The use of hormones to treat infertility (HT only) — AQA GCSE Biology
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The use of hormones to treat infertility (HT only) explained
Infertility can be treated using hormones.
Read the full explanation
If a woman's own FSH level is too low to stimulate eggs to mature, she may be given a 'fertility drug' containing FSH and LH. This stimulates eggs to mature in the ovary and triggers ovulation, increasing the chances of pregnancy. In In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), a woman is given FSH and LH to stimulate the maturation of several eggs. These eggs are collected from the mother and fertilised by sperm from the father in a laboratory. The fertilised eggs develop into embryos. When they are tiny balls of cells, one or two embryos are inserted into the mother's uterus. Success depends on factors like age, but treatment is emotionally and physically demanding and can lead to multiple births.
This includes giving FSH and LH in a ‘fertility drug’ to a woman. She may then become pregnant in the normal way.
Infertility can arise when a woman does not release eggs regularly because her pituitary gland produces too little follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or luteinising hormone (LH). A fertility drug containing these hormones is given, usually as a course of injections, so that FSH stimulates several follicles in the ovaries to mature and LH triggers ovulation. Because the woman's own reproductive system is being stimulated, intercourse at the time of ovulation can lead to fertilisation inside the body and a natural pregnancy. This is different from IVF, where eggs are collected and fertilised outside the body. Doctors monitor the response with ultrasound scans and sometimes blood tests, and may adjust the dose to reduce the chance of multiple pregnancies.
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment.
In Vitro Fertilisation, usually shortened to IVF, is a fertility treatment in which eggs are fertilised by sperm outside the woman's body. The word 'in vitro' means 'in glass', referring to the dish or tube used in the laboratory. IVF is used when the fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, when other fertility treatments have not worked, or when a male partner has a low sperm count. The woman is given hormones so that several eggs mature, the eggs are collected and mixed with sperm, and the resulting embryos are placed into the uterus. Because several embryos may be transferred, IVF carries a higher chance of multiple births, so careful monitoring and counselling are part of the process.
IVF involves giving a mother FSH and LH to stimulate the maturation of several eggs.
In In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), a mother is given fertility drugs containing both Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinising Hormone (LH). According to the specification, these hormones are administered together to stimulate the maturation of several eggs in the ovaries. Normally, only one egg matures per cycle, but providing extra FSH and LH ensures multiple eggs mature simultaneously. For example, a patient might produce ten mature eggs instead of one. These mature eggs are then collected from the mother's ovaries before they are naturally released. Collecting multiple eggs is crucial because it increases the chances of successfully fertilising at least one in the laboratory to develop into an embryo, thereby improving the overall success rate of the fertility treatment.
The eggs are collected from the mother and fertilised by sperm from the father in the laboratory.
After hormone treatment has matured several eggs, the eggs are collected from the mother. This is usually done by a fine needle guided by ultrasound, through the vagina into the ovaries. The collected eggs are placed in a dish of culture medium in the laboratory. Sperm from the father is added so that fertilisation can occur outside the body. Each sperm cell fuses with an egg cell, combining their genetic material to form a zygote. The zygote divides by mitosis to form an embryo. Keeping the eggs and sperm in the laboratory allows fertilisation to be observed and controlled before any embryo is transferred to the mother's uterus. This is a higher-tier topic, so you should describe the sequence and explain why laboratory fertilisation is used.
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).
After IVF, eggs collected from the mother are mixed with sperm so that fertilisation occurs outside the body. Each fertilised egg, now a zygote, divides by mitosis to form an embryo. The embryo is cultured in a laboratory until it reaches the stage where it is a tiny ball of cells, typically after a few days. At this point one or two embryos are transferred into the mother’s uterus through the cervix using a thin catheter. The lining of the uterus must be ready to receive the embryo, which is why hormonal treatment is used earlier in the cycle. Transferring more than one embryo increases the chance of pregnancy but also raises the risk of multiple births.
Although fertility treatment gives a woman the chance to have a baby of her own: • 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.
Fertility treatment can allow a woman to carry and give birth to her own genetic child, which is a major benefit. However, the process is demanding: hormone injections, scans and procedures can be physically uncomfortable, and the uncertainty of results can cause emotional strain. Success is not guaranteed, and many cycles do not result in a live birth, so couples may need repeated attempts. Treatment also raises the chance of multiple births because more than one embryo may be transferred or more than one egg may be released. Multiple pregnancies increase risks such as premature birth and low birth weight for babies, and complications such as high blood pressure for the mother.
Your focus
- Explain how fertility drugs containing FSH and LH are used to treat infertility.
- Sequence the main stages of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).
- Evaluate the physical, emotional, and medical implications of IVF treatment.
Show all 21 objectives
- State that FSH and LH can be given as a fertility drug to stimulate egg maturation and ovulation.
- Explain how the treated woman can become pregnant through normal intercourse.
- Distinguish fertility drug treatment from IVF in terms of where fertilisation occurs.
- Define IVF as fertilisation that occurs outside the woman's body.
- Describe the main stages of IVF, including hormone treatment, egg collection, fertilisation and embryo transfer.
- Explain why IVF may be offered when other treatments are unsuitable.
- State that both FSH and LH are given to the mother during IVF treatment.
- Explain that the administration of FSH and LH stimulates the maturation of several eggs.
- Relate the maturation and collection of multiple eggs to the increased success rate of IVF.
- Describe how eggs are collected from the mother and sperm is obtained from the father.
- Explain that fertilisation occurs in the laboratory and forms a zygote.
- Outline how the zygote develops into an embryo before transfer.
- Describe how a fertilised egg develops into an embryo before transfer.
- State that one or two embryos are inserted into the mother’s uterus at the tiny ball of cells stage.
- Explain why transferring two embryos affects both success rate and multiple-birth risk.
- Describe the emotional and physical stresses of fertility treatment.
- Explain why success rates are not high and what this means for patients.
- Evaluate the risks of multiple births to babies and the mother.
The use of hormones to treat infertility (HT only) exam tips
Marking Points
- Explains that a fertility drug containing FSH and LH can be given to women whose own FSH levels are too low, stimulating eggs to mature and be released.
- Describes the first stage of IVF as giving a mother FSH and LH to stimulate the maturation of several eggs.
- States that in IVF, eggs are collected and fertilised by sperm in a laboratory, developing into embryos.
- Explains that at the stage when they are tiny balls of cells, one or two embryos are inserted into the mother's uterus.
- Evaluates IVF by noting it can be physically and emotionally demanding, success rates are not 100%, and it can lead to multiple births.
- FSH is given to stimulate the maturation of follicles in the ovaries, so that eggs develop.
- LH is given to trigger ovulation, releasing the mature egg from the follicle.
- The hormones are supplied together as a fertility drug, often by injection over a treatment cycle.
- Because ovulation occurs naturally after treatment, fertilisation and pregnancy can happen through intercourse in the normal way.
- Treatment is monitored, for example by ultrasound, so the dose can be adjusted and the risk of multiple births reduced.
- IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilisation, meaning fertilisation occurs outside the body.
- It is used when natural conception is unlikely, for example because of blocked fallopian tubes or low sperm count.
- Hormones are used to stimulate the ovaries so that several eggs mature before collection.
- Eggs are collected and mixed with sperm in a laboratory dish so that fertilisation occurs outside the body.
- One or more embryos are transferred into the uterus to develop, and the treatment is monitored to reduce risks such as multiple births.
- Both FSH and LH are administered to the mother during the initial stages of IVF treatment.
- The purpose of giving these hormones is to stimulate the maturation of several eggs in the ovaries.
- Maturing multiple eggs is necessary so that a larger number can be collected prior to natural ovulation.
- Collecting several eggs increases the probability of successful fertilisation in the laboratory and subsequent embryo development.
- This hormonal treatment overrides the natural menstrual cycle, where typically only a single egg matures.
- Eggs are collected from the mother's ovaries, often using a needle guided by ultrasound.
- Sperm is obtained from the father and added to the eggs in the laboratory.
- Fertilisation occurs outside the body when a sperm nucleus fuses with an egg nucleus.
- The resulting zygote divides by mitosis to form an embryo.
- Laboratory fertilisation allows control and observation of fertilisation before embryo transfer.
- The process is part of IVF and is studied at higher tier only.
- Fertilisation occurs outside the body, producing a zygote that divides by mitosis to form an embryo.
- The embryo is cultured in the laboratory until it is a tiny ball of cells before transfer.
- One or two embryos are inserted into the mother’s uterus (womb), not into the oviduct.
- Transfer into the uterus allows the embryo to implant in the prepared lining and continue development.
- Inserting two embryos increases the chance of pregnancy but also increases the risk of multiple births.
- Fertility treatment offers the chance of a baby genetically related to the mother.
- The treatment can be emotionally stressful because of uncertainty, repeated cycles and hormonal changes.
- The treatment can be physically stressful because of injections, scans and medical procedures.
- Success rates are not high, so several cycles may be needed and pregnancy is not guaranteed.
- Multiple births can occur and increase risks to both the babies and the mother.
Examiner Tips
- 💡When describing IVF, clearly sequence the steps: hormone treatment, egg collection, fertilisation, embryo development, and transfer.
- 💡Remember to mention that embryos are transferred into the uterus (womb), not the ovaries.
- 💡Name both hormones and give each one's specific role rather than saying they 'help' fertility.
- 💡Use the phrase 'pregnant in the normal way' to show that fertilisation occurs inside the body.
- 💡Explain the meaning of 'in vitro' to show why IVF is described as fertilisation outside the body.
- 💡Give a named cause of infertility, such as blocked fallopian tubes, to justify why IVF is used.
- 💡Sequence the stages clearly: hormone stimulation, egg collection, fertilisation in the laboratory, embryo transfer.
- 💡Always state that both FSH and LH are used to stimulate the maturation of several eggs; do not just say they make eggs grow.
- 💡If asked why multiple eggs are needed, explain that it increases the chance of successful fertilisation and embryo development in the laboratory.
- 💡Use the correct sequence: collect eggs, add sperm, fertilisation, zygote, embryo.
- 💡State clearly that fertilisation happens outside the body, in the laboratory.
- 💡Mention that the embryo later divides by mitosis before being transferred.
- 💡Use the term embryo for the ball of cells and zygote for the single fertilised cell.
- 💡State clearly that transfer is into the uterus, and link the number of embryos to multiple-birth risk.
- 💡Sequence the steps: collect eggs, mix with sperm, fertilise, divide, culture, transfer one or two embryos.
- 💡Balance benefits against risks, using the phrase ‘although’ to structure your answer.
- 💡Give specific examples of physical stress, such as injections or scans, and emotional stress, such as uncertainty.
- 💡Link multiple births to named risks, such as premature birth or low birth weight, rather than saying only ‘risky’.
Common Mistakes
- Stating that IVF guarantees pregnancy; correction: success rates vary and depend heavily on factors such as the mother's age.
- Confusing the roles of FSH and LH; correction: FSH stimulates eggs to mature, whereas LH stimulates the release of the egg (ovulation).
- Forgetting where fertilisation occurs in IVF; correction: fertilisation happens in a laboratory outside the body, not in the uterus or fallopian tubes.
- Thinking that FSH alone causes ovulation; correction: FSH matures the follicle, while LH triggers ovulation.
- Confusing this treatment with IVF; correction: in fertility drug treatment, fertilisation happens inside the woman's body, whereas IVF involves collecting eggs and fertilising them outside the body.
- Believing the drug guarantees pregnancy; correction: it increases the chance of ovulation and pregnancy, but success is not guaranteed.
- Thinking that fertilisation happens inside the woman's body during IVF; correction: fertilisation occurs outside the body, and only the embryo is placed in the uterus.
- Believing IVF is the first treatment tried for all infertility; correction: simpler treatments such as fertility drugs may be used first, depending on the cause.
- Assuming IVF always produces a single baby; correction: transferring more than one embryo can lead to multiple births, which is why monitoring is important.
- Stating that LH is given to trigger ovulation in IVF: correct this by specifying that in IVF, both FSH and LH are given to stimulate the maturation of several eggs before they are collected.
- Confusing the roles of IVF hormones with contraception: correct this by remembering that IVF uses FSH and LH to increase egg maturation, whereas contraceptives often use oestrogen and progesterone to inhibit FSH production.
- Thinking the hormones are given to the father: correct this by stating that FSH and LH are given to the mother to act on her ovaries.
- Saying the embryo is fertilised in the laboratory: correct this by stating that the egg is fertilised by the sperm, forming a zygote that develops into an embryo.
- Confusing fertilisation with implantation: correct this by stating that fertilisation occurs in the laboratory dish, while implantation occurs later in the uterus.
- Thinking the sperm is collected from the mother: correct this by stating that sperm comes from the father.
- Thinking the embryo is inserted into the oviduct; the correct site is the uterus (womb).
- Believing the embryo is already a fully formed fetus at transfer; it is a tiny ball of cells.
- Confusing fertilisation outside the body with implantation outside the body; implantation occurs in the uterus.
- Claiming fertility treatment always works; success rates are not high and vary with age and cause of infertility.
- Ignoring the emotional and physical stress and listing only the chance of a baby.
- Stating that multiple births are risk-free; they carry increased risks for babies and mother.