Removal of gonads cannot be considered a contraceptive option. Which of the following is the reason?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Removal of gonads would be irreversible and would interfere with the sexual drive and desire of the user.
An ideal contraceptive should be user-friendly, easily available, effective and reversible, with no or least side-effects, and it should in no way interfere with the sexual drive, desire or sexual act of the user. Gonads (testes and ovaries) make the gametes and also the sex hormones. Removing them is permanent, and the loss of sex hormones would affect the sexual drive and desire. So it fails the test of an ideal contraceptive.
Option (1) Removal of gonads would not stop the formation of gametes. — Incorrect. Without gonads there is no place left to form gametes, so this is not true.
Option (2) Removal of gonads would make the uterus unsuitable for implantation. — Incorrect. Making the uterus unsuitable for implantation is an action of hormone-releasing IUDs and pills. It is not the result of removing gonads.
Option (3) Removal of gonads would be irreversible and would interfere with the sexual drive and desire of the user. — Correct. Removal cannot be undone, and the loss of the hormones made by the gonads would interfere with the sexual drive and desire. Both go against the features of an ideal contraceptive.
Option (4) Removal of gonads would still allow ovulation to take place. — Incorrect. Ovulation is the release of an ovum from the ovary. If the ovaries are removed, ovulation cannot take place.
NCERT Extract:
Population Stabilisation and Birth Control – “… An ideal contraceptive should be user-friendly, easily available, effective and reversible with no or least side-effects. It also should in no way interfere with the sexual drive, desire and/or the sexual act of the user. A wide range of contraceptive methods are presently available which could be broadly grouped into the following categories, namely Natural/Traditional, Barrier, IUDs, Oral contraceptives, Injectables, Implants and Surgical methods.”