Page 100 - 86 human physiology part-2

The Female Reproductive System

• an endometrial biopsy, which tests the lining of the uterus
• hormone testing, to measure levels of female hormones
• laparoscopy, which allows the provider to see the pelvic organs
• ovulation testing, which detects the release of an egg from the ovary
• Pap smear, to check for signs of infection
• pelvic exam, to look for abnormalities or infection
• a postcoital test, which is done after sex to check for problems with secretions
• special X-ray tests

Treatment

• Fertility medication which stimulates the ovaries to "ripen" and release eggs (e.g.
Clomifene|clomifene citrate, which stimulates ovulation)
• Surgery to restore potency of obstructed fallopian tubes (tuboplasty)
• Donor insemination which involves the woman being artificially inseminated or artificially
inseminated with donor sperm.
• In vitro fertilization (IVF) in which eggs are removed from the woman, fertilized and then
placed in the woman's uterus, bypassing the fallopian tubes. Variations on IVF include:
• Use of donor eggs and/or sperm in IVF. This happens when a couple's eggs and/or
sperm are unusable, or to avoid passing on a genetic disease.
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in which a single sperm is injected directly into an
egg; the fertilized egg is then placed in the woman's uterus as in IVF.
• Zygote intrafallopian transfer(ZIFT) in which eggs are removed from the woman, fertilized
and then placed in the woman's fallopian tubes rather than the uterus.
• Gamete intrafallopian transfer(GIFT) in which eggs are removed from the woman, and
placed in one of the fallopian tubes, along with the man's sperm. This allows fertilization to take
place inside the woman's body.
• Other assisted reproductive technology (ART):
• Assisted hatching
• Fertility preservation
• Freezing (cryopreservation) of sperm, eggs, & reproductive tissue
• Frozen embryo transfer (FET)
• Alternative and complimentary treatments
• Acupuncture Recent controlled trials published in Fertility and Sterility have shown
acupuncture to increase the success rate of IVF by as much as 60%. Acupuncture was
also reported to be effective in the treatment of female anovular infertility, World Health
Organization, Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Trials
(2002).
• Diet and supplements
• Healthy lifestyle

Types of Birth Control

Birth control is a regimen of one or more actions, devices, or medications followed in order to
deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of a woman becoming pregnant. Methods and intentions
typically termed birth control may be considered a pivotal ingredient to family planning. Mechanisms
which are intended to reduce the likelihood of the fertilization of an ovum by a sperm may more

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