Puberty, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and STDs
Puberty – stage of growth and development when both the male and female body
becomes capable of producing offspring
What to Know (Female)
-
Starts around 8 yrs old when the female’s pituitary gland increases its
production of a hormone that causes the ovaries to produce Estrogen.
o Estrogen - a hormone that stimulate the development of female sex
characteristics
Female Secondary Sex Characteristics –
Physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty
Examples:
Increase height
Widening of Hips
Softer and Smoother Skin
Growth of Pubic hair and underarm hair
Increase in breast size
Enlargement of external genitalia
Beginning of menstruation
What to Know (Male)
-
The Male’s pituitary gland increases its production of a hormone that causes
the testes to produce Testosterone
o Testosterone - a hormone that stimulate the development of male sex
characteristics
Male Secondary Sex Characteristics –
Examples –
Increase height
Longer and heavier bones
Broader Shoulders
Thicker and Tougher Skin
Deepened Voice
Growth of Facial, Body, and Pubic hair
Enlargement of Penis, Scrotum, and Testes
Formation of Sperm
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Pregnancy
What to Know
Determined
 First sign – the absence of menstrual period
But a missed period DOSE NOT always indicate pregnancy
 Excessive tenderness in her breast
 Fatigue
 Exchange in appetite
 Morning sickness – nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Although it is called “Morning Sickness” it does not always happen in
the morning.
 Positive Pregnancy Test – the doctor administrated test are more
accurate than the home administrated test
Duration
 Usually last for 38 – 40 weeks or 9 months
 The duration is broken down into trimesters, each trimester is 3
months long
1st Trimester
Month 1
 Embryo has a heartbeat
 Two-lobed brain is developing
 Spinal cord is developed
Month 2
 Recognizable as a human and called a Fetus
 Started to form arms and legs as well as fingers, toes, and eyes
 Can be identified as a male or female
Month 3
 The heart has four chambers
2nd Trimester
Month 4
 Fingernails, toenails, eyebrows and eyelashes have developed
 Teeth and lips start to grow as well as some hair
 Fetal movement can be felt by the mother
Month 5
 Heart beat can be detected
 Fetus can bend arms and make a fist
3rd Trimester
 Usually 19 – 21 inches long
 Weighs between 6 and 8 pounds
Childbirth
Labor –
Process of childbirth.
3 Stages of Labor
Stage 1 – Dilation of Cervix
 Longest stage, can last 2 hours or longer
 Cervical opening enlarges 8 – 10 inches
Stage 2 – Delivery of the Baby
 Begins when the cervix is completely dilated
 Ends with the delivery of the baby
 Baby moves down the birth canal
 Mother pushes and with muscular contractions forces the baby out
 Crowning – appearance of the baby’s head during delivery
Stage 3 – Delivery of the Placenta
 The mothers body expels the afterbirth
 Afterbirth – the placenta that is expelled after the delivery of the
baby. If this does not occur naturally the doctor will remove it.
Apgar Score –
A rating of the physical characteristics of an infant taken 1 – 5 minutes after birth.
Another score is taken 10 minutes after birth if there are problems with the baby. To
predict the health of the baby.
Characteristics in the Apgar Score:
 Heart Rate
 Color
 Breathing Effort
 Reaction to sucking
The Scores:
7 – 10 in Normal
4 – 7 might need some resuscitative measures
3 and below requires immediate resuscitation
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
There are 3 Types of STDs
Bacterial STDs, Viral STDs and Parasitic STDs
Bacterial STDs –
Can be cured with antibiotics, but the infections can reoccur
Examples –
Chlamydia, Syphilis, and Gonorrhea
Viral STDs –
Can be treated but CANNOT be cured
Examples –
Herpes, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS
Parasitic STDs –
Are actual parasites and can be treated with medications and eliminated
Examples –
Pediculosis (Pubic Lice, Crabs)
Which one of these people has and STD?
(Semester Exam Essay Question)