3: Infertility and assisted conception Flashcards
Why are women typically waiting longer before they have children?
What is the disadvantage of this?
Pursuit of academics, career advancement, other interests
Fertility decreases as you age
Which sexually transmitted infection can cause infertility?
Chlamydia
The rate of (male / female) infertility is increasing.
male infertility is increasing
What is assisted conception treatment?
Any treatment involving one or both gametes being outside the body before fertilisation
What are the criteria for receiving IVF free on the NHS?
Must have trouble conceiving / infertility
One partner hasn’t had a child
Up to three rounds of IVF per couple
What is the most common reason for couples seeking ACT?
Male infertility
Eggs can be ___ and used to conceive a child when the mother is ready.
frozen
Why is ACT useful re: genetic disorders?
You can test an embryo for a genetic disorder in early stages of development
What is the advised alcohol limit for pregnant women?
4 units / week or less
What BMI range should a woman ideally be in while pregnant?
19 - 29
reduces risk of malnutrition, growth problems and diabetes
Should pregnant women smoke?
Of course not
What supplement are ALL pregnant women put on?
Folic acid
reduces likelihood of neural tube defects like spina bifida
400 micrograms routinely, 5 milligrams for high risk women
Which infection causes congenital blindness, heart disease and in severe cases, miscarriage or stillbirth?
How is it prevented?
Rubella
Vaccination
How are women screened for cervical cancer?
Cervical smear test
Which bloodborne diseases should be checked for in newly pregnant women?
Hepatits B and C
HIV
What are six types of assisted conception techniques?
Donor insemination
Intra-uterine insemination (IUI)
In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Freezing
Surrogacy
What is the difference between donor insemination and intra-uterine insemination?
Intra-uterine insemination - partner’s sperm
Donor insemination - sperm belonging to another man other than the partner
In both IVF and ICSI, the egg and sperm are taken outside the body and fertilisation takes place in the lab.
What’s the difference between these two techniques?
IVF - egg is in a dish, sperm introduced and allowed to swim naturally i.e it’s still a race
ICSI - egg is on a slide, sperm cells injected directly into cytoplasm using a needle i.e the race is rigged
What is the biggest factor affecting IVF success rate?
Maternal age
What is a rare complication of assisted conception therapy?
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
What is the presentation of OHSS?
SOB
Abdominal pain
GI upset
Oliguria
What is seen on a transvaginal USS of a patient with OHSS?
Loads of follicles in the ovaries
Which abnormal pregnancies may occur as a result of assisted conception?
Multiple pregnancy (triplets used to be v common, now they’re not)
Ectopic pregnancy
