Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology Overview

A collection of flashcards that cover key concepts related to infertility, its causes, diagnostic tests, treatment options, and emerging technologies in assisted reproductive technology.

Infertility

A disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.

Total Fertility Rate

The average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime based on current birth rates.

Ovulation Induction

A treatment that involves using medication to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs.

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)

A medical procedure where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body, in a laboratory.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

A specialized form of IVF that involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg.

Endometriosis

A medical condition where tissues similar to the lining inside the uterus grow outside it and can cause pain and infertility.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

A hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age characterized by irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, and obesity.

Cryopreservation

The process of preserving cells, tissues, or any biological constructs by cooling them to very low temperatures.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)

Genetic testing of embryos before they are implanted during an IVF cycle.

Impact of Age on Female Fertility

A woman's age, particularly after 35, significantly affects fertility due to a natural decline in ovarian reserve and egg quality, leading to reduced conception rates and increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities.

Impact of Age on Male Fertility

While men can remain fertile for longer, male fertility can also decline with age, characterized by changes in sperm quality, motility, and volume, which can reduce the chances of conception.

Lifestyle Factors Affecting Fertility

Lifestyle choices such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, extreme body weight (underweight or obesity), high stress levels, and poor nutrition can negatively impact reproductive health in both males and females.

Hormonal Disorders as Fertility Factors

Disruptions in the endocrine system leading to hormonal imbalances can affect fertility by impairing ovulation in females (e.g., thyroid disorders, hypothalamic amenorrhea) and impacting sperm production or function in males (e.g., hypogonadism).

Environmental Factors Affecting Fertility

Exposure to certain environmental toxins, industrial chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, and radiation can harm male and female reproductive systems, affecting gamete quality, hormone balance, and overall fertility.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

A fertility treatment that involves placing sperm directly into a woman's uterus around the time of ovulation to increase the chance of fertilization.

Cycle Tracking

A method used to monitor a woman's menstrual cycle to identify the most fertile window, typically through ovulation predictor kits (OPKs), basal body temperature (BBT), or ultrasound.

Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)

A procedure in which a cryopreserved embryo (created during a previous IVF cycle) is thawed and transferred into the uterus.

Genetic Testing (as an infertility treatment option)

Used to identify genetic conditions in potential parents or embryos (e.g., Preimplantation Genetic Testing - PGT) that could affect fertility, cause recurrent miscarriage, or lead to genetic disorders in offspring.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A)

A type of genetic testing performed on embryos during an IVF cycle to screen for chromosomal abnormalities, such as missing or extra chromosomes, which can affect embryo viability and lead to miscarriage or genetic conditions like Down Syndrome.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic/Single Gene Disorders (PGT-M)

A genetic test used during IVF to identify embryos affected by specific single-gene disorders (e.g., Cystic Fibrosis, Huntington's disease) when parents are known carriers of such conditions.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Structural Rearrangements (PGT-SR)

A genetic testing method used in IVF for couples where one or both partners carry a chromosomal structural rearrangement (e.g., translocation or inversion). It identifies embryos with an unbalanced set of chromosomes that could lead to miscarriage or birth defects.