Chapter 19: Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technologies

1. BY: MATTI DORVAL
WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUES, HE 210
Chapter 19:
Infertility and Assisted
Reproductive Technologies

2. “ Many of us grow up dreaming about the day when we
will have children. The forces that contribute to these
desires are complex, powerful, spiritual, and
sometimes unexplainable. Our longing for children is
a deep primal need, and being unable to conceive or
carry a pregnancy to term can be devastating.” (P.474)

3. Social Infertility
Used to describe postmenopausal women, singles,
and same-sex couples who turn to fertility
treatments and/or adoption for family building.

4. What is Infertility?
Medically defined as the inability to become pregnant
after twelve months of regular sexual intercourse
without birth control, or for women age 35, six
months.
Also refers to women who are unable to carry a
pregnancy to term.
The Center for Disease Control and prevention (CDC)
estimates that at least 1 in 10 U.S. women age 15 to 44
has difficulty pregnant or staying pregnant.

5. Why Males Experience Infertility
Abnormal sperm production or function
Problems with the delivery of sperm Overexposure to
certain chemicals and toxins.
Damage related to cancer and its treatment

6. Why Women Experience Infertility
Ovulation disorders
Uterine or cervical abnormalities
Fallopian tube damage or blockage
Endometriosis
Primary ovarian insufficiency
Pelvic adhesions,
Thyroid problems
Cancer and its treatment
Certain medications

7. What Maximizes Fertility
Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
Weight
Sleep and relaxation
Environment
Overall health
Healthy Sperm

8. The Infertility Workup
A general and medical history of the woman and the male
partner, if there is one.
Semen analysis
A thorough gynecologic examination
Monitoring ovulation
Hormonal Profile
Ovarian reserve testing
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
Hysteroscopy
Laparoscopy

9. Treating Infertility
Drugs- a variety of drugs is used to correct hormonal
imbalances, induce ovulation, supress ovulation, and
prepare the uterus.
Surgery-surgical techniques can sometimes correct
structural problems of the cervix, uterus, and tubes.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)-a relatively simple
infertility treatment in which a very thin flexible
catheter is used to place specially washed and
prepared sperm directly into the uterus.

10. Treating Infertility Cont’d
Assisted reproductive technologies- (ARTs) are
procedures used to treat infertility in which both
eggs and sperm are manipulated outside the body.
These procedures involve surgically removing eggs
from a woman’s ovaries, combining with sperm in
the laboratory, the returning the fertilized eggs or
embryos to the women’s body or donating them to
another woman.

11. In Vitro Ferilization (IVF)
A complex series of procedures used to treat fertility
or genetic problems and assist with the conception of
a child.
During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved)
from your ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab.

12. Collaborative (Third-Party) Reproduction
The process when another person provides sperm,
eggs, or embryos or when another woman provides
her uterus so that a family can have a child.
The donor’s or surrogate’s involvement is limited to
the reproductive process and does not extend to
raising the child.
Can be complicated and involves a number of
important considerations to ensure a safe and
successful experience.

13. Donor Sperm
Insemination with donor sperm involves using the
sperm of a man who is not your partner to conceive
Families interested in donor sperm can use a known
donor or find an anonymous donor through a sperm
bank

14. Donor Eggs
A donor’s eggs have to be retrieved and fertilized by
the partners or donors sperm, any resulting embryos
will be placed within in the uterus or in the uterus of
a gestational carrier.

15. Surrogate and Gestational Carriers
Surrogate- a woman who is willing to be
impregnated using IVF and carry a baby for the
intended parents to help them build their family.
Traditional surrogacy- when a woman offers to use
her own eggs and carry the child as well for the
intended parents
Gestational surrogacy- when an egg is fertilized
outside the body and then implanted into the
gestational surrogate, who has no genetic connection
to the child.

16. Discussion Question
Should most health insurances cover infertility
treatment costs?

17. References
Our Bodies, Ourselves. New York: Simon & Schuster,
2011. Print.