CBSE Class 10 Science 2020 · Paper 31/3/1 · Question 28(b)

(a) A condom is a barrier, and it benefits both partners in two ways. First, it stops the sperms from reaching the egg, so fertilisation cannot take place and an unwanted pregnancy is avoided. Second, it helps to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV-AIDS from one partner to the other, in either direction, so the man and the woman are both protected. (b) Oral contraceptive pills change the hormonal balance of the body so that eggs are not released from the ovaries; with no egg, fertilisation, and so pregnancy, cannot occur. (c) Sex selective abortion is the illegal abortion of a foetus because of its sex, found out by prenatal sex determination; it is done mostly to female foetuses (female foeticide). Consequence: it lowers the female-male sex ratio, which must be maintained for a healthy society.