Module 3
1. Module 3
1.26. Page 3
Module 3—The Male and Female Reproductive Systems
Reflect and Connect
Throughout all of life—even prior to birth and into old age—testosterone is being produced in the male reproductive system. There are times in a male’s life when testosterone levels peak. In the Lesson 6 Assignment you will see a visual representation of how testosterone levels fluctuate in the blood by completing a graphing exercise.
Module 3: Lesson 6 Assignment
Retrieve the copy of the Module 3: Lesson 6 Assignment that you saved to your computer earlier in this lesson. Complete the assignment. Save your completed assignment in your course folder. You will receive instructions later in this lesson about when to submit your assignment to your teacher.
Reflect on the Big Picture
Update: A Fertility Case Study
For a young person and an athlete, there can be a lot of pressure to look a certain way or perform at a certain calibre. Accepting your own body image can be hard when you are bombarded with media images of what a “perfect” body looks like. The fame and fortune that can come with high-level athletic performance will only come as long as performance is at a peak. To maintain their ”image” and level of ”performance,” some individuals may feel the need to resort to the use of some of the 100 different varieties of anabolic steroids.
Even though José looked into normal male hormone production and control of the male reproductive system, as well as the risk factors associated with taking anabolic steroids, he decided to join his team mates and take the performance-enhancing drugs. His natural athletic ability, enhanced by the steroid use, allowed him to be selected for a professional sports team. Once on the team, he felt he needed to maintain his steroid use to keep up his performance and to keep his position on the team. This led to years of steroid use.
José kept this information from Maria, his wife, until he was diagnosed with low sperm count when they were attempting to start a family. He then discussed his steroid use with Maria and their fertility doctor. José explained that he slowly got off steroid use about a year ago and that he had used a variety of drugs that maintained his muscle mass and also counteracted the steroid affects.
Now that you have been informed of José’s history, take the time to make notes on this for “A Fertility Case Study” in the Unit B Assessment.
Going Beyond
Testosterone levels should be within a normal range in both men and women. However, disorders of the body may need to be treated with various types of steroids. The use of anabolic steroids can have many harmful effects, yet there are some body disorders that need treatment through the use of steroids. See if you can find out why steroids may be used to help treat individuals with HIV infection, Addison’s disease, arthritis, and many other disorders.
Module 3: Lesson 6 Assignment
Submit your completed Module 3: Lesson 6 Assignment to your teacher for assessment.