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University of Newcastle

Human Reproduction: Sex, Science and Society

University of Newcastle via edX

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Overview

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Are you trying to conceive? Do you want to prevent conception (contraception)? Would you like to know more about your fertility?

Have you considered how social factors influence the choices we make about sex and reproduction? What about the latest technological developments in assisted conception (otherwise known as IVF)? Join world leader in human reproduction, Laureate Professor John Aitken, as we explore the biological, technological, and social factors that influence human reproduction.

In this course you will learn how sperm and eggs are made; the events that result in fertilisation and conception; and how a healthy baby develops and is born.

These biological principles will be studied alongside social factors such as the construct of family, education, poverty, and sexuality.

This course will also examine the enormous role of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) such as IVF in modern society.

Syllabus

Week 1: Gametes, Fertilization & Conception
  • Sex hormones & reproductive systems
  • Eggs & sperm
  • Fertilisation & implantation
  • Obstacles to conception
  • Social policy and fertility rates: global trends in fertility
  • Projection of Australia’s population
  • Policy options to decrease or increase fertility
  • Historical changes in fertility rates
Week 2: Pregnancy, Placenta & Birth
  • Placentation
  • Fetal development/maternal adaptation to pregnancy/ Labour
  • Pregnancy and complications
  • Developmental origins of health & disease
  • Sociological approaches to the intergenerational cycle of disease
  • Social aspects of pregnancy and childbirth
Week 3: Contraception
  • The history and importance of contraception
  • Methods of Contraception
  • Effectiveness and Health Risks
  • New technologies in male contraception
  • Contraceptive use in Australia
Week 4: Sex & Sexuality: Social Constructionism & Biology
  • Biological sexual differentiation
  • The social construction of sex and sexuality
  • Psychiatry and homosexuality
Week 5: Infertility & Assisted Reproduction
  • Infertility
  • Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs)
  • ARTs: now and the future
  • Ethics of ARTs
  • Surrogacy case study

Taught by

John Aitken , Jessie Sutherland , Alan Hayes , Kirsty Pringle , Ann Taylor , Catherine Chojenta , Jacqueline Coombe , Marguerite Johnson , James Bennett and Daniela Heil

Reviews

3.0 rating, based on 1 Class Central review

Start your review of Human Reproduction: Sex, Science and Society

  • Anonymous
    This is my second online course ever and I would have to say I really enjoyed it. The weblabs were great and I thought the course notes were very informative and supplemental to the readings. The pictures and graphs in the labs really helped me get an idea of what I was studying. I think the simplicity of this course and the way you designed it online really work well to help students process the information and maintain it. The assignments in the beginning of the semester were relatively long, but I thought everything was very fair and the questions were well presented

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