Infertility Flashcards
What is the definition of infertility?
No conception after one year of regular unprotected intercourse with no known cause
ARE EGGS AVAILABLE
ARE SPERM AVAILABLE
CAN THEY MEET
ARE EGGS AVAILABLE
ARE SPERM AVAILABLE
CAN THEY MEET
What are female causes of infertilifty?
- Ovulatory dysfunction
- Diminishing ovarian reserve
- Tubal factors
- Endometriosis
- Uterine factor
What can cause anovulation in a woman?
- Premature ovarian failure
- Turner’s syndrome
- Surgery/Chemo
- PCOS
- Excessive weight loss or exercise
- Hypopituitarism
- Kallman’s syndrome
- Hyperprolactinaemia
What are problems in sperm production that can occur in a man?
- Genetic
- Failure of testes to descend
- Infection
- Torsion
- Varicocele
- Drugs
- Radiation damage
- Heat
What problems can occur with erection and ejaculation that can lead to problems with infertility?
- Prostate surgery
- Damage to nerves
- Ejaculation problems
- Timing of intercourse
- Medication
What are causes of blockage of sperm transport which can cause infertility?
- Vasectomy
- Prostate problems
- Absence of vas deferens
What are the main things you would want to establish in a couple that are having problems conceiving?
- Are Eggs Available?
- Is Ovulation happening?
- Are sperm available?
- Are the tubes ok?
- Is the uterine cavity normal?
- Are there any other factors?
How would you determine if eggs are available in a woman who is struggling to conceive?
- Determine Age
-
Ovarian reserve - Blood test and scan
- FSH - D1-5 of cycle - <10 iu/L
- AMH - 5.0-25.0 pmol/L
- Scan - Antral follicular count
What would you be assessing when scanning a woman to see if there were eggs present?
Antral follicular count
What should FSH be when measuring baseline hormonal profile at day 1-5 of the cycle?
< 10 iu/L
How would you confirm ovulation was occuring?
- Mid-luteal phase progesterone levels
- LH ovulation kits
- Cervical mucus
How would you measure mid-luteal phase progesterone levels?
Measure 7 days before period is meant to start (day 21-28 of cycle)
What progesterone level indicate ovulation when mid-luteal phase progesterone levels are taken?
> 30 nmol/L
If there was no evident ovulation, what would you do?
Determine hormonal profile
What investigations would you consider doing to determine hormonal profile?
Taken D1-5 of menstrual cycle
- FSH
- LH
- Testosterone
- Prolactin
- Thyroid Profile
If a woman had high FSH and LH, what might this suggest as to the cause of anovulation?
- Hypergonadotrophic gonadism
- Ovarian cause