Introduction to Reproduction

Introduction to Reproduction

Instructor: Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D.

32,386 already enrolled

Included with Learn more

Ask Coursera

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

550 reviews

2 weeks to complete

at 10 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.

550 reviews

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

8 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

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 videosTotal 16 minutes

Lecture 1.0 - Introduction to Reproduction3 minutes
Lecture 1.1 Part 1 - Male Reproductive Anatomy2 minutes
Lecture 1.1 Part 2 - Female Reproductive Anatomy4 minutes
Lecture 1.2 - Reproductive Hormones1 minute
Lecture 1.3 - Reproductive Development5 minutes
Lecture 1.4 - Summary of Module 11 minute

18 readingsTotal 180 minutes

Survey: Reproduction & You10 minutes
Annotated Video Scripts - Lecture 1.010 minutes
Course Logistics & Grading10 minutes
Meet Your Professor10 minutes
Meet your Teaching Assistants!10 minutes
Course Collaborators10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 1.1 Part 110 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 1.1 Part 210 minutes
Reading: Overview of the Male and Female Reproductive Systems10 minutes
Reading: Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System10 minutes
Reading: Ovaries10 minutes
Reading: Uterus10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 1.210 minutes
Reading: Hormonal Regulation of the Male Reproductive System10 minutes
Reading: Hormonal Regulation of the Female Reproductive Cycle10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 1.310 minutes
Reading: Puberty10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 1.410 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Apply your Knowledge - Module 130 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 videosTotal 12 minutes

Lecture 2.0 - Introduction to Module 21 minute
Lecture 2.1 - Male Hormones & Sperm Activation4 minutes
Lecture 2.2 - Menstrual Cycle5 minutes
Lecture 2.3 - Meiosis1 minute
Lecture 2.4 - Summary of Module 21 minute

13 readingsTotal 130 minutes

Annotated Lecture Script - Module 2.010 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 2.110 minutes
Reading: Spermatogenesis10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 2.210 minutes
Reading: Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle10 minutes
Reading: Ovarian Cycle10 minutes
Reading: Hormonal Regulation of the Female Reproductive Cycle10 minutes
Reading: Oogenesis10 minutes
Apps for Menstrual Cycle Tracking10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 2.310 minutes
Reading: Introduction to Meiosis10 minutes
Suggested Reading10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 2.410 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Apply Your Knowledge - Module 230 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 videosTotal 11 minutes

Lecture 3.0 - Introduction to Module 31 minute
Lecture 3.1 - Male & Female Sexual Biology2 minutes
Lecture 3.2 - Contraception8 minutes
Lecture 3.3 - Module 3 Summary1 minute

15 readingsTotal 150 minutes

Annotated Video Script - Lecture 3.010 minutes
Suggested Reading10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 3.110 minutes
Reading: Female Sexual Response10 minutes
Reading: Male Sexual Response10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 3.210 minutes
Reading: Surgical Sterilization10 minutes
Reading: Hormonal Methods10 minutes
Reading: Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)10 minutes
Reading: Spermicides10 minutes
Reading: Barrier Methods10 minutes
Reading: Periodic Abstinence10 minutes
Contraception Types Comparison Chart10 minutes
Optional Reading: Bedsider.org10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 3.310 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes

Apply Your Knowledge - Module 320 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 videosTotal 28 minutes

Lecture 4.0 - Introduction to Module 41 minute
Lecture 4.1 - Infertility10 minutes
Lecture 4.2 - Reproductive Tract Disorders6 minutes
Lecture 4.3 - Sexually Transmitted Disease8 minutes
Lecture 4.4 - Oncofertility2 minutes
Lecture 4.5 - Module 4 Summary1 minute

15 readingsTotal 150 minutes

Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.010 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.110 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.210 minutes
Reading: Endometriosis10 minutes
Reading: Testicular Cancer10 minutes
Reading: Ovarian Cysts10 minutes
Reading: Ovarian Cancer10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.310 minutes
Reading: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)10 minutes
STD Comparison Chart10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.410 minutes
Reading: Oncofertility10 minutes
Annotated Video Script - Lecture 4.510 minutes
TA Ending Thoughts10 minutes
Survey: Reproduction & You - Back to You!10 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 140 minutes

Reproduction & You - Back to You! (survey)30 minutes
Case Study - Ian30 minutes
Case Study - Ava30 minutes
Case Study - Micah & Alena30 minutes
Apply Your Knowledge - Module 420 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(79 ratings)

Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D.

Northwestern University

2 Courses34,661 learners

Offered by

Northwestern University

Explore more from Basic Science

Status: Free Trial
MedCerts
Digestion, Micturition, and Reproduction
Course
Status: Free Trial
Rice University
Anatomy & Physiology: Filtration and Reproduction
Course
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Anatomy: Gastrointestinal, Reproductive and Endocrine Systems
Course
Status: Preview
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Lactation Biology
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
76.04%
4 stars
17.42%
3 stars
5.26%
2 stars
0.72%
1 star
0.54%

Showing 3 of 550

Reviewed on Dec 4, 2015

it gives a nice and lovely topics that shoud be known by every coubles and partners to start a healthy family

Reviewed on Jul 2, 2017

very good course! hoping there could be other courses covering more in-depth materials.

Reviewed on Dec 8, 2025

Super informative - a bit outdated of course as it's from 2015 but really fascinating and information I strongly believe should be known by everyone.

View more reviews

Unlock access to 10,000+ courses with a subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 4,700 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.