerky
movements.
 There is no set number of normal movements
since every fetus is different

 They will have their own pattern of movements

Doppler- a hand-held ultrasound transducer used to
detect the fetal heartbeat  From 18-24 weeks baby move more and more.
After 32 weeks, the movements will stay roughly
Fetoscope- a device used to obtain information about a the same until birth
fetus within the uterus. There are two types of
fetoscopes: A fiberoptic scope for looking directly at the
fetus within the uterus and a stethoscope designed for
listening to the fetal heartbeat.

Important Points of Consideration

 The woman should report fetal movement of

three or less in one hour period after 20 weeks

 The movements can feel like a gentle swirling or

fluttering. As pregnancy progresses, the