Infertility in Females
• Estimate 30-40% of Scots have fertility problems
• Failure to ovulate due to
-hormonal imbalance
-stress
• Blocked oviducts
-Infections (STI’s)
-Fibroids
-Spasms
• Implantation failure
-Hormonal imbalance
Infertility in Males
• Low sperm count (<20 million sperm / ml), abnormal
sperm, low motility
• Hormonal problems due to:
-Stress
-Poor diet
-smoking
- alcohol
- drugs
Pure Science specials: the first human clone
• How can we deal with infertility?
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMLGL4slrQ&index=12&list=PLxOVt4f-_b1Z7dXUxQ7YsPGLoDsAbe68M
• 1 hour
Artificial Insemination
ABPI schools
• IVF pictures:
http://www.abpischools.org.uk/page/modules/hormones/horm5.cfm
?coSiteNavigation_allTopic=1
IVF Treatment
IVF
• Hormonal treatment
stimulates
development of
multiple follicles
• Scan to confirm
follicles are mature
• Eggs removed using a
hollow needle
Treatment for infertility
1.Stimulating ovulation.
Ovulation is stimulated by drugs that
prevent the negative feedback effect of
oestrogen on FSH.
2. Artificial insemination (AI)
Several samples of semen are collected
over a period of time and injected using a
syringe into the female. If the male is
sterile (does not produce any functional
sperm), a donor may be used.
ICSI
Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
The head of
the sperm is
drawn into a
needle and
Injected
directly into
the egg to
achieve
fertilisation.
Treatment for infertility
3. Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
If mature sperm are defective or very low in number,
ICSI can be used. The head of the sperm is drawn into a
needle and injected directly into the egg to achieve
fertilisation.
4. In vitro fertilisation (IVF).
After hormone stimulation to allow multiple ovulation,
eggs are surgically removed from the ovaries and
fertilised in a dish. Zygotes are incubated and screened
before implantation to check for chromosome
abnormalities. If fine, they develop into blastocysts
before being implanted in the uterus.
Risks and Ethics Associated with Fertility
Treatments
• In groups discuss
1.
2.
3.
4.
pros of fertility treatment
cons of fertility treatment
the risks of fertility treatments
ethics of fertility treatments
• Produce a short summary of your discussion
Fertility treatments
• Pros: partners unable to conceive naturally can have children
• Cons: very expensive
unused embryos destroyed – religious ethics over killing a life
• Risks: greater chance of
a) twins and thus miscarriage
b) ectopic pregnancy, where embryo develops in the oviduct and thus
miscarriage along with a risk to the mother
• Ethics: is it ok to destroy embryos or keep unused embryos for research?
is it ok that only those who can afford it have access to treatments?
• (iii) Contraception — physical and chemical methods
of contraception.
• Biological basis of physical methods.
• Chemical contraceptives are based on combinations
of synthetic hormones that mimic negative feedback
preventing the release of FSH/LH.
Contraception
ABPI schools
• Hormones drag and drop:
• http://www.abpischools.org.uk/page/modules/hormones/horm5.cfm
?coSiteNavigation_allTopic=1
Physical Methods of Contraception
• Barrier methods use a device
to physically block the sperm
from reaching the ova
• Intra uterine devices (IUD)
• e.g. cervical cap e.g. Diaphragm
• Condom
Sterilisation procedures
• Male vasectomy
Sterilisation procedures
• Female sterilisation
Sterilisation procedures
Contraception
Physical forms of contraception:
•
•
•
•
Barrier methods e.g. condoms
Intra uterine devices e.g. cervical caps
Sterilisation procedures
Avoiding sex during fertile periods
Chemical Contraception
• Combinations of synthetic hormones
• Mimic negative feedback by preventing release
of FSH/LH
• Some prevent implantation (‘morning-after
pills’)
• some cause thickening of cervical mucus
(‘progesterone- only pill’).
Contraception
Chemical forms of contraception:
Chemical contraceptives are based on combinations of
synthetic (man made) hormones that mimic negative
feedback and so prevent the release of FSH/LH.
•
•
‘morning-after pill’ prevents implantation
‘progesterone- only pill’ thickens the cervical mucus