Technologies are available to assist in reproduction Flashcards
define infertility
Infertility is defined as being unable to achieve pregnancy despite frequent unprotected sex over the period of at least a year. In Australia, infertility affects approximately one in six couples.
what are the causes of infertility (numbers)
About 40% of infertility is due to problems with the sperm. Another 40% is due to problems in the female reproductive system, while the remaining 20% is due to a combination of male and female factors.
For sperm to be able to fertilise an egg, it must be:
3 tings?
- produced in sufficient quantities
- able to move in a forward direction
- able to penetrate the corona radiata and zona pellucida.
Other factors that may result in sperm being unable to fertilise an egg include:
list at least 2 `
-Semen, and the sperm it contains, may flow into the bladder, rather than out the urethra.
-The male’s immune system may develop antibodies for their own sperm, altering them and reducing their effectiveness.
-Blockages may occur in the male’s reproductive tract, especially in the vas deferens, which may stop the sperm leaving the testes.
-Hormonal imbalances can affect sex drive and the production of sperm.
define Endometriosis
affects approximately 10% of women. It is a painful condition where the cells of the endometrium grow outside the uterus. The resulting scar tissue or distortion of the uterine tubes can affect fertility by blocking the egg’s release or pathway through to the uterus.
Other factors that may affect fertility include (w/women)
list at least 2
-Fibroids
- Blockages of the uterine tubes
- Problems with the menstrual cycle
Infertility treatments that allow unassisted fertilisation
list at least 3
- Surgery (mircosurgey)
- Ovulation tracking
- Ovulation induction
- Artificial insemination
Assisted fertilisation
list at least 3
- Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Define Surgery (Unassisted)
Microsurgery can be used to solve some problems of infertility. Blocked uterine tubes and sperm ducts can be opened, and fibroids or endometriosis can be removed.
Define Ovulation tracking (unassisted)
It is possible to identify the time when a female is most fertile through a series of blood tests.
Define Ovulation induction (Unassisted)
Two types of drugs are used, both of which use follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to induce the development of follicles.
* Clomiphene stimulates the body to make more FSH.
* Hormone injections of FSH increase the blood levels of the hormone.
Define Artificial insemination (Unassisted)
Artificial insemination, or intrauterine insemination (IUI), is a process where sperm is released into the uterus by a catheter being inserted through the cervix. The sperm sample is then injected through the catheter.
Define (GIFT) ( Assisted)
Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer
GIFT is a procedure that can be performed when there are normal uterine (or fallopian) tubes and adequate sperm.
list all the 4 steps of GIFT
- Hormonal treatment is used to stimulate the female to produce more than one egg.
- The sperm and egg are collected and analysed.
- The sperm and egg are mixed together in the laboratory.
- The sperm and egg mixture is injected into the woman’s uterine tubes during laparoscopic surgery.
Define (IVF) (Assisted)
In-Vitro Fertilisation
A series of blood tests and ultrasounds are used to monitor the development of the follicles. When the eggs are mature, they are collected by a needle passing through the vagina to the ovaries (see diagram).
