Week 12 Lectorial Questions

A female patient, aged 39, presents at an IVF clinic. She and her male partner have been trying to have a baby for over 12 months. The IVF clinic performs a number of investigations to try to identify the cause of infertility in this couple. These investigations include seminal fluid analysis and measurement of serum hormones in both the female and the male patient.

Q1. Describe which hormone(s) will be measured in the male patient. (50 words or fewer) (1 mark)

Q2. Describe a negative feedback loop that regulates ovulation. (50 words or fewer) (2 marks)

The cause of infertility in this couple is found to be a low sperm count. The couple undergo a procedure that involves injection of a single spermatozoan into an oocyte. This procedure results in a successful pregnancy.

Q3. Describe the changes that would occur in the oocyte after the injection of the sperm. (75 words or fewer) (2 marks)

Q4. [Removed, not relevant for this year’s content]

Q5. When the baby is born it has a lower than average birth weight. Using your understanding of DOHaD (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease), research and propose some advice the parents might be given to reduce the risk of their child developing disease later in life. (100 words or fewer) (2 marks)