3.4 - Fertility Treatments

kinda embarrasing to have twins and they're not identical...like all that 4 what

What are some causes of infertility?

• lack of female hormones

• damage to oviducts

• lack of sperm in semen

• increasing age

• obesity

• eating disorders

What are fertility drugs?

drugs that contain a mixture of FSH and LH taken over a series of days

What does IVF stand for?

in vitro fertilisation

How does IVF work?

• Woman is given FSH to stimulate a number of eggs to mature

• She is then given LH to bring the eggs to the point of ovulation

• Eggs are collected from the ovary

• Eggs are fertilised by sperm from the father in the laboratory

• The fertilised eggs develop into embryos (tiny balls of cells)

• One or two embryos are inserted into the mother’s uterus

When is IVF used?

• If the oviduct is damaged or blocked by infection

• The donor egg has to be used

• Very few sperm produced

• No obvious cause of infertility

What are the disadvantages of IVF?

• emotionally and physically stressful

• chance of multiple births

• success rates are not high (under 30%)

• expensive for society and individuals (available free on NHS)

• ethical issues

What are the dangers of multiple births?

• often result in babies born prematurely or with lower birth rates than normal

• increased chance of miscarriages

• possible harm to mother and babies

What are the ethical issues of IVF?

discarded embryos