Fertility

• How can the pill be used as a contraception?

  It contains oestrogen and progesterone which inhibit FSH. Progesterone also stimulates thick mucus which prevent sperm from reaching the egg.
• What are the pros/cons of the pill?

  • 99% effective
  • Side effects such as vomiting
  • Doesn't protect against STIs
• Other hormonal contraceptives:

  • Contraceptive patch - contains oestrogen and progesterone - lasts one week
  • Contraceptive implant - Releases progesterone - lasts 3 years
  • Contraceptive injection - contains progesterone - lasts 2-3 months
  • IUD - inserted into uterus and kills sperm
• Barrier contraceptive methods:

  • Condom: worn over penis to prevent sperm entering vagina - protects against STIs
  • Diaphragm: shallow plastic cup worn over cervix, used with spermicide
  • Spermicide: substance which disables or kills sperm (70-80% effective)
• What is sterilisation?

  Cutting or tying fallopian tubes or sperm duct
• What are natural methods?

  • Avoiding sexual intercourse on days the woman is most fertile
  • Abstinence: Not having intercourse at all
• What is the fertility drug?

  A medication that stimulates ovulation in women.
• What are the pros/cons of the fertility drug?

  • Helps women get pregnant
  • Doesn't always work
  • Can get expensive
  • Too many eggs may lead to unexpected multiple pregnancies
• What is IVF?

  Collecting eggs from a woman's ovaries and fertilising them in a lab using the man's sperms
• What are the downsides of IVF?

  • Multiple pregnancies
  • Success rate is low
  • Emotional stress
• Why are some people against IVF?

  • Some believe it is unethical as unused embryos must be destroyed and each embryo has a potential human life
  • Genetic testing is controversial