Lesson 3B (Part 1) Flashcards
Infertility
A medical condition revolving around a couple’s inability to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse
- no conception after 12 months of unprotected intercourse
Primary (1°) infertility
The absence of a live birth for women who desire a child and have been in a union for at least five years, during which they have not used any contraceptives
- stillborns and miscarriages do not count
Secondary (2°) infertility
Absence of a live birth for women who desire a child and have been in a union for at least five years since their last live birth, during which they did not use any contraceptives
- have had a child in the past
What are 3 male infertility factors?
- Abnormal sperm production or function
- Problems with the delivery of the sperm
- Overexposure to certain environmental factors
- damage related to cancer and its treatment
What are examples of abnormal sperm production or function? (3)
- Low sperm count
- Abnormal sperm morphology
- Abnormal motility of sperm
Sperm count
The number of sperm in the ejaculate
How much sperm is normally ejaculated?
15-150 million per mL or 22 million total per ejaculation
Sperm morphology
Sperm must be alive and healthy
Sperm motility
How well the sperm can travel through the females reproductive system
What does abnormal sperm production or function cause? (5)
- Undescended testicles
- Genetic defects/ hormonal imbalance
- Health problems
- diabetes - Infections
- chlamydia, gonorrhea, mumps, HIV, etc. - Varicocele
Cryptorchidism
Undescended testicles
Varicocele
Enlarged veins of pampiniform plexus
What is the problem with varicocele?
Enlarged veins can have an increase in temperature which will interfere with the quality of the sperm cells
What do problems with the delivery of sperm cause? (2)
- Sexual problems
2. Structural problems/blockages
What are 2 examples of sexual problems?
- Premature ejaculation
2. Erectile dysfunction
What are 3 examples of structural problems/blockages?
- In the efferent ducts, vas deference, ejaculatory ducts after prostate surgery, urethra
- Damage or injury to the reproductive organs
- Retrograde ejaculation into the bladder
What are factors of overexposure to certain environmental? (4)
- Pesticides and other chemicals, and radiation
- Smoking, alcohol, or taking certain medications
- Frequent exposure to heat
- eg. saunas or hot tubs
- can raise the core body temperature and may affect sperm production - Damage related to cancer and its treatment
- eg. radiation or chemotherapy
Female infertility factors
Any change in the females menstrual/hormone cycle
- the cycle is very delicate
What are examples of female infertility factors? (4)
- Ovulation disorders
- Damage to the fallopian tubes
3, Endometriosis - Uterine or cervical causes
What are 3 examples of ovulation disorders?
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- PCOS - Primary ovarian insufficiency
- Hypothalamic dysfunction
What does polycystic ovary syndrome cause?
A hormone imbalance
- which affects ovulation
What are the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome? (4)
- Oligo/Amenorrhea PCOS
- Obesity, hirsutism
- Infertility
- Multiple small cysts in the ovaries
Oligomenorrhea
Irregular periods
- >3 months between
Amenorrhea
No periods
- 1° - never had a period
- 2° - have had normal periods before
