Infertility Flashcards
define infertility
inability for the couple to conceive after 12 months of regular intercourse without the use of contraception
what percentages of couple are able to conceive within a year if the woman is <40?
80%
them half of the 20% will conceive the next year
when should you refer a couple for infertility?
in a year unless > anxiety > HIV/HEPB > testicular problems > period irregularity > 45years< > 35-45 years after 6 months
when assessing infertility what do you want from the female history?
> previous contraception > duration of infertility > fertility in previous relationships > previous pregnancy and complications > sexual history > menstrual timing > previous investigations > medical and surgical history > psychological assessment
what should you look for when examining the female?
> weight > height > fat and hair distribution - acanthosis nigrans - hirsutism > galactorrhoea > abdominal examination > pelvic examination - masses - pelvic distortion - tenderness - vaginal septum - cervical abnormalities
what biochemical tests would you carry out if you thought hirsutism was a diagnosis?
> testosterone levels
progesterone levels
BIEAs (>700 CT adrenal)
what investigations would you carry out in a female when assessing infertility?
> pelvic US > tubal and interuterine abnormalities - hysterosalpingography - laparoscopy > testing ovulation - serum progesterone midluteal phase > TSH > chlamydia > rubella immunity
if periods are regular describe what investigations would be carried out?
> serum progesterone mid luteal phase on day 21 to 28 cycle
if periods are irregular what investigations would be carried out?
> serum progesterone mid luteal phase later in cycle then repeated weekly until next cycle > day 1-5 - TSH - testosterone - FSH - LH - prolactin
what information would you want from the male history?
> developmental - testicular descent - loss of body hair > infection - mumps - STI > surgical - varicocele - vasectomy > previous fertility > environment - alcohol - smoking - anabolic steroids - chemotherapy - radiation - recreational drugs > sexual history > chronic illness and medication
what would you examine in the male?
> weight > height > fat and hair distribution > abdo. exam > inguinal exam > genital exam
what would you exam in the male genital exam for infertility?
> epididymitis
varicocele
testicular size
vas-deferens
what may epididymitis indicate?
> chlamydia
> gonorrhoea
what are the effects of varicocele?
can lead to abnormal semen parameters
what is varicocele?
dilation of the pompiniform plexus of spermatic veins in scrotum