Section 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.
Section 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.
Section 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.
Section 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.
Section 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.