Fertility Medicine Flashcards
What three things are needed to become pregnant and thus where can things go wrong?
Functioning menstrual cycle (regular ovulation and thickened endometrium)
A healthy sperm
A healthy uterus and fallopian tubes
When, in the menstrual cycle, is fertilisation most likely to occur?
Day 14 (i.e. the day of ovulation)
What do we class as sub-fertility and how many couples will experience sub-fertility?
This is when a couple has been actively trying for a year and haven’t conceived
This will be the case for 15% couples
What is the difference between primary and secondary sub-fertility?
Primary is when the woman has never been pregnant
Secondary is when the women has had a pregnant before of any kind (could be miscarriage or TOP)
What things should you cover in the history of someone who is experiencing sub-fertility?
- Primary or secondary (ever been pregnant before)
- How often are they having sex? Any problems with sex (we recommend 2-3 times a week)
- How long have they been trying for
- Ages of the man and woman
- Menstrual hx (when is period, how long is cycle etc)
- Gynae hx
- Smear hx
- PMH
- SH (recreational drugs, urine will be sent to toxicology - if yes not eligible for IVF)
- DH
What lifestyle factors can you advice for a couple trying to get pregnant?
- Both couples should stop smoking and reduce alcohol (women should stop alcohol)
- Take plenty of regular exercise
- Reduce BMI if above 30 or increase if below 19
400mcg of FOLIC ACID
What are your chances of becoming pregnant within 2 years if you are 19-26?
98%
What are your chances of becoming pregnant within 2 years if you are 35-39?
90%
Which women should receive the larger dose of folic acid pre-conception and what is it?
Women with: Diabetes, Epilepsy, Coeliac disease, BMI >30 or previous child with NTD
5mg
What are the causes of sub-fertility and how common are they?
MALE CAUSES - 35%
OVULATION DISORDERS - 30%
PELVIC PATHOLOGY - 30%
Unknown - 5%
What are the leading causes of ovulatory disorder leading to sub-fertility?
PCOS
Premature ovarian insufficiency (premature menopause)
How do we diagnose PCOS?
USING THE ROTTERDAM CRITERIA (must have 2 out of 3 of):
- Oligo/anovulation
- Biochemical and/or clinical signs of hyperandrogenism (elevated free testosterone or hirsutism, acne or acanthuses nigricans)
- Polycystic ovaries (>12 follicles in each ovary)
What are the three types of issue that cause anovulation?
- Hypothalamic pituitary failure
- Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian disorder (PCOS)
- Ovarian failure
HYPERPROLACTINAEMIA
How do we treat hyperprolactinaemia?
Bromocriptine or surgery
What causes are there for the type 1 hypogonadotrophic disorders?
V LOW BMI is leading cause (low weight or excessive exercise)
if woman’s BMI is <19 then she should be encourage to put on weight
Can give exogenous steroids