Reproductive Treatments Flashcards
What is the treatment of a testosterone deficiency in a male not desiring fertility?
Testosterone replacement:
* Daily Gel. Care not to contaminate partner.
* 3 weekly intramuscular injection
* 3 monthly intramuscular injection
* Less Common (Implants, oral preparations)
When is testosterone replacement recommended?
To treat men with low testosterone (Hypogonadism)
* Investigate the cause of low testosterone
Treat Symptoms:
* Loss of early morning erections
* Libido
* Decreased energy
* Shaving
How can one confirm male hypogonadism?
Confirm at least 2 low fasting measurements of serum testosterone in morning
What are the associated risks with testosterone replacement therapy?
- Increased haematocrit (risk of hypervicsosity and stroke) due to stimulation of erythropoietin (EPO) receptors
- Measure prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels
What is the treatment of a testosterone deficiency in a male desiring fertility?
- Gonadotrophins (i.e. LH and FSH) needed to induce spermatogenesis
- hCG injections (which act on LH-receptors)
- If no response after 6 months, then add FSH injections
Secondary Hypogonadism: deficiency of gonadotrophins (LH/FSH)
What is the use of a LH treatment in a male desiring fertility?
LH stimulates Leydig cells to increases intratesticular testosterone levels much higher than in circulation (x100)
Which receptors do HCG injections stimulate?
- LH receptors on Leydig cells
What is the use of an FSH treatment in a male desiring fertility?
FSH stimulates seminiferous tubule development & spermatogenesis
How is ovulation restored in patients living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) (5)?
- Lifestyle / Weight Loss 5%
- Metformin
- Letrozole (Aromatase inhibitor)
- Clomiphene (Oestradiol receptor modulator)
- FSH stimulation
How is ovulation restored in patients living with hypothalamic amenorrhoea (5)?
- Lifestyle / Weight gain / reduce exercise
- Pulsatile GnRH pump
- FSH stimulation
- Letrozole (Aromatase inhibitor)
- Clomiphene (Oestradiol receptor modulator)
Why should one avoid giving testosterone treatment to men desiring fertility?
Giving testosterone treatment could further reduce LH / FSH via negative feedbackand worsen spermatogenesis
What are the steps of invitro fertilisation (IVF) (6)?
-
FSH stimulation (superovulation)
- Egg retrieval
- Prevent premature ovulation, by preventing a premature LH surge
- Use GnRH antagonist
- Exposure of cell to LH, leading to maturation of egg
- Fertilisation in vitro
- Egg maturation
- Implantation
What is the aim of ovulation induction?
Aim to develop one ovarian follicle, to increase FSH by a small amount
Upon egg retrieval which hormone is exposed to the eggs for maturation?
- LH
Which hormone is used to trigger egg maturation?
hCG
If there is a male factor of infertility how does IVF take place?
- Intra-cytoplasmic injection of sperm (ICSI)
What are the common forms of contraception (Male 2 / Female 6)?
- Male:
- Barrier:
- Condom
- Permanent:
- Vasectomy
- Barrier:
- Female:
- Barrier:
- Diaphragm or cap with spermicide
- Medication:
- Combined oral contraceptive pill (OCP)
- Progesterone-only (Pill)
- Long acting reversible contraception (LARC)
- Emergency contraception
- Permanent: Hysterectomy / Salpinectomy
- Barrier:
What are the advantages of condoms (3)?
- Protection against STIs
- Easy to obtain - free from clinics / No need to see a healthcare professional
- No contra-indications
What are the disadvantages of condoms (4)?
- Can interrupt sex
- Can reduce sensation
- Can interfere with erections
- Some skill to use
What hormones are within the oral contraceptive pill?
- Oestrogen and progesterone
How do combined oral contraceptive pills work?
-
Anovulation
- Progesterone causes the thickening of the cervical mucous, prevent sperm penetration, and thinning of the endometrial lining to reduce implantation
- Oestrogen exerts negative feedback on GnRH hypothalamic neurones and gonadotrophs within the pituitary gland, this reduced LH and FSH secretion leading to anovulation
What are the contraceptive benefits of using OCPs (6)?
- Easy to take - one pill a day (any time of the day)
- Effective
- Can take several packets back-to-back and avoid withdrawl bleeds
- Doesn’t interrupt sex
- Reduce endometrial and ovarian cancer
- Weight neutral in 80%
What are the disadvantages of using OCPs (5)?
- It can be difficult to remember
- No protection against STIs
- P450 enzyme inducers may reduce efficacy
- Not the best choice during breast feeding
- Possible side effects
What are the possible side effects of using OCPs (6)?
- Spotting (bleeding between periods)
- Nausea
- Sore breasts
- Changes in mood or libido
- Feeling more hungry
- Extremely rare: Blood clots in the legs or lungs
In what comorbidities should OCP be avoided because of risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) / CVD / Stroke (6)?
- Migraine with aura (Risk of stroke)
- Smoking (> 15 / day) + age > 35 years
- Stroke or CVD history
- Current breast cancer
- Liver cirrhosis
- Diabetes with retinopathy / nephropathy / neuropathy
What are the non-contraceptive benefits of using OCPs (3)?
- Help reduce LH and hyperandrogenism
- PCOS
- Helps makes periods lighter and less painful
- Endometriosis / Fibroids
- Menorrhagia / Dysmenorrhoea
- Regular Withdrawal Bleeds / or no Bleeds
Which enzymes reduce the efficacy of oral contraceptive piill?
P450
What are the advantages of progesterone only pill (POP) (7)?
- Works as OCP but less reliably inhibits ovulation
- Often suitable if one cannot take oestrogen
- Easy to take - one pill a day
- It doesn’t interrupt sex
- Can help heavy & painful periods
- Periods may stop temporarily
- Can be used during breastfeeding
What are the disadvantages of progesterone only pill (POP) (4)?
- Can be difficult to remember
- No protection against STIs
- Short acting - needs to be taken at the same time every day
- Possible side effects
What are the possible side effects of progesterone only pill (POP) (5)?
- Irregular bleeding
- Headaches
- Changes in mood
- Changes in libido
- Sore breasts