Physiology and Health Unit 2 KA 3 Flashcards
Biology of controlling Fertility
Why do we need to know the biology of Fertility? (2)
1) It helps us design treatments for infertility
2) It helps us devise methods for contraception
What type of Fertility do men and women show?
Men show continuous fertility (always fertile, sperm constantly produced)
Women show cyclical fertility (so they have fertile periods)
How can the female Fertile period be calculated? (2)
1) A body temperature rise of about 0.5 degree
2) Thin, watery cervical mucus - allows sperm easier access to oviducts
How can Ovulation be stimulated if it does not occur? (2)
1) Drugs that prevent negative feedback of oestrogen on FSH secretion
2) Other ovulatory drugs which mimic the action of FSH and LH
What is Super Ovulation?
When a women takes ovulatory drugs it can result in multiple births or used to collect ova for IVF programmes
What treatment can be used if a man has a low sperm count?
If a man has a low sperm count, Artificial insemination can be useful
What is Artificial insemination?
Artificial insemination is the introduction of semen into the female reproductive tract by other means than sexual intercourse
What is involved in Intracytoplasmic sperm injection? (ICSI)
ICSI involves drawing the head of a sperm into a needle and injecting it directly into an egg to fertilise it
What are the steps of IVF? (6)
1) Women given ovulatory drugs to stimulate super ovulation
2) Eggs are surgically removed from ovaries
3) Eggs mixed with sperm in a nutrient filled culture dish or ICSI used to fertilise egg
4) Zygotes are incubated for 2-3 days to allow cell division to occur so they form embryos
5) 2-3 embryos are chosen and inserted into uterus (uterine implantation)
6) Remaining embryos are frozen and stored incase second implantation attempt is needed
Prior to being implanted in the uterus, embryos may be tested for genetic abnormalities, why?
To help medical staff identify which embryos should/shouldn’t be implanted
What is Contraception?
Contraception is the intentional prevention of conception or pregnancy by natural or artificial means
What are Physical methods of Contraception? (5)
1) Condom (85-98% effective)
2) Diaphragm
3) Cervical cap
4) IUD
5) Sterilisation (vasectomy/tubul ligation)
What does the Combination pill contain? (2)
1) Oestrogen
2) Progesterone
What does the Combination pill bring about in the body? (3)
1) The release of FSH and LH by the pituitary gland is inhibited
2) Follicle maturation is inhibited
3) Ovulation fails to occur
What does the Emergency Contraceptive pill contain?
High doses of Oestrogen and Progesterone
