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Hormones for Infertility

Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 5.3.29

Fertility Treatments

Some women don't have high enough levels of FSH to stimulate the maturation of their eggs. This means that they are infertile. Modern reproductive technologies can help these women to give birth:

Fertility drugs

Fertility drugs

  • A drug that contains a mixture of FSH and LH can be prescribed by a doctor.
  • Boosting the levels of FSH and LH can cause an egg to be released in the ovaries.
In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)

  • FSH & LH are given to stimulate the growth of lots of eggs.
  • Eggs are collected before being fertilised in a petri dish in a laboratory, using sperm from the father.
  • These fertilised eggs grow into embryos and are implanted into the woman’s uterus.

Test yourself on Hormones for Infertility

  • A woman does not produce enough of a hormone needed to mature her eggs, causing infertility. Which hormone is this?

  • What does IVF stand for?

  • A woman's eggs do not mature because her natural FSH levels are too low. Why might a doctor prescribe her a drug containing FSH and LH?

  • Why are FSH and LH given to a woman at the start of IVF treatment?

  • How does IVF treatment differ from taking fertility drugs alone?

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