B11.8 Infertility treatments Flashcards
What is lack of ovulation?
Where someone woman do not make enough FSH to stimulate the maturation of their eggs in the ovaries
How can lack of ovulation be overcome?
Artificial form of LH can be used as a fertility drug to trigger ovulation
What is IVF?
A form of fertility treatment used if the oviducts have been damaged or blocked by infection
How can IVF be overcome?
Gives mother synthetic FSH to stimulate maturation follow by LH to bring eggs to ovulation
Collect eggs and fertilise them with sperm from the father in the laboratory
Fertilised eggs are kept in special solution in a warm environment to develop into embryos
When they are a minute balls of cells - one or two of the embryos are inserted back into the uterus - bypass faulty tubes
What is the problems of IVF?
Expensive both for society if it is provided by the NHS and for individuals - many people pay thousands of pounds for repeated cycles
Not always successful - older the parents less likely they will have a baby - can be overcome by using donor egg but baby is not biologically related then
Health risks of the mother and emotional stress
What are the problems of multiple pregnancy’s caused by IVF?
Increases the risk for both the mother and the babies - more likely to lead to stillbirths and premature births
Costs a lot of money for hospitals to keep premature babies alive
