What is in vitro fertilisation (IVF)?

IVF is the fertilisation of eggs by sperm outside the body in a laboratory dish. A resulting embryo is then transferred into the womb.

How are eggs collected for IVF?

A fine needle attached to a suction pump is guided through the vaginal wall into each follicle using ultrasound. The fluid containing the egg is drawn out into a warmed tube.

What equipment is used to fertilise and grow embryos in the IVF laboratory?

Embryos are grown in culture dishes inside incubators that control temperature, humidity and gases. Microscopes are used to check fertilisation and embryo development.

CCEA A-Level Life and Health Sciences 0008

Experimental Techniques

Topic overview Standard solutions, titrations and qualitative tests Rates of reaction and organic preparations Physics measurements: oscillations, resistivity, lenses and critical angle Biological tests, colorimetry, chromatography and osmosis

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Enabling TechnologyDouble Award

Topic overview ECG and EEG machines in patient monitoring Ultrasound and IVF equipment in fertility treatment Prosthetic limbs, hearing aids and cochlear implants Workflow and equipment in a medical laboratory Ongoing monitoring of a long-term condition Health data collection, databases and data protection

Enabling Technology

Ultrasound and IVF equipment in fertility treatment

3 things to know
A2 10

Overview

Ultrasound in follicle monitoring and egg collection, IVF and ICSI, incubators and time-lapse imaging, the HFEA, what ultrasound-guided collection replaced, and improved outcomes.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

How is an ultrasound scanner used in fertility treatment?

Key term

How does an ultrasound scanner produce an image?

Key term

Why is ultrasound preferred to X-rays for monitoring fertility and pregnancy?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
How is an ultrasound scanner used in fertility treatment?
Model answer
A transvaginal ultrasound probe produces images of the ovaries and womb. Clinicians count and measure the developing follicles to judge when eggs are ready to collect.
2
How does an ultrasound scanner produce an image?
Model answer
A probe sends high-frequency sound pulses into the body and detects the echoes from tissue boundaries. A computer uses the timing and strength of the echoes to build the image.
3
Why is ultrasound preferred to X-rays for monitoring fertility and pregnancy?
Model answer
Ultrasound uses no ionising radiation, so it is safe for eggs, embryos and developing babies. The scan can therefore be repeated as often as needed.
4
What is in vitro fertilisation (IVF)?
Model answer
IVF is the fertilisation of eggs by sperm outside the body in a laboratory dish. A resulting embryo is then transferred into the womb.
5
How are eggs collected for IVF?
Model answer
A fine needle attached to a suction pump is guided through the vaginal wall into each follicle using ultrasound. The fluid containing the egg is drawn out into a warmed tube.
6
What equipment is used to fertilise and grow embryos in the IVF laboratory?
Model answer
Embryos are grown in culture dishes inside incubators that control temperature, humidity and gases. Microscopes are used to check fertilisation and embryo development.

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