B5: CONTRACEPTION + INFERTILITY

Question 1

How do hormonal contraceptives work?

Answer 1

-contain oestrogen and progesterone/only progesterone
-inhibit FSH and LH (prevents egg maturation and ovulation)

Question 2

How do barrier contraceptives work?

Answer 2

-prevent fertilisation by stopping sperm from reaching egg

Question 3

How do IUDs work?

Answer 3

-kill sperm
-prevent implantation of an embryo

Question 4

Oral contraceptives

Answer 4

-contain oestrogen and/or progesterone
-inhibit FSH and LH
-thicken cervical mucus
ADVS:
-99% effective
-free on NHS
DISADVS:
-side effects
-no protection from STDs

Question 5

Contraceptive patch

Answer 5

-contains oestrogen and progesterone
-stuck onto skin for 1 week
-inhibits FSH and LH
-thickens cervical mucus
ADVS:
-99% effective
-free on NHS
DISADVS:
-side effects
-no protection from STDs

Question 6

Implant

Answer 6

-releases progesterone
-inhibits LH
-thickens cervical mucus
-thins uterus lining
ADVS:
-99% effective
-free on NHS
-works for 3 years
DISADVS:
-disrupted periods
-possible side effects
-pain on insertion of implant

Question 7

Injection

Answer 7

-contains progesterone
-1 dose lasts 2-3 months
ADVS:
-99% effective
-free on NHS
DISADVS:
-side effects
-disruptive (appointments every 2-3 months)

Question 8

Advs and disadvs of barrier methods

Answer 8

ADVS:
-no side effects
-condoms protect against STDs/STIs
DISADVS:
-condoms can tear/rip
-diaphragms offer limited protection against STDs/STIs

Question 9

IUDs

Answer 9

-inserted into uterus to kill sperm and prevent implantation of an embryo
PLASTIC:
-release progesterone
-inhibit FSH and LH
-thicken cervical mucus
COPPER:
-prevent sperm surviving by changing up make up of fluids in uterus and fallopian tubes
ADVS:
-99% effective
-last up to 10 years
DISADVS:
-risk of rejection/displacement
-no protection from STDs

Question 10

Sterilisation

Answer 10

-cutting/tying fallopian tubes/sperm duct
ADVS:
-long term
-100% effective
DISADVS:
-permanent impact on fertility
-risk of surgery

Question 11

Spermicides

Answer 11

-substances that kill/disable sperm (used with barrier methods)
ADVS:
-not invasive
-short term
DISADVS:
-70-80% effective
-no protection from STIs

Question 12

What is infertility?

Answer 12

the inability to conceive a child

Question 13

IVF

Answer 13

-inject FSH and LH
-matured eggs are removed from ovaries using a syringe
-sperm collected and concentrated
-fertilisation of eggs in petri dish
-embryo develops by mitosis
-1/2 embryos transferred back to uterus (implantation = successful pregnancy)

Question 14

Advs of IVF

Answer 14

-best 1/2 embryos selected for implantation
-embryos that weren’t selected can be donated/used as stem cells

Question 15

Disadvs of IVF

Answer 15

-expensive (single cycle of IVF can cost £10,000-£30,000)
-~26% success rate
-invasive
-side effects of hormones
-mental/physical stress
-risk of multiple births/complications
-ethics (selecting embryos, wasted embryos)