Question 1: Define in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and explain the main steps involved in the process.

Answer: IVF is a process where an egg is fertilised by sperm outside the body in a laboratory setting, then the resulting embryo is implanted into the woman's uterus. Main steps include ovarian stimulation, egg collection, fertilisation in a laboratory, embryo culture, and embryo transfer.

Question 2: What is the purpose of hormonal stimulation during IVF treatment?

Answer: Hormonal stimulation is used to increase the number of eggs produced by the ovaries, improving the chances of successful fertilisation and pregnancy.

Question 1: If a clinic reports an IVF success rate of 30% per cycle and they perform 200 cycles in a year, how many successful pregnancies are expected annually?

Answer: 60

Question 2: Calculate the number of IVF cycles needed to achieve 10 successful pregnancies if the success rate per cycle is 25%. (Show your working)

Answer: Number of cycles = Desired successes / Success rate per cycle = 10 / 0.25 = 40 cycles

Question 1: Identify three key variables that must be controlled during the fertilisation process in IVF to ensure success.

Answer: Temperature, pH level of culture medium, and timing of fertilisation.

Question 2: Describe two safety precautions that should be observed in an IVF laboratory to prevent contamination.

Answer: Use of sterile equipment and working in a laminar flow hood to prevent contamination.

Question 1: A study reports that, out of 500 women undergoing IVF, 150 achieved pregnancy. Calculate the overall success rate and compare it to a clinic with a success rate of 30%. Which approach appears more effective?

Answer: Success rate = (Number of successful pregnancies / Total women) x 100 = (150 / 500) x 100 = 30%. Both the study and the clinic have a success rate of 30%, indicating similar effectiveness.

Question 2: In a different scenario, a clinic reports a success rate of 20% over 100 cycles. After implementing new techniques, the success rate increases to 28%. What percentage increase is this? Show your calculation.

Answer: Percentage increase = [(New success rate - Original success rate) / Original success rate] x 100 = [(28 - 20) / 20] x 100 = (8 / 20) x 100 = 40%

Question 1: Evaluate the ethical considerations associated with the use of IVF technology. Discuss both potential benefits and concerns, supporting your answer with scientific and societal perspectives.

Answer: IVF offers hope to couples experiencing infertility, allowing the possibility of having children and enabling genetic screening to prevent hereditary diseases. However, ethical concerns include the fate of unused embryos, the potential for 'designer babies', and access inequality. Scientific advancements must be balanced with societal values, ensuring informed consent, ethical standards, and equitable access.

Question 1: Explain how advancements in genetic analysis can improve the success rate of IVF treatments.

Answer: Advances in genetic analysis allow for better selection of healthy embryos, reducing the chances of genetic disorders and increasing the likelihood of successful pregnancies.

Question 2: Discuss how the development of cryopreservation techniques has impacted the availability and flexibility of IVF procedures.

Answer: Cryopreservation allows eggs, sperm, and embryos to be stored for future use, increasing flexibility for patients, reducing the pressure of timing, and enabling multiple attempts without repeated ovarian stimulation.