Infertility Flashcards
1
Q
Define infertility
A
- Failure to conceive after frequent unprotected sexual intercourse for one or two years
2
Q
What is primary infertility?
A
- Never been pregnant
3
Q
What is secondary infertility?
A
- Previous pregnancy (including ectopic and terminations) but struggling to conceive again
4
Q
What is subfertility?
A
- Generally describes any form of reduced fertility that results in a prolonged duration of unwanted lack of conception
5
Q
What are the causes of infertility?
A
- Unidentifiable in 25%
- Male causes 30%
- Ovulatory causes 25%
- Tubal factors 20%
- Uterine and peritoneal disorders 10%
- Other (gamete/embryo defects, coital problems, concurrent health problems)
6
Q
Outline the pre-testicular causes of male infertility?
A
- Endocrine:
- Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
- Hyperprolactinaemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Diabetes - Coital problems
- Ejaculatory disorders
- Erectile dysfunction - General health/systemic illness
7
Q
Outline the testicular causes of male infertility
A
- Genetic
- Klinefelter syndrome
- Y chromosome deletion
- Immotile cilia syndrome - Congenital (cryptorchidism)
- Infective (STIs)
- Antispermatogenic agents
- Heat
- Irradiation
- Drugs
- Chemotherapy - Vascular
- Torsion
- Varicocoele
8
Q
Outline the post-testicular causes of male infertility
A
- Obstructive
- Congenital (CBAVD/CUAVD)
- Acquired (infective/vasectomy) - Coital problems
- Sexual dysfunction
- Hypospadias
9
Q
Outline Group 1 ovulatory disorders
A
- Hypothalamic-Pituitary failure - 10%
- Hypothalamic amenorrhoea
- Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
10
Q
Outline Group 2 ovulatory disorders
A
- Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Dysfunction - 85%
- PCOS
- Hyperprolactinaemic amenorrhoea
11
Q
Outline Group 3 ovarian failure
A
- Ovarian failure - 5%
- Premature ovarian failure
- Congenital e.g. Turner’s syndrome (45X0)
12
Q
How do uterine and peritoneal disorders lead to infertility?
A
- Physical reasons why implantation fails
- Uterine fibroids
- Conditions causing scarring/adhesions e.g. endometriosis, PID, previous surgery, Asherman syndrome
- Mullerian developmental abnormalities
13
Q
What causes tubal damage?
A
- Conditions affecting fallopian tube causing disrupted transport of ovum
- Endometriosis
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Pelvic surgery
- PID
- Mullerian developmental anomaly - agenesis
14
Q
What questions do we need to ask males presenting with infertility?
A
- Testicular trauma/disorders
- Ejaculatory/erectile dysfunction
15
Q
What questions do we need to ask females presenting with infertility?
A
- Age
- Obstetric/Gynae history (cycle and cervical)
- Smear, procedures
- Menstrual disorders