Infertility: Hormonal methods of contraception & causes of infertility Flashcards
Which 2 hormones are in an oral contraceptive?
Oestrogen & Progesterone
Fill in the blanks: Oestrogen at low levels ___. However, at high doses, oestrogen
____.
Oestrogen at low levels stimulates the release of eggs. However, at high doses, oestrogen
will inhibit FSH production.
What are the side effects and final result of taking the pill?
Egg development and release will stop completely. If there is no egg available, there can be no baby.
List 2 benefits and 2 risks of taking oral contraceptives
+ Oral contraceptives are more than 99% effective if taken correctly.
+ Reduced the risk of certain cancers
+ Contraceptive injections, implants or skin patches contain slow release progesterone to inhibit the maturation and release of eggs.
- side effects are changes in weight, mood and blood pressure due to high
levels of oestrogen. - Irregular vaginal bleeding
Name 6 causes of infertility
- Advancing maternal age
- Ovulation disorders
- Tubal occlusion (blockage)
- Uterine fibroids
- Male factors affecting sperm function
- Endometriosis
Explain what happens with the quality of eggs in the advancing of maternal age
- egg numbers decrease at a rapid rate.
- egg quality, or the likelihood of an egg being genetically normal, decreases.
What 2 methods can you use to keep track of ovulation?
Menstrual calendar or an ovulation predictor kit
What is tubal occlusion?
Blockage of the fallopian tubes
What factors can predispose a woman of having blocked fallopian tubes?
A history of sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhea, or pelvic
inflammatory disease
How does tubal occlusion cause infertility?
The ovulated egg is unable to be fertilized by sperm or to reach the endometrial cavity.
What are uterine fibroids?
Abnormal growths/ solid tumors that develop in the uterus lining
What are the effects of fibroids on pregnancy rate?
They can reduce pregnancy rate, roughly by 50%, and
removal of which will double pregnancy rate.
What are the effects of fibroids?
Often, but not always, submucosal fibroids can cause heavy periods, or bleeding
between periods.
What percentage does male infertility contribute?
40-50%
Define Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition whereby cells very similar to the ones lining the uterine cavity, or endometrium, are found outside the uterine cavity.
How does endometriosis cause infertility?
Produces inflammation and scarring, which has
detrimental effects on egg, sperm or embryo.
What 4 methods are used to identify causes of infertility?
- Egg production
- Sperm Production
- Fallopian Tubes
- Uterus
What is used to measure whether ovulation is occurring and what is the indication?
Basal Body Temperature
A slight, sustained rise indicates that ovulation has occurred
What factors will be analysed about a semen specimen?
A semen specimen will be analyzed for the number of sperm, their shape and movement.
What tests are taken to shown whether the fallopian tubes are open?
hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
or sonohysterogram (ultrasound)
How is the uterine lining checked for implantation?
- The shape of the uterus is shown in an HSG/hysteroscope inserted through the vagina and cervix
- endometrial biopsy
samples the uterine lining in the last half of the cycle to see if it is prepared for an embryo to implant. The thickness of the lining can also be measured using ultrasound.
