Controlling Fertility

• Infertile


  A person who cannot reproduce naturally
• Methods to help infertile couples become pregnant

  1. Hormone treatments

  2. In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
• Clomifene


  • Drug that causes more FSH and LH to be released by the body, stimulating egg maturation and ovulation
• In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

  1. Eggs collected from woman's ovaries

  2. Fertilised in lab with man's sperm

  3. Embryos grown

  4. One or two embryos transferred to woman's uterus
• Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

  Fertility treatment involving handling and fertilising eggs outside the body
• Contraceptives


  Methods used to prevent pregnancy
• How hormones prevent pregnancy

  1. Oestrogen inhibits release of FSH, stopping egg development and production

  2. Progesterone stimulates thick cervical mucus, blocking sperm
• Hormonal contraceptive methods


  • Combined pill
  • Contraceptive patch
  • Mini-pill
  • Contraceptive injection
• Barrier contraceptive methods


  • Condoms (male and female)
  • Diaphragms
• Pros and cons of contraceptive methods

  • Hormonal methods more effective but can have side effects
  • Barrier methods require action each time but protect against STIs
• Hormones are used in IVF, fertility treatments and contraceptive methods