Human Reproduction

Week 1: Reproductive systems

• Explore how biological sex is determined, and how this is different from sexuality and gender identity
• Review the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems and explore common cancers that can develop within these systems
• Identify body changes that occur during puberty and understand what hormones are, and how they regulate reproductive function
• Discover how sperm and oocytes (eggs) are created by comparing the processes of spermatogenesis and oogenesis.

Week 2: Sex

• Consider the different reasons why people have sex and how they relate to human reproduction
• Determine the differences between the 4 stages of the human sexual response cycle to understand the physiological changes that happen to the human body during sexual intercourse
• Explore the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and consider their causes, prevention and treatments.

Week 3: Fertilisation

• Investigate the stages of natural fertilisation to understand how human life is created, including how sperm and oocyte (egg) travel through the body to prepare for fertilisation
• Compare the major types of contraception (birth control) and understand how they prevent fertilisation
• Understand the causes of infertility and consider some of the main clinical approaches used to assist reproduction.

Week 4: Pregnancy and childbirth

• Discover the most appropriate biological age to have a baby and find out how a woman knows she’s pregnant
• Learn how a mother’s body changes during pregnancy, and explore the major events of embryonic and fetal development
• Explore how the placenta supplies food to a fetus and understand some of the placental problems that may arise during pregnancy
• Find out what happens during childbirth and identify the physiological changes that occur to prepare a woman’s body for breastfeeding.

Week 5: Sex and ageing

• Consider how ageing affects people’s ability to have sex and reproduce by investigating the most common sexual dysfunctions associated with ageing
• Find out how menopause affects women in late adulthood by considering the hormonal, physical and behavioural changes that occur
• Explore breast and prostate cancer to understand their cause, detection, and treatment.