Infertility Flashcards
What is inferility?
A disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse
(every 2-3 days = regular intercourse)
What is primary infertility?
When have no had a live birth previously
What is secondary infertility?
When have had a live birth more than 12 months previously
How common is infertility in couples?
1 in 7
Half of these will conceive in the next 12 months (in 24 months - 7% of couples are infertile)
What are the psychological distresses of infertility?
No biological child Impact on couples wellbeing Impact on larger family Investigations treatments (failure)
What is the cost to society due to infertility?
Fewer births
Less tax income
Investigation costs
Treatment costs
What are the main pre-testicular causes of infertility?
Congenital and acquired endocrinopathies (Kleinfelters - 47XXY), Y chromosome deletion, HPG, PRL (prolactinoma)
What are the main testicular causes of infertility?
Cryptorchidism Infection (STDs) Immunological (Antisperm antibodies) Vascular (varicoele) Trauma/surgery Toxins
What are the main post-testicular causes of male infertility?
Absence of vas deferens in patients with cystic fibrosis
Obstructive azoospermia
Erectile dysfunction
Latrogenic- vasectomy
What is the function of the vas deferens?
Transports mature sperm from the epididymis to the urethra in preparation for ejaculation
What are the three main types of erectile dysfunction?
Retrograde ejaculation
Mechanical impairment
Psychological
What is retrograde ejaculation?
The semen within the urethra travels back into the bladder.
What is cryptorchidism?
There is undescended testis in the inguinal canal. into the scrotum.
What is the main cause of infertility in females?
Ovarian causes (anovulation, and a corpus luteum insufficiency)
Which hormone is mainly secreted by the corpus lutuem?
Progesterone
Shat are the five main types of female infertility causes?
1) Ovarian causes
2) Tubal causes
3) Uterine causes
4) Cervical causes (ineffective sperm penetration due to chronic cervicitis) and antisperm ABs
5) Pelvic causes (endometriosis and adhesions)
What is endometriosis?
a condition resulting from the appearance of functioning endometrial tissue outside the uterus and causing pelvic pain,
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
Menstrual pain
Menstrual irregularities
Deep dyspareunia (Pain during sexual intercourse)
infertility
Why do individuals with endometriosis experience menstrual pain?
Endometrial tissue responds to oestrogen in a cyclic manner.
What are the treatments for endometriosis?
Hormonal (continuous OCP, progesterone) Laparscopic ablation (removal of endometrial tissue) Hysterectomy Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy Moves ovaries and tubes
What are fibroids?
Benign tumours of the myometrium that respond to oestrogen
What are the symptoms of fibroids?
Asymptomatic usually Increased menstrual pain Menstrual irregularities Deep dyspareunia Infertility
What are the treatments available for fibroids?
Hormonal (Continuous OCP, progesterone, continuous GnRH agonist)
Hysterectomy
Which neurones control the pulsatile secretion of gonaodtropins?
Kisspeptin neurones
Which endocrine cells secrete LH and FSH?
Gonadotrophs within the anterior pituitary gland
Which hormones are released from the gonads
Inhibin, activin, oestrogen, testosterone, progesterone