Controlling Fertility Flashcards
what is the fertile period in male?
from puberty onwards
what is the fertile period in female?
the time around ovulation
why is male fertility described continuous?
FSH and ICSH are secreted at a relatively constant level, resulting in a steady testosterone production, promoting sperm production
why is female fertility described as cyclic
females have a small fertility period during every cycle. this lasts approximately 5 days around the time of ovulation
how can the ovulation period be established?
- tracking the cycle
- changes in body temperature
- changes in cervical mucus
what factors could be linked to reduced fertility in females?
- endometriosis
- problems ovulating
- poor egg quality
- blockage in oviduct
what factors could be linked to reduced fertility in males?
- sperm tube blockage
- sperm count
- sperm allergy
what health and lifestyle factors could be linked to reduced fertility?
- age
- genetics
- disease
- anorexia
- stress
- obesity
- poor diet
- drug misuse
- smoking
what drugs are used to stimulate ovulation and how do they work?
- drugs that mimic FSH and LH: FSH causes follicular development, LH causes ovulation
- drugs that prevent negative feedback effect of oestrogen on FSH: FSH continues to be released so folicles continue to develop
what is the possible negative effect of using drugs to stimulate ovulation?
super ovulation- resulting in more than one ova being released and therefore there being multiple babies
which fertility treatment would require ovulation stimulating drugs?
IVF, the drugs are required to harvest ova from a female for use in an IVF treatment
what is artificial insemination?
when several sperm samples are collected over a period of time, the sample is then inserted into the female reproductive tract without intercourse.
what may cause the oviduct to become blocked?
it may be due to infection after procedures such as:
- abortion
- miscarriage
- c-section
- pelvic inflammatory disease
- chlamydia
what is the process of IVF?
- a number of ova are harvested after FSH treatment
- ova is mixed with sperm in a petri dish (in vitro)
- zygotes are then incubated until they form embryos (at least 8 cells)
- pre implementation genetic diagnosis is used to identify disorders or anomalies
- most suitable embryos are then implanted
- any unused embryos are frozen
when is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) used?
it can be used after IVF if sperm have very poor mobility or are very low in number
