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=oM-LGL4slrQ&index=12&list=PLx

OVt4f-_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 infertility1.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

The head ofthe sperm isdrawn into aneedle andInjecteddirectly intothe egg toachievefertilisation.

Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

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. pros of fertility treatment 2. cons of fertility treatment 3. the risks of fertility treatments4. 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