fertilisation

• what is a reason in men for low fertility

  sperm may not be able to swim well
• what is a reason in women for low fertility

  low levels of FSH so eggs can’t be released
• what are the pros of women being given FSH and LH hormones

  helps a lot of women get pregnant
• what are the cons of giving women FSH and LH hormones

  -doesn’t always work so may be expensive

  -too many eggs could be stimulated resulting in unexpected multiple pregnancies
• what does IVF stand for

  in-vitro fertilisation
• what are the stages of IVF

  -inject women with high doses of FSH and LH to mature and release multiple eggs

  -minor operation to collect eggs

  -eggs and sperm mixed, either left to fertilise for 16-20 or sperm injected directly into egg in dish

  -monitored by microscopes to check which eggs have been fertilised and which are healthy

  -minor operation to implant embryos into uterus
• what are the advantages of IVF

  -treatment working and getting a child
• what are the ethical issues with IVF

  -some embryos are destroyed in the process and some class this as murder -some don’t like the possibility of IVF leading to preferred characteristics to be able to be chosen in children
• what are the financial issues with IVF

  -expensive, access not equal to all

  -NHS only pays for some people
• what are the medical issues with IVF

  -not suitable for everyone

  -embryos must be healthy

  -small risk of infection from surgery
• what are the emotional issues with IVF

  -stressful and upsetting if multiple failures as low success rate
• what are the physical issues with IVF

  -physically stressful as hormones negatively effect some women with side effects

  -multiple births may occur, higher risk or miscarriage and still birth