Topic 5c- Increasing fertility

Question 1

what can be injected into women to increase fertility?

Answer 1

FSH and LH

Question 2

what are the steps to IVF?

Answer 2

• FSH and LH given to woman to stimulate maturation of multiple eggs
• Eggs collected from ovaries
• eggs fertilised in lab using man’s sperm
• fertilised eggs grow into embryos in incubator
• one or two are transferred to the womans uterus

Question 3

Pros of IVF

Answer 3

it can give an infertile couple a child

Question 4

cons of IVF

Answer 4

multiple births can happen
low success rate
higher chance of miscarriage, stillbirth etc.
emotionally and physically stressful for women

Question 5

What developments in microscopy have improved IVF?

Answer 5

• specialised micro-tools to use on egg and sperm under microscope
• time-lapse imaging means the growth of embryos can be continuously monitored to help identify those most likely to result in a successful pregnancy

Question 6

What are ethical objections to IVF?

Answer 6

• IVF often results in unused embryos being destroyed which some people think is potential human life and therefore it’s unethical.
• some people think that it could lead to the selection of preferred characteristics in the child