Fertility Treatment

• What is the purpose of contraceptives?

  To reduce fertility and prevent pregnancy
• What issue do some women face regarding fertility?

  They may be naturally infertile but want a baby
• How can hormones increase fertility?

  By stimulating egg maturation and ovulation
• What does FSH stand for?

  Follicle stimulating hormone
• What does FSH do in the menstrual cycle?

  It stimulates the ovaries to mature an egg
• What happens if a woman has low levels of FSH?

  Her egg won't mature properly
• How can low FSH levels be treated?

  By giving FSH in pill form
• What is the role of LH in fertility treatment?

  To stimulate ovulation and release the egg
• On which day of the menstrual cycle does ovulation typically occur?

  Day 14
• What is IVF?

  In vitro fertilization, meaning outside the body
• What does "in vitro" mean?

  Outside the body
• What are the first steps in the IVF process?

  Giving FSH and LH to stimulate egg maturation
• How are eggs fertilized in IVF?

  By sperm from the father in a laboratory
• What is ICSI?

  Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
• What does ICSI involve?

  Injecting sperm into the egg cell
• What happens to fertilized eggs in IVF?

  They are placed in an incubator to grow
• What is the next step after fertilization in IVF?

  Embryos are inserted into the mother's uterus
• What is a major pro of IVF?

  It allows infertile couples to have children
• What is a significant con of IVF?

  It doesn't always work, with low success rates
• What is the chance of success for IVF in the UK?

  One in four
• What are some physical side effects of IVF?

  Abdominal pain and vomiting
• What is a risk associated with multiple births from IVF?

  Higher risk of complications like miscarriage
• Why do some people oppose IVF?

  It can result in unused embryos being destroyed
• What recent advances have improved IVF success rates?

  Improvements in microscope technologies
• What can genetic tests on embryos determine?

  Presence of diseases and future characteristics
• What is a concern regarding genetic testing in IVF?

  It may lead to designer babies
• Is it currently legal to create designer babies in the UK?

  No, it is illegal
• What are the stages of the IVF process?

  1. Administer FSH and LH to stimulate egg maturation
  2. Collect eggs and fertilize with sperm in a lab
  3. Use ICSI if sperm count is low
  4. Incubate fertilized eggs to grow into embryos
  5. Insert embryos into the mother's uterus
• What are the pros and cons of IVF?

  Pros:

  • Allows infertile couples to have children

  
  

  Cons:

  • Low success rate (1 in 4 in the UK)
  • Can be emotionally and physically stressful
  • Risk of multiple births and complications
  • Ethical concerns about unused embryos
• What are the side effects and risks associated with IVF?

  • Abdominal pain and vomiting
  • Higher risk of miscarriage and stillbirth
  • Emotional stress and upset
  • Ethical concerns regarding unused embryos
• What advancements have been made in IVF technology?

  • Improved microscope technologies
  • Ability to perform genetic tests on embryos
  • Potential to identify diseases and characteristics