1.8

Question 1

Some men are infertile because they produce semen containing a large number of

Answer 1

abnormal sperm

Question 2

Abnormal sperm may have

Answer 2

structural changes

may not be able to swim properly

Question 3

Other infertile men may produce semen containing very few sperm cells caused by many factors:

Answer 3

Blockage of vasa deferentia (injury/disease)
Infectious diseases (STDs/from childhood-mumps)
Hormonal dysfunction 
Chronic diseases (diabetes/hypertension)
Varicocele (swelling that appears on 1 or both testicles)

Question 4

The inability to obtain or maintain an erection, can also cause male infertility, known as -

Answer 4

Erectile dysfunction (ED)

Question 5

Male infertility can be treated by

Answer 5

surgery if vasa deferentia is suspected

Question 6

If a man produces some healthy sperm -

Answer 6

IVF may be carried out using selected sperm

Question 7

Reasons why women may be infertile are:

Answer 7

Abnormal menstrual cycles

Blockage of the oviducts

Question 8

Abnormal menstrual cycles cause infertility as

Answer 8

do not produce enough hormones, this may mean that they do not ovulate or rarely ovulate

Question 9

Blockage of the oviducts may be caused by

Answer 9

bacterial infections, e.g. gonorrhoea or chlamydia

Question 10

Ways to overcome blockage of oviducts

Answer 10

surgery

IVF

Question 11

IVF stands for:

Answer 11

In Vitro Fertilisation

Question 12

IVF usually occurs in

Answer 12

flat glass dishes

Question 13

In IVF, sperm and oocytes are mixed together in a glass dish and embryos are then

Answer 13

returned to the woman’s uterus

Question 14

(IVF) sometimes a man produces very few healthy sperm, or the sperm are not capable of fertilising the oocyte by themselves. In this case a sperm may be injected into the oocyte using a very tiny needle, known as -

Answer 14

Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

Question 15

IVF 1) Woman is given hormone (FSH) injections that cause several follicles to develop in her ovary. Hormone injections are usually given…

Answer 15

for about 10 days

Question 16

IVF 2) When the follicles have matured adequately, another hormone injection is given, which is similar to LH therefore brings about

Answer 16

ovulation

Question 17

IVF 3) The mature oocytes are collected from the ovary using a needle. This is inserted into the vagina and is guided into place using

Answer 17

ultrasound

Question 18

IVF 3 MALE) Semen is collected. it is washed and then placed in a liquid containing nutrients and substances that allow the sperm to become

Answer 18

capacitated

Question 19

IVF 4) The sperm and oocytes are placed together in a culture medium for about 18 hours. During this time…

Answer 19

fertilisation should take place

Question 20

IVF 5) The fertilised egg is passed to a special growth medium and left for about 4-8 hours until the egg has reached the

Answer 20

6-8 cell stage

Question 21

IVF 6) The embryos judged to be the ‘best’ are transferred to the uterus through a catheter through her vagina and cervix. Usually 2 embryos are transferred. Any extra embryos may be preserved by

Answer 21

freezing in liquid nitrogen

Question 22

During IVF sperm cells are washed because it

Answer 22

separates the sperm from other components in the semen and reduces the chance of passing on infections

Question 23

In IVF sperm cells are placed in a medium that allows them to become capacitated because it allows

Answer 23

changes to take place in the membrane surrounding the sperm head - acrosome reaction can occur and the sperm is able to penetrate the oocyte

Question 24

A large number of oocytes are collected at one time because it is an

Answer 24

invasive process that takes place under sedation or general anaesthetic

Question 25

Only 2 embryos are usually replaced in the uterus, because anymore would

Answer 25

lower the chance of a successful pregnancy