Topic 11

Question 1

What type of pattern is the female hormone activity?

Answer 1

cyclical

Question 2

What phase of the menstrual cycle are days 1-15?

Answer 2

the follicular phase

Question 3

What phase of the menstrual cycle are days 15-28?

Answer 3

the luteal phase

Question 4

What are the 2 ways of calculating fertile period?

Answer 4

the decrease in thickness of the cervical mucus

raised body temperature by 0.2 to 0.5 C

Question 5

What type of pattern is male fertility?

Answer 5

continuous (after puberty)

Question 6

Name 4 methods of overcoming infertility.

Answer 6

1- stimulating ovulation with drugs
2-artificial insemination
3-Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ISCI)
4-In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Question 7

How do ovulation stimulating drugs work?

Answer 7

they prevent the negative feedback effect of oestrogen on FSH secretion.
Other ovulatory drugs mimic the action of FSH & LH

Question 8

How can ovulation stimulating drugs help IVF?

Answer 8

They can cause super ovulation that can result in multiple births so they can be used to collect ova for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) programmes

Question 9

What are the steps of artificial insemination?

Answer 9

1. Several samples of semen are collected over a period of time.
2. The semen is inserted inside the female reproductive tract using a catheter

Question 10

What problem does artificial insemination overcome?

Answer 10

if the male has a low sperm count

Question 11

What problem does Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) overcome?

Answer 11

If mature sperm are defective or very low in number

Question 12

What are the steps of Intra-cyctoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)?

Answer 12

The head of the sperm is drawn into a needle and injected directly into the egg to achieve fertilisation

Question 13

What problem does In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) overcome?

Answer 13

if the women oviducts are blocked

Question 14

What are the steps of IVF?

Answer 14

The eggs are surgically removed from the ovary after hormone stimulation, The eggs are then mixed with sperm in a culture dish. The zygotes are incubated until they have formed at leas 8 cells (embyro). PGS and PGD may be used at this stage. 2 or 3 embyros are then transferred to the uterus for implantation.

Question 15

What is PGS?

Answer 15

Pre-implantation Genetic screening is a non specific approach. It checks the embyros for single gene disorders and common chromosomal abnormalities

Question 16

What is PGD?

Answer 16

Pre-implantation Gentic Diagnosis is a specific approach. It is used to check for a known gene or chromosomal defect.

Question 17

Name 4 Physical methods of contraception.

Answer 17

1. Barrier methods (spermicides, male/female condom, diaphragm etc.)
2. Avoiding fertile periods
3. Intra uterine devices IUD
4. Sterilization procedures (vastectomy, tubal ligation).

Question 18

Name 3 Chemical methods of contraception.

Answer 18

1. Oral Contraceptive pills (Combined pill)
2. Mini pill
3. Morning after pill (Higher doses of hormones)

Question 19

How does the oral contraceptive (combined) pill work?

Answer 19

It contain a combination of synthetic oestrogen and progesterone that mimic negative feedback.
The negative feedback effect of the hormones prevents the release of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland. As a result follicles in the ovary do not mature and ovulation does not take place.

Question 20

How does the mini pill work?

Answer 20

These only contain synthetic progesterone, (not both). They cause thickening of the cervical mucus this reduces the viability of the sperm and therefore their access to the uterus so making fertilization unlikely.

Question 21

What is an alternative to the mini pill?

Answer 21

An implant can be inserted under the skin on the inside of the arm instead of the woman having to remember to take the mini pill.

Question 22

How do the morning after pills work?

Answer 22

They are emergency hormonal contraception pills. The are taken after unprotected sexual intercourse. These pills prevent implantation of the embryo, if fertilization has taken place. Ideally they should be taken as soon as possible after intercourse but may be effective up to 72 hours later.