Q.Choose the right one among the statements given below:

IUDs, or intrauterine devices, are one of the most widely accepted methods of contraception in India. They are small, flexible devices placed inside the uterus by a trained healthcare professional — never by the user herself, so statement (A) is wrong.

The primary mode of action for IUDs is to increase phagocytosis of sperm within the uterus. The device also suppresses sperm motility and fertilising capacity, and it makes the uterus unsuitable for implantation. This phagocytosis reaction is a key mechanism, making statement (B) correct.

IUDs do not suppress gametogenesis — that is, they do not stop the production of eggs or sperm. That effect is achieved by hormonal contraceptives like pills or injections, so (C) is incorrect. …

Reproductive Health, as a chapter in your NCERT textbook, covers a range of contraceptive methods, and among the most widely used are Intrauterine Devices (IUDs). These are small, often T-shaped objects placed inside the uterus by a trained healthcare professional. The question here tests your precise understanding of how IUDs work and what they do — and do not — do.

Let us examine each statement carefully.

Statement (A) says IUDs are generally inserted by the user herself. This is incorrect. IUDs are not like condoms or pills that a person can use on their own. Their insertion requires a trained doctor or nurse because the device must be placed correctly inside the uterine cavity. Improper insertion can cause injury, infection, or failure. The NCERT explicitly states that IUDs are inserted by experts or healthcare providers.

Statement (B) says IUDs increase phagocytosis reaction in the uterus. This is correct. Phagocytosis refers to the process by which certain cells engulf and destroy foreign particles or microorganisms. The presence of an IUD in the uterus triggers an inflammatory response, which includes an increase in phagocytic cells. These cells then attack sperm, reducing the number that can reach the egg. This is one of the key mechanisms by which IUDs prevent pregnancy. The NCERT mentions that IUDs increase phagocytosis of sperm within the uterus. …