Reproductive Health Flashcards
What is infertility
Inability to naturally conceive a child is called infertility
Causes of infertility in males + Remedy
Poor sperm production (less in number or defective sperms)
- Azoospermia (no sperm cells are produced)
- Oligospermia (few sperm cells are produced)
Remedy: Testes stimulated by Testosterone injections
Causes of infertility in females
- Poor egg production
- Blockage between egg and sperm
- Hostile response to sperm
What leads to poor egg production?
- Hormonal changes result in less number of follicle cells
- Follicular cells are unable to mature into one graafian follicle (PCOD- Polycystic Ovarian Disorder)
- Fimbriae is unable to pick up released ovum from the ovary
Remedy: Poor egg production
- Pills are given to stimulate the pituitary gland and ovaries to release adequate amount of hormones
- Gonadotropin injections are given
What causes blockage between egg and sperm?
- Cervical mucus is too thick and the sperms are not allowed to enter the uterus
- Blockage of the fallopian tube due to inflammation or infection
- Damaged lining of the fallopian tube prevents it from propelling the fertilized egg to the uterus for implantation (Tube pregnancy/Ectopic pregnancy)
Remedy: Blockage between egg and sperm
Surgery is the only remedial measure
What causes hostile response to sperm?
The woman’s body produces anti-sperm antibodies (allergic response) against the sperm that enter the reproductive tract.
(NK cells- Natural killer cells that destroy the sperm)
Remedy: Hostile response to sperm
Immuno-suppressive drugs are administered
ART full form
Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Artificial insemination
Semen is introducedinto the vagina or uterus of the female (IUI- Intra-uterine insemination)
IVF
In-Vitro Fertilization
- The eggs are removed from the female and mixed with the semen in a test tube
- It is monitored for fertilization and embryogenesis
- Usually at the 8 celled stage (morula), the embryo is transferred ito the uterus of the female
GIFT
Gamete Intra-fallopian transfer
Eggs and sperms are collected and then transfered into the fallopian tube
Fertilization takes place In-Vivo
ZIFT
Zygote Intra-fallopian transfer
The fertilized egg with up to 8 blastomeres are transferred into the fallopian tube
IUT
Intra-Uterine Transfer
The embryo at 8 blastomeres stage is introduced directly into the uterus
Fertilization is In-Vitro
ICSI
Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection
- The sperm is directly injected into the ovum
- Fertilization is In-Vitro
- The embryo is then transferred either into the fallopian tube or uterus of the female
Surrogate motherhood
- Sperm is collected from the husband and introduced into a surrogate woman at her fertile period
- If she gets pregnant, the baby is carried in her womb, full term and after childbirth, handed over to the couple.
- Here, only the father is a biological parent
Embryo donation
If a wife is unable to produce healthy eggs, egg is taken from a donor woman and fertilized with the sperm from the husband and embryo is introduced into the wife’s uterus
What is amniocentesis?
- Amniocentesis is a technique used to diagnose foetal abnormalities and genetic defects in a growing foetus
- Sometimes, this technique is used during the first trimester to find the sex of the child, subsequently leading to female foeticide
How is amniocentesis performed?
Using a hypodermic needle, the amniotic fluid is extracted from the foetus and sent for biochemical analysis and karyotyping
Gonorrhea
Bacterial STD
Causative agent: Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Syphilis
Bacterial STD
Causative agent: Treponema pallidum
Chlamydia
Bacterial STD
Causative agent: Chlamydia trachomatis
Herpes
Viral STD
Causative agent: Herpes simplex virus
AIDS
Acquired Immune Deficieny Syndrome
Viral STD
Causative agent: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Genital Warts
Viral STD
Causative agent: Human Papilloma Virus
Hepatitis B
Viral STD
Causative agent: Hepatitis B Virus
Trichomoniasis
Protozoan STD
Causative agent: Trichomonas vaginalis
Symptoms of STDs
- Itching in genitals
- Pain
- Swelling
- Unusual fluid discharge
By early detection, diagnosis, and medication, most of the STDs are curable
Reproductive health
Total well-being in all aspects of reproduction i.e. physical, emotional, behavioural and social
Natural family planning
- Calendar method
- Temperature method
- Mucus method
Calendar method
Natural family planning
Sexual abstinence on the days when the woman is fertile.
Failure of this system is very common because it is difficult to determine when a woman is ovulating
Temperature method
Natural family planning
The body’s temperature takes a slight dip before ovulation and then rises by 0.5 or 1 degree Fahrenheit a day later
Mucus method
Natural family planning
This method is based on the fact that the mucus secreted by the cervix thins and increases in quantity at ovulation
Lactational amenorrhea
- During breastfeeding, the increased levels of prolactin suppress the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus
- This, in turn reduces the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland.
- Oxytocin release during breastfeeding helps to enhance the suppressive effects of prolactin on ovulation and menstrual cycles.
- This suppresses ovulation, leading to the absence of menstrual periods.
Artificial family planning
- Barrier contraception
- Intra-uterine devices (IUD)
- Pills and injections
- Sterilization
- Medical termination of pregnancy
Barrier contraception
Artificial family planning
Male condoms
Female condoms
Vaginal diaphragm
Spermicidal agents
Intra-uterine devices
Artificial family planning
placed in the womb to prevent the fertilized egg becoming implanted in the wall of the womb where it would grow
Pills and injections
Artificial family planning
Most effective method of contraception invented
Saheli- Birth control pills
Inhibits production of GnRH–> LH and FSH reduced
- Inhibit ovulation
- thicken the cervical mucus to prevent/retard entry of sperm
- inhibit implantation
Sterilization
Artificial family planning
Male sterilization- vasectomy
Female sterilization- tubal ligation/tubectomy
What is MTP
Intentional or voluntary termination of pregnancy before full term is called medical termination of pregnancy or induced abortion
Methods of MTP
- Dilatation and Curettage: Cervix is dilated and implanted ovum is removed
- Vacuum Aspiration: Implanted ovum is removed by vacuum aspiration. Can be done up to 12 weeks of pregnancy
- Administration of Prostaglandin: Prostaglandin administered intravaginally which increases uterine contractions resulting in abortion.
