How Much Do You Know About the Reproductive System?
The male and female reproductive system can seem very mysterious, and there are many misconceptions out there that can affect your reproductive health. Take this short survey to see how much you really know. Answer TRUE or FALSE to each of the statements:
___ 1. A female can get pregnant while she is on her period.
___ 2. All fetuses start out as females.
___ 3. Modern medicine has a cure for most sexually transmitted diseases.
___ 4. Condoms can protect you from all STDs.
___ 5. You must have a doctor’s prescription to obtain birth control pills.
___ 6. Emergency contraception (Plan B) is available over the counter.
___ 7. Schools are required to teach sex education.
___ 8. Doctors are required to inform your parents if you ask for contraception.
___ 9. A man can tell if a woman is or is not a virgin.
___ 10. Girls cannot urinate if they are wearing a tampon.
___ 11. All methods of birth control use hormones.
___ 12. The vagina will become permanently larger if a woman has multiple sex partners.
___ 13. Most girls menstruate once every 6 months.
___ 14. During menstruation, girls cannot go swimming.
___ 15. Planned Parenthood only provides abortion services.
___ 16. Girls cannot get pregnant the first time they have sex.
___ 17. Smoking marijuana can make a man infertile.
___ 18. Menstruation usually lasts 5-7 days.
___ 19. The “withdrawal” method is an effective way to prevent pregnancy.
___ 20. Birth control pills are effective only if they are taken every day.
Food for Thought Questions
(these do not have a right or a wrong answer)
1. Do you think sex education encourages young adults to be sexually active?
2. Do you think an abstinence only program can reduce teen pregnancies?
3. Do you think parents should be allowed to "opt out" of sex education for their children?
4. What percentage of the student population at your school do you think is sexually active? How many of those use protection?
5. Do you think young adults feel pressure to engage in sexual activity?
6. How are girls treated different from boys with regard to sexual activity?
7. Where do most teenagers get their information about sex?
8. Do you think most young adults are well informed about their reproductive health?
Author's Note: The list of questions was compiled from common misconceptions about reproductive health. This is intended more a anatomy and physiology class of graduating seniors and may not be appropriate for younger audiences. The true or false questions may require some research, answers about laws can vary by state. Plan B is available over the counter in the state of Illinois, but that might not be true for other states.
