ART Flashcards
1
Q
What is defined as infertility? How common is it?
A
1 year of unprotected vaginal intercourse in the absence of known causes of infertility in women of reproductive age.
1 in 7 heterosexual couples.
2
Q
Describe fertility testing in females?
A
- Gonadotropins (LH/FSH).
- AMH: Secreted by developing eggs so a good indicator of ovarian reserve.
- Genetic testing (cystic fibrosis, turners syndrome).
- Transvaginal US
- Tubal patency test: Dye is used to determine whether the fallopian tubes are blocked.
3
Q
Describe fertility testing in males?
A
- Semen analysis: 3 days abstinence. Need to check count, motility and morphology.
- Genetic testing: Cystic fibrosis, Kleinfelters.
- Gonadotrophins: LH/FSH.
- Testosterone.
- Physical exam of testicular descent, and structures.
- Urine testine: For retrograde ejaculation.
4
Q
Describe the process of IVF?
A
- Suppress the natural monthly hormonal cycle by injection to women.
- Boost egg supply by giving women a daily FSH injection for 12 days. This increases chance of fertilisation.
- Monitoring via US and blood tests. A hormonal injection is given to help the egg mature. 34h after injection the egg is collected.
- Egg collection via US guided fine needle aspiration.
- Egg is fertilised as they are mixed with sperm in a test tube and cultured in the lab for 16-20h. Fertilisation is checked. If there is a low sperm count or poor mobility, a single sperm can be injected into the oocyte using Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).
- Embyro transfer: Women <40 receive 2 eggs. Women >40 get 2/3 eggs.
