B3.2.5 Using Hormones to treat Infertility

Question 1

Why would blocked fallopian tubes prevent successful pregnancy

Answer 1

The egg cannot reach the uterus
Sperm can’t reach egg
Would prevent fertilisation and pregnancy

Question 2

Causes of infertility

Answer 2

Blocked sperm ducts
Not enough sperm produced in testes
Lack of mature eggs produced in ovaries
A failure of the ovaries to release an egg

Question 3

How can FSH be used as an artificial fertility drug

Answer 3

Stimulates egg maturation in ovaries
Triggers oestrogen production
Significantly increases chance of pregnancy since it increases likelihood of one or more eggs releasing

Question 4

Why may IVF be unreliable

Answer 4

May result in no pregnancy
May result in multiple pregnancies- up to 2 in 5 successful treatments result in multiple births

Question 5

Disadvantage of IVF

Answer 5

Very expensive, only limited availability through NHS
Many treatments result in multiple births. This can be dangerous for both mum and unborn babies
Not a natural process

Question 6

Advantage IVF

Answer 6

Allows parents to conceive who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to
Enables older parents to have children
Allows younger women to focus on careers and choose to have a baby later in life

Question 7

How does IVF work

Answer 7

Eggs are collected and placed in a solution in a Petri dish
A sample of semen is collected and the sperm and eggs are mixed in the petri dish
The eggs are checked to ensure they’ve been fertilised and that the early embryos are developing properly
When fertilised eggs have formed tiny balls of cells, 1 or 2 of the tiny embryos are placed in the womb of the mother.
Atleast one baby will grow and develop successfully if all goes well