Infertility Flashcards
What is the definition of infertility?
Failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse in the absence of known reason in a couple who have never conceived a child
What are the types of infertility?
Primary - couple has never conceived
Secondary - couple has had a previous pregnancy, including those that did not result in live birth
What factors increase the chance of conception?
Young paternal age
Healthy BMI
Non-smoker
Timing intercourse with ovulation
What blood tests are done to test for causes of infertility?
FSH and LH Oestadiol Mid-cycle progesterone on day 21 (7 days before end of cycle) TFT Infection screen - rubella, HIV, hepatitis B/C Prolactin testosterone Sex hormone binding globulin
What is a progesterone challenge test?
Progesterone is given, a bleed after a 5 day course confirms oestrogen levels are normal
What factors are assessed in a semi analysis?
Volume pH Density and concentration of sperm Motility Sperm progression and morphology
What are causes of male factor infertility?
Idiopathic Cystic fibrosis Vasectomy Congenital - cryptorchidism, chromosomal abnormalities Infections - mumps, STIS Endocrine causes Testicular tumours Sperm abnormalities
Why does cystic fibrosis cause infertility in males
CF causes obstruction or absence of the vas deferent bilaterally (congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens - CBAVD)
What are the blood results in obstructive causes of infertility in males?
Normal LH, FSH and testosterone
What is cryptorchidism?
One or both testes are undescended into the dependent part of the scrotal sac
What is the presentation of cryporchidism?
Testes cannot be palpated within the dependent part of the scrotal sac
May be found in the upper part of the scrotum, the inguinal canal, intra-abdominally or none of these places
Who is cryptorchism more common in?
Premature babies
Babies with low birth weigher or small for gestational age
What is Kleinefelter’s syndrome?
47 XXY
Genetical male with an extra X chromosome
What is the presentation of Kleinefelter’s syndrome?
Slight developmental delay Reduced facial fair Poor muscle tone Gynaecomastia at puberty Small firm testes
What do blood tests show in Kleinefelter’s syndrome?
High GnRH
Low testosterone
How is Kleinefelter’s syndrome diagnosed?
Karyotype
How can mumps cause infertility?
Mumps orchitis can cause reduced spermatogenesis and can cause obstructive infertility
Testicular swelling can damage seminiferous tubules and affect sperm production
What is the prognosis of infertility caused by mumps?
Shot-term - improves in the months after recovery
Which endocrine tumours can cause infertility?
Pituitary tumours Hypothalamous disorders Hypo and hyperthyroidism Diabetes Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Steroids abuse
What do blood tests show in pituitary and hypothalamus causes of infertility?
Low LH, FSH and testosterone
Why can both hypo and hyperthyroidism cause reduced fertility?
Hyper - decreased sexual function
Hypo - increased prolactin
How does congenital adrenal hyperplasia cause infertility in men?
Increased testosterone
What is globozoospermia?
Sperm abnormality where spermatozoa have rounded heads instead of oval, and no acrosome
Without this the sperm can’t fuse with the egg
What are the categories of female infertility?
Anovulatory infertility
Tubal factor infertility
What are hypothalamic causes of anovulatory infertility?
Anorexia, bulilia
Excess exercise
Idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism
Kallman syndrome
What do blood tests show in anorexia, bulimia or excess exercise causing anovulatory infertility?
Low FSH and LH
Low oestradiol