1. Intervention in Fertility
Chapter 16

2. Causes of Infertility – refer to pg.117
Failure to ovulate
Blockage of oviducts
Failure of implantation
Low sperm count
Causative factors:
- hormonal imbalance
- stress
- poor health, (cysts/tumours for oviducts)
Treatments:
- Fertility drugs
- hormone supplements (surgery for oviducts)
- IVF

3. Treatments - IVF IVF (In-Vitro fertilisation)
Fertilisation outside the body
1) Multiple ovulation stimulated
2) Eggs removed
3) Eggs into a nutrient medium – sperm often injected
4) Ferrtilised eggs incubated in nutrient medium
5) 2 or 3 eggs removed & inserted into uterus
6) Remaining embryos frozen

4. Treatments – Artificial Insemination
Semen into female NOT by sexual intercourse
For males with low sperm count
Semen collected over a period of time & frozen
Eventually defrosted & released into female’s cervix

5. Contraception - Biological
Intentional prevention of conception
Calculation of fertile period:
Approx 1 day after ovulation, body temp rises by oC
Fertility period – approx 3-4 days
Therefore 3-4 days after temp change = infertile
Mucus viscosity changes in a similar pattern
These are rhythm methods of contaception

6. Contraception – Biological
Hormonal contraception:
Oral contraceptives have synthetic progesterone (sometimes oestrogen)
Taken for 3 wks from final day of menstruation
Increases conc of both hormones
FSH/LH inhibited – no follicle maturation / no ovulation
Injections or implants also available

7. Contraception – other Surgical:
vasectomy or oviduct cutting – often irreversible
Physical barriers:
condom, cap – physically prevent sperm reaching egg
IUD (IntraUterine Device):
make endometrium less suitable for egg plantation

8. Statistics (failures/100 women)
Pill – combined (0.1-1)
- progesterone only (0.3-5)
Condom (2-15)
Cap (approx 2)
IUD (0.3-4)
Surgical (0-0.2)
Rhythm (up to 15+)