Infertility I Flashcards
What is infertility
Failure to achieve clinical pregnancy after =>12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse
What is primary infertility
When you haven’t had a live birth previously
miscarriage / stillborn counted here
What is secondary infertility
When you’ve had a live birth > 12 months previously
What are the most common causes of infertility in a couple
1) male infertility 30%
2) female infertility 30%
3) combined male and female infertility 30%
4) unknown
10%
What are the impacts of infertility to the coupe
Psychological distress : No biological child Impact on mental wellbeing of couple and family Investigations are invasive treatments often fail
What are the impacts of infertility to society
Less births ( less tax income dude kinda harsh) Investigation + treatment costs
What are the 3 stages that can cause of male infertility
3 ways to think about male infertility
1) Pretesticular
2) testicular
3) Post testicular
What causes Pre testicular infertility
Congenital and acquired endocrinopathies :
Can be split into endo causes and physical causes
Physical causes
1) Klinefelter’s
47XXYY
3) Chromosome deletion
Endo causes:
4) HPG (hypothatmauls pituitary axis, Testosterone, prolactin
These can be due to 1ary , 2ary or 3ary hypogonadism
What are the causes of testicular infertility
1) congenital
2) Cryptorchidism
2) infection ie STD
3) Immunological ( antisperm ABs)
4) Vascular ( varcocoele)
5) Trauma/ surgery ( ie Vasectomy)
6) Toxin ( Chemo , DXT, Drugs, Smoking
What are the causes post testicular infertility
1) congenital ( absence of vas deference in CF)
2) Obstructive Azoospermia
3) Erectile dysfunction ( retrograde ejaculation , mechanical impairment , psychological)
4) Iatrogenic ( vasectomy)
What is cryptorchidism
Undescended testis (90% stuck in inguinal canal) normal path for testis descent through inguinal canal)
What are the 6 causes of female infertility and name some examples of each
6 ways to think about female infertility
Check pregnant or breastfeeding
1) Uterine causes ( 10% )
( unfavourable endometrium due to chronic endometritis (TB) , fibroid, adhesions ( synechiae, congenital malformation)
2) Tubal causes ( 30%)
( Tubopathy due to : infection , endometriosis , trauma)
3) Ovarian causes ( 40%)
( Anovulation ( endo problems) , Corpus luteum insufficiency)
4) Cervical causes 5%
( ineffective sperm penetration due to : chronic cervicitis , immunological ( antisperm Ab)
5) Pelvic causes 5%
( Endometriosis , adhesion issues)
6) unexplained 10%
What are the causes of uterine infertility
unfavourable endometrium due to chronic endometritis (TB) , fibroid, adhesions ( synechiae) , congenital malformation
What are the causes of tubular infertility
Tubopathy due to : infection , endometriosis , trauma
What are the causes of ovarian infertility
Anovulation ( endo problems) , Corpus luteum
What are the causes of Cervical infertility
ineffective sperm penetration due to : chronic cervicitis , immunological ( antisperm Ab
What are the causes of Pelvic infertility
Endometriosis , adhesion issues
What is endometriosis
Presence of function endometrial tissue outside the uterus most commonly in the :
- fallopian tube
- ovaries
- outer uterine surface
- cul de sac area
( 5% of women . This tissue will respond to oestrogen)
Symptoms of endometriosis
Increase menstrual pain + irregularities
Deep dyspareunia ( pain during intercourse)
Infertility
what are the Treatments for endometriosis
Hormonal ( continuous OCP , prog)
Laparoscopic ablation
Hysterectomy
Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
note OCP = oral contraceptive pill
What is fibroids
Benign tumour of the myometrium ( most commonly:
- submucosal
- pedunculated subseroal
- subserosal
- Intramural
occurs in 1-20% of pre menopausal woman ( increases with age)
Responds to oestrogen
Symptoms of fibroids
Usually asymptomatic
Increase menstrual pain + irregularities
Deep dyspareunia
infertility
Treatment for fibroids
Hormonal ( continuous OCP , prog , continuous GnRH agonists)
Hysterectomy
What is hypothalamic - pituitary gonadal axis
1) Kisspeptin released from neurons in hypothalamus
2) Stimulates the release of GnRH from GNRH neurons in hypothalamus
3) Acts on gonadotrophs ( in anterior pit)
4) Stimulates LH = FSH circulation into systemic circulation
5) Causes testosterone / oestrogen ( progesterone / activin / inhibin) release in gonads
6) Oestrogen ( aromatised from T in men ) and progesterone acts back on hypothalamus and gonadotrophs (
What is the rhythm of GnRH and LH
pulsatile
sex steroids have a diurnal rhythm
How does hyperthyroidism cause infertility in males
Increased SHBG –> drop in free testosterone