🧬 Hormones To Treat Infertility

1⃣ Hormones Used in Infertility Treatment

  • FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone): triggers eggs to mature in the ovaries.

  • LH (Luteinizing Hormone): triggers ovulation (release of mature eggs).

Fertility drugs:

  • A combination of FSH and LH can be given to women who struggle to conceive.

  • Effect: stimulates multiple eggs to mature → increases chance of pregnancy through natural intercourse.

2⃣ In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Process:

  1. Woman treated with FSH and LH → several eggs mature.

  2. Eggs are collected from the mother.

  3. Sperm collected from father → used to fertilize eggs in the lab.

  4. Fertilized eggs develop into embryos.

  5. Tiny embryos inserted into mother’s uterus → develop naturally.

Benefits:

  • Gives women the chance to have a baby of their own.

Problems / Risks:

Issue

Explanation

Low success rates

Not all IVF cycles result in pregnancy.

Emotional stress

Treatment is psychologically demanding for both parents.

Physical stress

Fertility drugs + egg collection can be tough on the mother.

Multiple births

Increases risk for babies and mother.

3⃣ Ethical & Financial Considerations

  • Embryos destroyed: Not all created embryos are implanted → ethical concerns.

  • Cost: IVF is expensive → debate over whether money could be used for other medical treatments (e.g., cancer).

Key point: IVF and fertility treatments involve hormonal control to stimulate ovulation, but they come with medical, emotional, ethical, and financial issues.