The use of hormones to treat infertilitySpec 4.5.3.6
Hormones are used in modern reproductive technologies to treat infertility. A ‘fertility drug’ contains FSH and LH given to a woman. She may then become pregnant in the normal way.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
- The mother is given FSH and LH to stimulate the maturation of several eggs.
- The eggs are collected from the mother and fertilised by sperm from the father in the laboratory.
- The fertilised eggs develop into embryos.
- At the stage when they are tiny balls of cells, one or two embryos are inserted into the mother’s uterus (womb).
Evaluating fertility treatment
Fertility treatment gives a woman the chance to have a baby of her own. However:
- it is very emotionally and physically stressful
- the success rates are not high
- it can lead to multiple births, which are a risk to both the babies and the mother.