Fertility Flashcards

1
Q

When do animals become fertile?

A

Bitch - 6m if small, up to 18m in giant breeds
Queens - When 80% of BW, in time with spring so can be from 5m-12m
Tom - 6-9m
Dog - unclear

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How do queens ovulate?

A

Copulation stimulates it
Can take up to 4 times
If not seeing yowling/ aggression/ licking after then unlikely to have properly mated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the most common conditions cycling abnormalities of the non pregnant female?

A

Failure to cycle
Persistent oestrus
Ovarian remnant syndrome
Pseudopregnancy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

WHat are the most common disorders of the vagina/ vulva?

A

Vaginitis
Clitoral hyperplasia
Vaginal hyperplasia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the most common conditions of the non pregnant uterus?

A

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia
Pyometra
Neoplasia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What can cause infertility in the female?

A
Infertile female
Failure to observe oestrus
Short interoestrus interval
Prolonged anoestrus
Failure to mate
Failure to achieve pregnancy
Foetal resorption or abortion
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the most common pregnancy conditions?

A
Hypoglycaemia
Eclampsia
RFM
Abortion
Foetal resorption
Diabetes melitus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the most common conditions of parturition/ the post partum period

A
Dystocia - foetal or maternal
Retained placenta
Uterine h+
Subinvolution of placental sites
Agalactia
Mastitis
Endometritis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the most common neonatal conditions?

A

Fading puppy/ kitten syndrome
Septicemia
Hypoglycaemia
Anaemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the most common conditions of the male?

A
Crytorchidism
Prostate diease
Congenital abnormalities
Orchitis
Neoplasia
Paraphiosis
Penile trauma
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What can cause infertility in the male?

A
Lack of  libido
Inability to mate
Ejaculation failure
Spermatic abnormalities/ azospermia
Prostatic disease
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How would you investigate intersex?

A

Karyotyping

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Outline the use of vaginal cytology

A

Helps evaluate stage in the oestrus cycle
Cheap easy quick
Ideally use a speculum
In anoestrus - see small basal cells
In Pro oestrus - see larger intermediate cells, +++ RBCs
In oestrus - cornification of cells
End of oestrus - increase in nucleated cells and leukocytes
Cornification suggests oestrus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is vaginoscopy for?

A

For staging oestrus cycle

Mucosa in prooestrus - pink, oedematous, folded

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How can you evaluate semen?

A
Volume
colour
pH
Concentration of sperm
ALKP - should be normal levels
Culture
Sperm number and motility
Abnormalities
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is hormone testing best for?

A

For when to time mating

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Outline the GnRH, progesterone, relaxin tests

A

GnRH - If not in season, can test to assess for ovarian remnant syndrome/ Can check for retained testes in male
Progesterone - stays high in the bitch 9-10 weeks post ovulation
Relaxin - Allows confirmation of pregnancy 28 post mating in the bitch, 30 in the queen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What prostate dieases are more common in the neutered v intact male

A

BPH - intact, predisposes to cysts/ abscess/ infection

Neoplasia - castrated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Where does the prostate drain?

A

Ileac LN

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Outline hormones in the male during puberty

A

Increase in testosterone from leydig cells in testes
Due to GnRH in pituitary
Mostly 5DTH that stimulates the prostate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the 3 parts of the ejaculate?

A
  1. Clear, acidid, flushes cellular debris and urine from urethra, <1ml
  2. Sperm
  3. Prostatic again to flush sperm through cerivx. 5-35ml
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Where does prostatic neoplasia often track to?

A

Local area

Distant = lungs and vertebrae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is BPH?

A
Uniform enlargement of prostate
Cell # and size increases
Symmetrical
>50% > 5yr
>95% >9 yr
24
Q

What is seen with BPH?

A

Rarely see compression of the urethra unless other things going on
Non painful
Bloods NAD
Rads - symmetrically enlarged prostate
US - symmetrical, mildly heterogenous, smooth margins, +/- cysts
Wash - high RBCs, No WBCs, -ve culture

25
Q

How do you assess a Tom’s fertility?

A

General PE, can consider bloods too
Assess size of testicles, can US them too to assess heterogenicty
Assess for spines on the penis
Can collect with artificial vagina but takes a lot of training, otherwise can do GA and electro-ejaculation

26
Q

When can progestogens be used to suppress oestrus?

A

should be administered during anestrus approximately 1 month before the expected onset of the next estrous cycle. The first estrus after the use of proligestone can be expected in most bitches within 9 to 12 months but may take up to 2 to 3 years

27
Q

What are the possible S/E of progestogens?

A

can result in clinical signs consistent with adrenocortical suppression (eg, alopecia, hair discoloration, thinning of the skin).
also cause acromegalic like symptoms, including hypertrophy of skin and other soft tissues and overgrowth of some bone and cartilage, occurring in response to progesterone-induced hypersecretion of growth hormone by mammary tissue as well as the pituitary, and resulting in increased serum concentrations of insulin like growth factor
Elevations in serum progesterone can also cause diabetic insulin resistance, acting either directly or via increased growth hormone production
Can lead to cystic endometrial hyperplasia
Neoplastic transformation of mammary cells

28
Q

What are the s/e of using andorgens to prevent oestrus in the bitch?

A

The most common side effects reported are clitoral hypertrophy and vaginitis.Other side effects include increased body odor, urinary incontinence and spraying, mounting behavior, cervical dermis thickening, and epiphora.
contraindicated for use in Bedlington terriers because of an increased risk of hepatic dysfunction and in patients with androgen-responsive neoplasias.

29
Q

How would deslorelin work in females?

A

GnRH receptor agonist

Stimulates oestrus in 7-14 days, then anoestrus for up to 23 months

30
Q

How long after the LH surge can you evaluate for pregnancy with US?

A

Easy by 30 days

Can sometimes be seen by 20 days

31
Q

What blood tests can be run to assess for pregnancy?

A

relaxin can be used in bitches to determine pregnancy status as early as 20 days post-LH surge (only specific
pregnancy-associated protein identified in the dog)
In queens, elevated progesterone levels indicate that ovulation has occurred and thus are suggestive that mating has taken place but cannot be used for definitive diagnosis of pregnancy.

32
Q

When can prostaglandins be given to treat mismating?

A

Induce luteolysis - the CL is more resistant to this earlier in the gestation so really has to be after 30d
Needs multiple doses

33
Q

What is the gestational age of puppies and kittens

A

65 days +/- 2 days following the LH surge
Lots of organ development in the last few days
If they are late by 2 days, their nutritional needs outweigh what can be provided by the placenta and they die
Can be 58-72 days post breeding

34
Q

How can radiography be used to assess litters?

A

Lateral should be enough
Needs to be done days 57–65 to ensure mineralization is complete and reduce the chances that fetuses will be missed
Use mineralisation of different structures to assess age
Suggestive of abortion if bones of the skull begin to override each other or become otherwise deformed, if there is gas accumulation within the uterus or in or around the fetus (within the blood vessels, heart, body cavities), or if there is abnormal flexion of the fetus (balling) or hyperextension of the hind limbs

35
Q

How can ultrasound be used to assess the foetus?

A

estimate gestational age through the use of gestational sac and/or fetal measurements and through evaluation of the progression of organ development. It may also be used to ascertain fetal viability and to determine if fetal stress is present
heartbeat is first visible at 23 to 26 days of gestation in the bitch, 16-17d in the cat

36
Q

How do you assesss foetel distress?

A

HR - should be approx 200-220

37
Q

What tests can be run to assess an ‘infertile’ bitch?

A

Bloods including ACTH stim and TSH T4 if necessary
Serum P to assess stage of cycle, allows you to see if has ovulated in last couple of months
GnRH to assess if there is ovarian tissue present
US or Rads
Vaginal cytology
Vaginoscopy

38
Q

What can cause a failure to cycle?

A

(Normally 4-12m)
Immaturity/ intersex/ ovarian aplasia/ stress/ systemic illness/ endocrine disease
Silent heats (common greyhounds)
Luteal cysts
Senile or immune mediated ovarian failure
Ovarectomy
Over exercise/ poor nutrition

39
Q

What should you do if a bitch less than 2 years old is presented for failure to cycle?

A

Check for signs of intersex/ systemic disease/ poor nutrition/ over exercise
Wait and observe
Consider serial progesterone/ vaginal cytology to r/o recent ovulation and cycling

40
Q

What should you do if a bitch older than 2 years old is presented for failure to cycle?

A
Serum P
Vaginal Cytology twice weekly
Can house with other cycling bitches to stimulate
GnRH stimulation test
U/S to assess for cysts
May need Sx to assess
Karyotype if intersex suspected
41
Q

How can you treat failure to cycle

A

Depends on underlying issue
Tx concurrent issues
If NAD trial cabergoline or deslorelin to try to induce oestrus
If luteal cyst - Sx or trial PG

42
Q

What can cause failure to conceive

A

Normaly miss timed/ mismanagement
Infertile male
Obstruction (segmental aplasia/ stenosis/ polyp/ tumour/ infection)

43
Q

How does P change during ovulation

A
See first increase in P at the LH surge
Ovulation occurs 2 days after this
If no ovulation occurs after LH surge, P doesn't stay high. Can then get a split heat
Second heat likely to be normal
Can trial GnRH for tx of anovulation
44
Q

How do you assess of obstruction

A

Would need to be bilateral to cause infertility
Needs endoscopy lower tract,
Often sx to assess higher up

45
Q

What can cause a prolonged inter oestrus cycle?

A
Ovarian failure
Luteal cyst (secretes P)
P secreting tuour (granulosa cell)
Follicular cyst causing prolonged oestrus
Vaginitis
46
Q

How do you Ix a prolonged interoestrus cycle?

A

P to assess ovulation/ identify prolonged P dominance
Vaginal cytology to check for persistent oestrus v vaginitis
US for cysts/ tumours

47
Q

What may cause a failure to mate?

A

Not in oestrus (check P/ cytology)
Submissive male and dominant bitch (try different dog/ make sure on his ground)
Physical defects )hip pain/ vaginal strictures)

48
Q

WHat can cause a failure to concieve?

A
Miss timing/ anovulation/ physical obstruction
Endometritis/ CEH
Embryonic defects/ inbreeding
Infections (herpes/ brucellosis)
Hypoluteodism (p insufficiency)
49
Q

How do you Ix failure to concieve?

A

US for CEH/ resorption
Bacteriology/ serology if suspicious of infection
Check mamanagement and instigate serial P to time bitch, confirm ovulation and luteal sufficiency

50
Q

What can cause pregnancy loss

A
resorption v abortion v mummification
Foetal defects
Abnormal uterine environment
Overcrowding or placental insufficiency
Infection
Maternal systemic illness or trauma
51
Q

How do you Ix pregnancy loss

A

PM and foetal culture
Serology for brucella
If maternal cause Ix bitch

52
Q

What tests can be done to ix an infertile male?

A

Semen collection and evalution and evaluation of prostatic fluid
GnRH stim test to assess for testicular tissue
US of testes and prostate
Radiography - tubular tract/ ortho disease
Biopsy

53
Q

What can cause a failure to mate?

A
Libido (endocrine)
Environment issues (conditioning/ previous experiences/ olfactory senses/ dominance/ environment)
Defects - ortho disease, defects of the penis/ prepuce/ relative anatomy
54
Q

How do you evaluate sperm?

A
Motility - immediately on warm slide
Number - need >100 million live
Morphology
Culture
ALP levels - low suggests a blockage as ALP is made in the epididymis
55
Q

What are the main diseases that cause inferility in the male?

A
Prosatitis
Immune mediated orchitis
Primary testicular failure
Tumour
Most dogs that become infertile stay that way!