Infertility Treatments Flashcards
Artificial insemination by donor (known as AID)
Sperm donated to a clinic by a man is placed in a woman’s uterus. This can help couples where the man is infertile.
Embryo donation
A fertilised egg is created in the laboratory using an egg donated by another woman but using the partner’s sperm. The fertilised de is placed in the woman’s womb. This is of help when a woman does not ovulate.
In-vitro fertilisation (known as IVF)
Egg and sperm are taken from a couple, fertilised in a laboratory and then placed in the womb. This helps women with medical problems, such as blocked fallopian tubes, to conceive.
Egg donation
A donated egg and donated sperm are fertilised in the laboratory to form an embryo before being placed in a woman’s womb.
Artificial insemination by husband (known as AIH)
Sperm is taken from the husband and placed in the women’s uterus. This can help couples who have difficulty conceiving for no obvious reason.
Surrogacy
A woman (the surrogate mother) agrees to become pregnant with someone else’s child and then hand that child over after it is born. This can be achieved with IVF using the couple’s sperm and egg ad planting the fertilised embryo in the surrogate mother. A surrogate mother may also permit her egg to be fertilised by having the sperm from the father inserted into her uterus. Although surrogacy is controversial, it is legal in the uK provided the surrogate mother does it surely to help the couple and not as a paid job.
Who decides what is legal?
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regulate medical treatments for infertility in the UK
It is governed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act of 1990 which was reviewed in 2008
What are the NICE guidance on treatment for fertility problems
NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) recommends that up to three IVF cycles should be available on the NHS if:
the woman is aged between 23 and 39 at the time treatment AND
one or both of you have been diagnosed with a fertility problem OR
e.g. no sperm or both fallopian tube are blocked
you’ve been infertile for at least three years
How much do infertility treatments cost?
Fertility treatments are expensive - according to HFEA figures one IVF cycle, including drugs, fertility testing and consultation fee, is between £4,000 and £8,000
There is no guarantee that procedures will work and many attempts may be needed
Give an example of the one of the world’s oldest mothers
Liz Buttle , a 61 year-old women, had a child after lying to doctors about her age
This goes against the NICE suggestions, who advise the woman be in her twenties to thirties
What are some other issues with infertility treatments?
Fertility drugs have uncomfortable side effects
The couple’s relationship may be put under great strain because of treatment
Donor sperm or eggs can cause conflict or problems bonding with the child
Should children know their biological parents?
Surrogacy can cause problems if the surrogate emotionally bonds with the child
