controlling fertility

• what are the 2 methods that an infertile couple could use?

  clomifene therapy and IVF
• what does IVF stand for?

  in vitro fertilisation.
• why are some women infertile?

  they don't ovulate or they don't ovulate regularly.
• what drug can women take when they are infertile due to irregular ovulation?


  Clomifene
• how does clomifene work?

  it causes more FSH and LH to be released by the body, which stimulates egg maturation and ovulation. By knowing when the woman will be ovulating, the couple can have intercourse during this time period to increase the chance of pregnancy.
• what is IVF an example of?

  assisted reproductive technology (ART), a fertility treatment that involves eggs being handled (and usually fertilised) outside of the body.
• what happens during IVF?

  involves collecting eggs from the woman's ovaries and fertilising them in a lab using the man's sperm. These are then grown into embryos. Once the embryos are tiny balls of cells, 1 or 2 of them are transferred to the woman's uterus to improve the chance of pregnancy.
• what 2 hormones are given before egg collection during IVF?

  FSH and LH to stimulate egg production (so that more than 1 egg can be collected).
• other than barrier methods, what else can be used as contraceptives?

  hormones, for example, oestrogen can be used to prevent the release of an egg.
• how is oestrogen an example of a contraceptive?

  if it's taken every day to keep the levels of it permanently high, it inhibits the production of FSH, and after a while egg development and production stop and stay stopped.
• how can progesterone be used to reduce fertility?

  by stimulating the production of thick cervical mucus, which prevents any sperm from getting through the entrance to the uterus and reaching an egg.
• which hormonal contraceptives contain both oestrogen and progesterone?


  the combined pill (oral contraceptive) and the contraceptive patch (worn on the skin).
• which hormone contraceptives only contain progesterone?

  the mini pill (oral contraceptive) and the contraceptive injection.
• what are examples of barrier method contraceptives?


  condoms (male and female) and diaphragms (flexible dome shaped devices that fit over the opening of the uterus and are inserted before sex).
• what are the side-effects of hormonal contraceptives?

  headaches, acne, and mood changes.
• what happens if you take the combined pill every day?

  enough oestrogen builds up in the female body to inhibit the production of FSH so that no eggs mature.
• why is the progesterone-only pill better than the combined pill?

  they are both effective but the progesterone-only pill has fewer side effects.
• how often should you change your contraceptive patch?

  once a week
• what does the contraceptive patch do?

  steadily releases progesterone.
• what is the contraceptive injection?

  contains progesterone and can last up to 3 months.
• what is the contraceptive implant?

  the contraceptive implant, which can last for 3 years, is inserted under the skin (normally in an arm) and continuously releases a small amount of progesterone.
• what does IUD stand for?

  intrauterine devices
• what are IUDs?

  They are also known as the coil. They are small T-shaped devices that are inserted into the uterus. They work by preventing implantation of an embryo. Some intrauterine devices also release progesterone.
• what are diaphragms?

  a diaphragm is a shallow plastic cup, which is inserted into the vagina prior to sexual intercourse and sits at the entrance to the uterus. It's designed to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg. It can also be covered in spermicide to kill the sperm.
• what do condoms often contain?

  spermicide
• how is using natural methods a form of contraception?

  since a female's body temperature usually rises during ovulation, some women choose to avoid sexual intercourse on days when they know/feel that they are ovulating. However, sperm can last up to 6 days inside the woman's body, so this isn't a very reliable or effective method.
• other than sterilisation, what is the only other truly effective method of contraception?

  abstinence
• how is a man sterilised?

  this involves having the sperm ducts (the tubes inbetween the testes and the penis) cut so that the sperm are not released on ejaculation.
• how is a woman sterilised?

  involves having the fallopian tubes (ducts which connect the ovaries to the uterus) cut so that an egg cannot reach the uterus.
• what is clomifene?

  a fertiloty drug that triggers ovulation by causing an increase in the release of FSH. This helps the follicle mature into an egg cell and increases the concentration of LH to cause ovulation.
• an infertile woman has insufficient levels of which hormone?

  FSH
• what does FSH stimulate?

  egg maturation
• what does LH stimulate?

  ovulation