Fertility and Subfertility Flashcards
Define fecundity
Reproductive rate of an organism or population
Chance of conception
Where is the semen secreted from?
Accessory glands - prostate and seminal vesicles
What does semen contain?
fructose, glucose, prostaglandins, proteins
What is oligospermia?
Low sperm count
What is asthenospermia?
Reduced sperm motility
What is azospermia?
No sperm in the semen
What acts as a buffer for semen against the acidic vaginal secretions?
Seminal fluid
What must occur before sperm can acrosome react? and which part of the egg does the sperm bind to?
Capacitation
Zona Pellucida
What are the stages of conception from sperm + egg onwards?
Zygote → Embryo → Blastocyst → Hatching blastocyst → Implantation
What do the following differentiate into in the early embryo?
Inner cell mass
Inner trophoblast cells
Trophoblast
Inner cell mass → embryo
Inner trophoblast cells → Amnion
Trophoblast cells → Chorion and Syncytiotrophoblast
What are the major causes of subfertility?
Ovulation disorder (including PCOS)
Sperm dysfunction
Tubal disease
Endometriosis
Unexplained
What hormone has a surge for ovulation?
LH
What is defined as an abnormal length of period?
<21 days or >35 days
What hormone is required to maintian the lining (increase thickness) for pregnancy?
Progesterone
What is the difference between PCO and PCOS?
Syndrome must include 2/3 of the following:
Hyperandrogenism
Oligo-ovulation or anovulation
PCO on scan - 11+ follicles measuring 2-9mm on each side
Name three drug types that can be used for ovulation induction
Oestrogen antagonists
Gonadotrophins
HCG injection → mimic LH surge
Give two examples of oestrogen antagonists. And how do they work?
Clomifene Citrate, Tamoxifen
Inhibit negative feedback Rs of oestrogen so that there is no negative effet on gonadotrophin release
What is teratospermia?
Sperm with abnormal morphology
What does intrauterine insemination invovle?
Lab procedure to separate fast moving sperm from sluggish/non moving ones
What is intracytoplasmic sperm injection?
Sperm directly injected into egg
What are the most common causes of tubal disease?
Chlamydia
Gonorrhoea
What are the signs for ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome?
Massive ovarian cysts
Ascites
Pleural and pericardial effusions
Hypovolaemia and Thrombosis
