16.5.6

Infertility

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Fertility Treatments

Some women do not have high enough levels of FSH to stimulate (lead to) the maturation of their eggs. This means that they are infertile. Some men do not produce enough sperm, or they have sperm which is unable to reach the egg. Modern reproductive technologies can help overcome these problems:

Illustrative background for In vitro fertilisation (IVF)Illustrative background for In vitro fertilisation (IVF) ?? "content

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

  • FSH and LH are given to stimulate the growth of lots of eggs.
  • Eggs are collected before being fertilised in a dish in a laboratory. They are fertilised using sperm from the father.
  • These fertilised eggs grow into embryos and are implanted into the woman’s uterus.
Illustrative background for Artificial insemination (AI)Illustrative background for Artificial insemination (AI) ?? "content

Artificial insemination (AI)

  • Sperm from a donor is collected and inserted close to the cervix. The sperm can be frozen and stored before being inserted.
Illustrative background for Fertility drugsIllustrative background for Fertility drugs ?? "content

Fertility drugs

  • A drug containing a mixture of FSH and LH can be prescribed by a doctor.
  • By boosting the levels of these hormones, the release of an egg in the ovaries is stimulated.

Jump to other topics

1Classification of Living Organisms

2Organisation of the Organism

3Movement Into & Out of Cells

4Biological Molecules

5Enzymes

6Plant Nutrition

7Human Nutrition

8Transport in Plants

9Transport in Animals

10Diseases & Immunity

11Gas Exchange in Humans

12Respiration

13Excretion in Humans

14Coordination & Response

15Drugs

16Reproduction

17Inheritance

18Variation & Selection

19Organisms & Their Environment

20Human Influence on Ecosystems

21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification

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