Treatments for InfertilityInfertility treatments and Contraception are

based on the Biology of fertility

Learning Outcomes

Ovulation can be stimulated by drugs that prevent the negative feedback effect of oestrogen on FSH secretion.Other ovulatory drugs mimic the action of FSH and LH.These drugs can cause super ovulation that can result in multiple births or be used to collect ova for IVF programmes.Artificial insemination is particularly useful where the male has a low sperm count.Several samples of semen are collected over a period of time.If a partner is sterile a donor may be used.Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection – if mature sperm are defective or very low in number ICSI can be used.In this technique the head of the sperm is drawn up into a needle and injected directly into the egg to achieve fertilisation.

Stimulating Ovulation

Sometimes there is a failure of the pituitary gland to secrete adequate FSH or LH

Ovulation can be stimulated by

- drugs that mimic the normal action of FSH and LH

- drugs that prevent the negative feedback effect of oestrogen on FSH secretion

These drugs can be so effective that they bring about ‘Super Ovulation’ which can lead to multiple births

Super ovulation can be used to collect ova for IVF

Artificial Insemination

This involves the insertion of semen into the female tract by some means other than sexual intercourse

It is particularly useful where a male has a low sperm count

Several samples of semen are collected and each is preserved (freezing) until required

They are then defrosted and released together into the partner’s cervical region during her fertile period

Donor Semen

If a partner is sterile, artificial insemination can be used to insert the semen of a donor who has a normal sperm count into the female reproductive tract

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

This technique is employed when a man’s sperm count is low

or, many of the mature sperm are defective

The procedure involves drawing a healthy sperm into a needle and injecting it directly into an egg – to achieve fertilisation

Try these questions . . . .

1. How can ovulation be stimulated?

2. What is artificial insemination?

3. When would donor semen be used?

4. Outline the procedure ICSI

Answers . . . .

1. Drugs that mimic the normal action of FSH and LH and drugs that prevent the negative feedback effect of oestrogen on FSH secretion

2. This involves the insertion of semen into the female tract by some means other than sexual intercourse

3. If a partner is sterile, artificial insemination can be used to insert the semen of a donor who has a normal sperm count into the female reproductive tract

4. The procedure involves drawing a healthy sperm into a needle and injecting it directly into an egg – to achieve fertilisation

GLOSSARY

• ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION – insertion of sperm into the uterus/oviduct by injection as opposed to sexual intercourse• ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) - healthy sperm is drawn into

a syringe needle and injected directly into an egg to bring about fertilisation• IVF (in vitro fertilisation) – fertilisation which takes place outside the

female’s body, usually in a culture dish