ARTs Flashcards
1
Q
infertility
A
- infertility is defined as being unable to achieve pregnancy despite frequent unprotected sexual intercourse over the period of at least a year
- in australia, infertility affects approximately one in 6 couples
- about 40% of infertility is due to problems with the sperm
- another 40% is due to problems in the female reproductive system
- while the remaining 20% is due to combination of male and female factors
2
Q
sperm production
A
- for sperm to be able to fertilise an egg it must be:
- produced in insufficient quantities
- able to move in a forward direction
- able to penetrate to corona radiata and zona pellucida
- this means that there needs it be a high number if spermatids produced with a correct structure
- STIs and other factors affect sperm production
3
Q
causes of infertility in males
A
other factors that results in the sperm being unable to fertilise an egg
- semen, and the sperm it contains. may flow into the bladder rather than out of the urethra
- the male’s immune system may develop antibodies for their own sperm, altering them and reducing their effectiveness
- blockages in the male’s reproductive tract, especially in the vas deferens
- hormonal imbalances that affect the production of sperm
4
Q
causes of infertility in females: ovulation
A
- as females get older, the number of healthy eggs remaining decreases
- polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition where the ovaries contain many partially formed follicles that fail to mature, this means the eggs are not ovulated thus not fertilised
- hyperprolactinemia which means high levels of the hormone prolactin which results in the intermittent or a lack of ovulation
- once a woman has gone through menopause she will no longer ovulate
- cancer treatments may also cause early menopause
5
Q
causes of infertility in females: other
A
- endometriosis affects approximately 10% of women, it’s a condition where the cells of the endometrium grow outside the uterus. the resulting scare tissue can block the egg’s pathway to the uterus
- fibroids are benign growths in the uterus that are very common, they can affect fertility if their location blocks the fallopian tubes
- some STI’s such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia can cause blockages of the fallopian tubes
- hormonal imbalances - reduce the development of the endometrium and it’s maintenance, may even prevent ovulation
6
Q
infertility treatments that allow unassisted fertilisation
A
- the method for treating infertility depends on the reason for the issue
- in some cases, it is possible to correct the problem so that the couple can still conceive naturally
- in other cases, this is not possible, so techniques are used to assist fertilisation and the maintenance of pregnancy
- surgery
- ovulation tracking
- ovulation induction
- IUI
7
Q
surgery
A
- microsurgery can be used to remove blockages in the fallopian tubes and sperm ducts
- can remove fibroids and endometriosis scar tissue
8
Q
ovulation tracking
A
- identifying the time when a female is most fertile through blood tests that identify a surge in luteinising hormone prior to ovulation
- the highest chance of conception occurs by insemination prior to ovulation
9
Q
ovulation induction
A
- hormones imbalances affecting ovulation can be solved in some cases by medication
- the two options
- clomiphene which stimulates the body to make more FSH to induce the development of follicles
- hormone injections of FSH
- females affected by hyperprolactinemia will need to lower their prolactin levels so that ovulation can occur - oral medication
10
Q
artificial insemination/intrauterine insemination (IUI)
A
- artificial insemination is a process where sperm is released into the uterus by a catheter being inserted through the cervix
- this increases the chance of pregnancy by increasing the number of sperm that actually reach the fallopian tubes
- this process allows for control over the sperm being inseminated
- sperm from the male partner or from a donor male is collected, analysed, processed and concentrated to ensure only high-quality sperm is used
11
Q
assisted fertilisation:
A
it is not always possible for natural fertilisation to occur, in these cases there are various assisted reproductive technologies that can be considered
12
Q
gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIT)
A
- a procedure that can be performed when there are normal fallopian tubes a and adequate sperm
1. hormonal treatment to stimulate the female to produce more than one egg
2. the sperm and egg are collected and analysed
3. the sperm and eg are mixed together in the laboratory
4. the sperm and egg mixture is injected into the woman’s fallopian tubes
5. the sperm should then fertilise the egg naturally and move down to implant in the uterus - used by infertile women who are ovulating but have blocked fallopian tubes or for infertile couples who, for religious reasons, wish to avoid fertilisation outside the human body
13
Q
gamete intrafallopian transfer: advantages and disadvantages
A
- advantages - preferred by couples that prefer natural fertilisation and are unable to use other techniques due to religious or ethical reasons
- disadvantages - lower pregnancy rate compared to other technologies and requiring surgery
14
Q
in vitro fertilisation (IVF)
A
- used to overcome a range of fertility issues such as blocked fallopian tubes, ovulation disorders, endometriosis, fibroids, low sperm quality of production and unexplained infertility
- hormonal treatment is used to stimulate the ovaries so that multiple follicles develop, control ovulation and prepare the uterine lining
- when the eggs mature, they are collected by a needle passing through the vagina to the ovaries
- following their retrieval, the eggs are mixed with sperm in a suitable environment (37 degrees Celsius)
- two to six days after collection, an embryo is inserted into the uterus via a catheter passed through the cervix
- the embryo will implant into the uterus
15
Q
IVF advantages and disadvantages
A
- advantages - high success rate of pregnancy, can be used by anybody, increase chances of a healthy baby, can be used to overcome a range of infertility issues
- disadvantages - risk of multiple births, premature delivery, egg- retrieval procedure complications, high cost
