What % of couples are affected by infertility?
15%
Out of couples experiencing infertility, what percentage will require complex treatment e.g., assisted conception?
50%
so ~8% of the population assuming 15% were infertile to begin with
List 6 reasons why the number of couples struggling with infertility is increasing
- Women are waiting till they are older to conceive
- Rise in chlamydia infections
- Increase in obesity (+PCOS)
- Increase in male infertility
- Increased awareness of treatments
- Change in couples presenting e.g., same sex, transgender
At what age does a woman’s fertility start to decline?
28
In the population, what is the % chance of spontaneous pregnancy at... -6 months -12 months -24 months ?
- 6 months: 75%
- 12 months: 90%
- 24 months: 92%
What is the definition of infertility?
Failure to achieve clinical pregnancy after 12 months + of regular unprotected sexual intercourse in a couple who have never had a child
Why is infertility defined after 12 months of trying to conceive?
Because 90% of couples will have been successful by then
What is the difference between primary and secondary infertility?
Primary: couple have never conceived
Secondary: couple have previously conceived but may not have been successful e.g., miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy
List 7 factors which increase chances of conception
- Woman <28 y/o
- Previous pregnancy (even if miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, just proves she can get pregnant)
- Trying to conceive for <3 years
- Unprotected sex 2-3x per week, particularly mid-cycle
- Woman’s BMI 18.5 - 30 m/kg^2
- Both partners non-smokers
- No recreational drugs or excessive caffeine
List 6 common causes of secondary infertility
- PCOS
- Tubal disease e.g., infection, iatrogenic
- Fibroids (benign fibrous tissue growths)
- Endometriosis/adenomyosis
- Weight-related (obesity, anorexia)
- Age related
What is hydrosalpinx?
A fallopian tube that is blocked with a serous fluid at its ovary-end due to injury or infection
What are chocolate cysts and what condition are they found in?
Chocolate cysts = endometriomas = a cyst which contains blood and shed tissue from menstruation, found when endometrial tissue grows inside the ovaries
They are found in endometriosis
When is an orchidometer used?
During a testicular examination to measure the testicle size
Small testes are seen in obstructive/non-obstructive testicular failure
Non-obstructive e.g., Klinefelter’s syndrome
