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    Northwestern University
    Introduction to Reproduction
    • About
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    2. Health
    3. Basic Science
    Northwestern University

    Introduction to Reproduction

    Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D.

    Instructor: Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D.

    30,128 already enrolled

    Included with Coursera Plus

    •Learn more
    4 modules
    Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
    4.7

    (532 reviews)

    14 hours to complete
    3 weeks at 4 hours a week
    Flexible schedule
    Learn at your own pace
    97%
    Most learners liked this course

    4 modules
    Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
    4.7

    (532 reviews)

    14 hours to complete
    3 weeks at 4 hours a week
    Flexible schedule
    Learn at your own pace
    97%
    Most learners liked this course
    • About
    • Modules
    • Recommendations
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews

    Skills you'll gain

    • Anatomy
    • Health Care
    • Health Assessment
    • Human Development
    • General Medicine
    • Infectious Diseases
    • General Medical Tests and Procedures
    • Preventative Care
    • Medical Science and Research

    Details to know

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    Assessments

    8 assignments

    Taught in English

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    There are 4 modules in this course

    Do you have questions about sex hormones or menstrual cycles? This is a crash-course in human reproductive health through fact and biology-based information on a variety of topics. "Sex 101" will cover reproductive anatomy, key biological changes during puberty, sexual biology and contraceptive methods, reproductive disorders, and a special introduction to the exciting field of Oncofertility. Specific lecture titles are as follows: 1) Reproductive Anatomy & Hormones, 2) Menstrual Cycle, Oocyte Maturation, & Sperm Activation, 3) Sexual Biology, Fertilization, & Contraception, and 4) Reproductive Health & Disorders.

    The objective of this course is to ensure you understand reproductive health and not confuse reproduction with sex (or having sex). This course was designed with you in mind, and is aimed at providing you with quality information that is meaningful to you and that may be hard to find otherwise. Reproductive health is an area of knowledge that needs to be demystified. We have designed this course for you to examine reproduction through a biological and scientific lens addressing these issues in a comfortable and interactive format that will lead to a better understanding of holistic health, long-term.

    This module focuses on learning, identifying, and labeling all parts of male and female reproductive anatomy and the function of hormones on development. COURSE GOAL 1: Students will be able to label and analyze the basic functionality of all parts of male and female reproductive anatomy, conceptualize the role of hormones in the interactions between the brain, pituitary, and reproductive tract, and examine the basic functionality of the hormones involved during development and puberty.

    What's included

    6 videos18 readings1 assignment

    6 videos•Total 16 minutes
    • Lecture 1.0 - Introduction to Reproduction•2 minutes•Preview module
    • Lecture 1.1 Part 1 - Male Reproductive Anatomy•2 minutes
    • Lecture 1.1 Part 2 - Female Reproductive Anatomy•3 minutes
    • Lecture 1.2 - Reproductive Hormones•1 minute
    • Lecture 1.3 - Reproductive Development•5 minutes
    • Lecture 1.4 - Summary of Module 1•0 minutes
    18 readings•Total 180 minutes
    • Survey: Reproduction & You•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Scripts - Lecture 1.0•10 minutes
    • Course Logistics & Grading•10 minutes
    • Meet Your Professor•10 minutes
    • Meet your Teaching Assistants!•10 minutes
    • Course Collaborators•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 1.1 Part 1•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 1.1 Part 2•10 minutes
    • Reading: Overview of the Male and Female Reproductive Systems•10 minutes
    • Reading: Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System•10 minutes
    • Reading: Ovaries•10 minutes
    • Reading: Uterus•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 1.2•10 minutes
    • Reading: Hormonal Regulation of the Male Reproductive System•10 minutes
    • Reading: Hormonal Regulation of the Female Reproductive Cycle•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 1.3•10 minutes
    • Reading: Puberty•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 1.4•10 minutes
    1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
    • Apply your Knowledge - Module 1•30 minutes

    This module articulates the hormonal implications of the menstruation cycle and sperm activation as it relates to both reproductive health and overall health. COURSE GOAL 2: Students will be able to conceptualize the hormonal implications of the menstruation cycle, oocyte maturation, and sperm activation as it relates to both reproductive health and overall health, analyze how the hormones of the pituitary relate to target tissues, examine the mechanisms behind oocyte maturation and meiosis, and illustrate how sperm development leads to modal function.

    What's included

    5 videos13 readings1 assignment

    5 videos•Total 11 minutes
    • Lecture 2.0 - Introduction to Module 2•0 minutes•Preview module
    • Lecture 2.1 - Male Hormones & Sperm Activation•3 minutes
    • Lecture 2.2 - Menstrual Cycle•5 minutes
    • Lecture 2.3 - Meiosis•1 minute
    • Lecture 2.4 - Summary of Module 2•0 minutes
    13 readings•Total 130 minutes
    • Annotated Lecture Script - Module 2.0•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 2.1•10 minutes
    • Reading: Spermatogenesis•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 2.2•10 minutes
    • Reading: Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle•10 minutes
    • Reading: Ovarian Cycle•10 minutes
    • Reading: Hormonal Regulation of the Female Reproductive Cycle•10 minutes
    • Reading: Oogenesis•10 minutes
    • Apps for Menstrual Cycle Tracking•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 2.3•10 minutes
    • Reading: Introduction to Meiosis•10 minutes
    • Suggested Reading•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 2.4•10 minutes
    1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
    • Apply Your Knowledge - Module 2•30 minutes

    This module outlines the scientific foundations of contraception beyond social norms. COURSE GOAL 3: Students will be able to classify the scientific foundations of male and female sexual biology and contrast differing contraception options through the lens of reproductive function and beyond social norms.

    What's included

    4 videos15 readings1 assignment

    4 videos•Total 11 minutes
    • Lecture 3.0 - Introduction to Module 3•0 minutes•Preview module
    • Lecture 3.1 - Male & Female Sexual Biology•2 minutes
    • Lecture 3.2 - Contraception•7 minutes
    • Lecture 3.3 - Module 3 Summary•0 minutes
    15 readings•Total 150 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 3.0•10 minutes
    • Suggested Reading•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 3.1•10 minutes
    • Reading: Female Sexual Response•10 minutes
    • Reading: Male Sexual Response•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 3.2•10 minutes
    • Reading: Surgical Sterilization•10 minutes
    • Reading: Hormonal Methods•10 minutes
    • Reading: Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)•10 minutes
    • Reading: Spermicides•10 minutes
    • Reading: Barrier Methods•10 minutes
    • Reading: Periodic Abstinence•10 minutes
    • Contraception Types Comparison Chart•10 minutes
    • Optional Reading: Bedsider.org•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 3.3•10 minutes
    1 assignment•Total 20 minutes
    • Apply Your Knowledge - Module 3•20 minutes

    This module spotlights the possibility of infertility in the human body and provides an in-depth understanding upon the biology behind infertility, endometriosis, reproductive diseases, and oncofertility. COURSE GOAL 4: Students will be able to identify the possible causes of infertility in the human body, analyze the effects of reproductive tract disorders, recognize the risks and symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases, and discuss the field of oncofertility in relation to sexual and holistic health.

    What's included

    6 videos15 readings5 assignments

    6 videos•Total 27 minutes
    • Lecture 4.0 - Introduction to Module 4•0 minutes•Preview module
    • Lecture 4.1 - Infertility•9 minutes
    • Lecture 4.2 - Reproductive Tract Disorders•6 minutes
    • Lecture 4.3 - Sexually Transmitted Disease•8 minutes
    • Lecture 4.4 - Oncofertility•1 minute
    • Lecture 4.5 - Module 4 Summary•0 minutes
    15 readings•Total 150 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.0•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.1•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.2•10 minutes
    • Reading: Endometriosis•10 minutes
    • Reading: Testicular Cancer•10 minutes
    • Reading: Ovarian Cysts•10 minutes
    • Reading: Ovarian Cancer•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.3•10 minutes
    • Reading: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)•10 minutes
    • STD Comparison Chart•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.4•10 minutes
    • Reading: Oncofertility•10 minutes
    • Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.5•10 minutes
    • TA Ending Thoughts•10 minutes
    • Survey: Reproduction & You - Back to You!•10 minutes
    5 assignments•Total 140 minutes
    • Reproduction & You - Back to You! (survey)•30 minutes
    • Case Study - Ian•30 minutes
    • Case Study - Ava•30 minutes
    • Case Study - Micah & Alena•30 minutes
    • Apply Your Knowledge - Module 4•20 minutes

    Instructor

    Instructor ratings

    Instructor ratings

    We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.

    4.8 (75 ratings)
    Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D.
    Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D.
    Northwestern University
    2 Courses•32,045 learners

    Offered by

    Northwestern University

    Offered by

    Northwestern University

    Northwestern University is a private research and teaching university with campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, and Doha, Qatar. Northwestern combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment that transcends traditional academic boundaries.

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    Learner reviews

    4.7

    532 reviews

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    Showing 3 of 532

    A
    AW
    5

    Reviewed on May 30, 2016

    I really liked the availability to read through notes and word for word of what the videos were talking about. I like the use of pictures as well!

    S
    ST
    4

    Reviewed on Aug 9, 2016

    It's a good course. Provides some very important information about reproductive health. Young adolescent men and women should take this course before beginning their sexual life.

    P
    PV
    5

    Reviewed on Jan 5, 2020

    The online course was good. I got my basics clear with much clarity.

    View more reviews

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