Female Infertility Flashcards
What is infertility?
When a couple cannot get pregnant after regular unprotected sex for at least a year.
What are the most common causes of infertility? (2)
- STI
- PCOS
What is PCOS?
Polycystic Ovary syndrome
What are some ovarian disorders that can lead to infertility? (5)
- PCOS
- Premature ovarian failure
- Androgen excess
- Hypothalmic dysfunction thyroid problems
- Hyperprolactinaemia
What are some fallopian tube disorder that can lead to infertility? (2)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Previous surgery scar (i.e. from ectopic pregnancy)
What are some conditions that can be causitive of infertility? (4)
- Fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Sterilisation
- Medication
What baseline investigations do we do for women who are suspected of being infertile?
- Rubella immunity
- Check fro Chlamydia
- TSH levels
- Regular Progesterone testing (if irregular period)
- Hyterosalpingography
- Laparoscopy (for Hx of endometriosis)
What investigations do we do for infertile women with regular periods? (2)
- Mid Luteal Progesterone
- Horomone testing: FSH, LH, TSH and testoserone 7 days prior to expected period
When do we conduct a Hysterosalpingography (HSG)?
It is a scan for women who have a suspected uterine abnormality.
What symptoms would suggest a woman has fibroids? (4)
- Masses
- Pelvic Distortion
- Fixed Retroversion
- Period Problems
What examinations can be conducted at a fertility clinic? (3)
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Physical examination
- Tubal patency tests
What are the 3 main tubal patency tests?
- HSG
- HyCOSy
- Laparoscopy and Dye
What does HyCOSy stand for>
Hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography
How long should we wait before a woman is referred for infertility?
12 months.
Unless she is over 35, where we want to refer he within 6 months.
What conditions suggest early referral for infertility? (6)
- HIV
- Hep B
- Abnormal Test Results
- Anxiety
- Irregular Period
- Age > 35
