Reproductive Medicine

Reproductive Medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and management of reproductive health and fertility issues. It encompasses a variety of medical and surgical techniques aimed at assisting individuals and couples to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy. This field interacts closely with the disciplines of endocrinology, gynecology, and andrology.

Overview

Reproductive Medicine addresses both male and female reproductive health issues. In females, it deals with problems such as anovulation, PCOS, endometriosis, and tubal occlusion. In males, it focuses on issues like low sperm count, sperm motility disorders, and erectile dysfunction. The field also includes the study of reproductive hormones and their functions.

Diagnostic Techniques

Several diagnostic techniques are employed in Reproductive Medicine:

• Semen analysis - assesses the health and viability of sperm.
• Hormone assays - measure levels of reproductive hormones like FSH, LH, estrogen, and testosterone.
• Ultrasound imaging - used to visualize the reproductive organs and monitor follicular development during treatment.
• Hysterosalpingography - an X-ray technique to examine the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes.

Treatments

Reproductive Medicine offers a range of treatments:

• Fertility medication - drugs to stimulate ovulation.
• IUI - placing sperm inside a woman's uterus to facilitate fertilization.
• IVF - involves extracting eggs, retrieving a sperm sample, and then manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory dish.
• ART - includes all fertility treatments in which both eggs and embryos are handled.

Ethical and Social Considerations

Reproductive Medicine raises various ethical and social issues, including the implications of genetic screening, surrogacy, and the use of donor eggs and sperm. The accessibility of treatments and their psychological impacts on individuals and couples are also significant concerns.

See Also

• Obstetrics
• Gynecology
• Sexual health