B5- More on controlling fertility

• What has advances in understanding fertility led to?

  Many infertile women being helped to have babies
• Why might some women not get pregnant?

  They have low levels of FSH
• What hormones can be given to stimulate ovulation?

  FSH and LH
• What are the pros and cons of using hormones to increase fertility?

  Pros:

  • Helps many women get pregnant

  
  

  Cons:

  • Not always effective
  • Can be expensive
  • Risk of multiple pregnancies
• What does IVF stand for?

  In vitro fertilisation
• What is the first step in the IVF process?

  Collecting eggs from the woman's ovaries
• What is the purpose of ICSI in IVF?

  To inject sperm directly into an egg
• What happens to fertilised eggs in IVF?

  They are grown into embryos in a lab
• Why are FSH and LH given before egg collection in IVF?

  To stimulate several eggs to mature
• What are the pros and cons of IVF treatment?

  Pros:

  • Can give an infertile couple a child

  
  

  Cons:

  • Risk of multiple births
  • Low success rate (about 26% in the UK)
  • Physically and emotionally stressful
• What is the average success rate of IVF in the UK?

  About 26%
• What are some physical reactions women may have to fertility hormones?

  Abdominal pain, vomiting, dehydration
• How have advances in microscope techniques improved IVF?

  They enhance techniques and success rates
• What is the purpose of genetic testing in IVF?

  To check that embryos are healthy
• What ethical issue arises from unused embryos in IVF?

  They are often destroyed
• What concern is raised by genetic testing of embryos?

  It could lead to selection of preferred traits
• What are the main ethical concerns regarding IVF?

  • Destruction of unused embryos
  • Potential for selecting preferred characteristics