Year 10 Science

Research Assignment
Semester 1, 2010
INFERTILITY AND ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNIQUES

Issue Date: ___________ Student’s Name: ___________________________

Booklet completed: ___________ Teacher’s Name: ___________________________
PART A: ___________

Knowledge
Scientific
& Communication
Investigation
Understanding
Introduction:
The former Federal Treasurer, Mr Peter Costello, has encouraged Australian couples to have three children – “one
for Dad, one for Mum, and one for the country”. The Federal Government even pays mothers $4 000 for having a
baby – the baby bonus. So what happens to a couple who try for a baby without success – who do they turn to for
help? What are their options? How do they decide which is best for them to do?
Here’s the story of one such couple:

After learning they were infertile, David Shepard, 36 and his wife Emily, 29 turned to IVF. This is
David’s honest and touching account of that difficult time.

“Okay, I know what you’re thinking. What’s a good looking, healthy bloke like me doing on IVF?
There’s no doubt it’s taken me some time to come to terms with knowing I’m infertile. Why did it
happen to me? I’m healthy, I’m not that old, have never touched drugs or smoked, and, while I
might have had a few too many beers at times, I’m certainly not on my own there. My infertility is
inexplicable but it’s a fact, so after 15 months of trying to conceive naturally we turned to IVF.

The delay between tests gave me a chance to go through a full range of emotions: anger, fear,
sadness, guilt … well, maybe not a full range. I guess it was the bad feelings. But, me being a bloke,
this was all kept inside.”

About 15% of Australian couples experience problems conceiving a baby. This can be due to physical problems
with the female partner or male partner (as with David), both partners or there may be no apparent reason at all.
The good news is that modern treatments may allow up to 50% of infertile couples to eventually have a child of
their own.
Infertility can be caused by a number of factors. For women, age is the most important factor – the quality and
quantity of eggs produced falls sharply after the age of 35. For men – poor quality sperm or lack of them may be
the problem for 40% of infertile couples.
One in five couples may never learn why they cannot conceive.
Infertility is rising in Australia because of the trend for couples to delay pregnancy until their late 30’s or even into
their 40’s.
Diagnosis of infertility is based on initial testing of both partners. This includes semen analysis, hormone level
testing and ultrasound diagnosis of both partners’ reproductive systems.
Initial treatments suggested may start with simple procedures, like losing weight. Sometimes assisted insemination
(AI) may be suggested to couples where there is a male physical problem. If these are not successful, more
complex treatments may include invitro-fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Year 10 Science Infertility & Assisted Reproduction Techniques Page 1

Task Description:
In this task you are going to investigate four (4) reproductive techniques used to help overcome infertility
problems for couples.

• IVF Invitro-fertilisation
• AI Assisted Insemination
• ICSI Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
• Lifestyle changes

You have two (2) handouts – a booklet, and copies of articles on each of the four (4) techniques. It will
be helpful to know some facts about reproduction while doing this task. This will help your
understanding and allow you to write more complete answers, both in the booklet and the written task.

The task is in two (2) parts:

Part A: Booklet activities: This will take about two (2) lessons to complete. Your booklet needs to
be completed in as much detail as you can, and brought along to Part B and handed in for
marking, before the written section.

Part B: In-class written assessment task, 60 minutes. Bring along the handout that has the
information on the four techniques. The written assessment task includes activities and
questions like those done in class time, about any or all of the four (4) reproductive
technologies.

Form: Completed booklet and handwritten presentation on provided paper.

Purpose: • To develop a greater awareness of infertility and some of the ways it may be overcome.
• To process information about reproductive technologies in a timely fashion.
• To demonstrate understanding of reproduction and reproductive technologies.
• To communicate information, using correct terminology.
• To propose a course of action and give reasons for it.
• To communicate in sentences with appropriate grammar and spelling.
• To practise writing skills.
• To practise the skills of interpreting, evaluating and justifying.

Conditions: Your work is to be your own. You cannot copy another student’s work.

Year 10 Science Infertility & Assisted Reproduction Techniques Page 2

 True / False Statements about the Infertility Assignment
1. I can work with a partner and copy their work. ________

2. The assignment is in two (2) parts. ________

3. I need to bring my booklet along to Part B. ________

4. I will get more marks if I know some facts about reproduction. ________

5. I cannot use the booklet doing the written task. ________

6. I need to bring the article handout to the written task. ________

7. My in-class written task will take 30 minutes ________

8. I won’t need to study the booklet or article handout before I write Part B. ________

9. My written task will include questions like those in my booklet. ________

10. I could be asked to discuss any of the four (4) reproductive techniques
in the written task. ________

11. My booklet will not count for marks ________

12. I will be doing computer research for this assignment ________

Infertility – Fact or Myth?

Statement Fact Myth

Infertility is the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to a

live birth.

Fertility decreases as you get older.

All teenagers are fertile.

If you are infertile there is a reproductive technique which will

enable you to successfully have your own child.

Only women are infertile.

About 85% of all couples conceive without a problem.

All infertility problems can be fixed.

Infertility only happens to couples over 30.

Men aged 80 could be fertile.

Being obese could cause you to be infertile.

Smoking could make you infertile.

Year 10 Science Infertility & Assisted Reproduction Techniques Page 3

 Suggest six (6) reasons why a person could be infertile.
Consider both males and females.
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________________________________

Vocabulary Check
Match the meaning from Column B with the word from Column A.

Column A Write the Column B

word number here meaning

a) semen 1. fertilised cell produced when egg and sperm unite

b) sperm 2. using sound waves to produce images of organs (or

babies) inside a person

c) embryo 3. the union of male and female sex cells

d) foetus 4. the time from the first day of one period to the first day
of the next

e) zygote 5. the tube connecting ovary to uterus

f) fertilisation 6. organ where implantation and development of the

embryo takes place

g) ovary 7. a zygote with four (4) cells

h) fallopian tube 8. the fluid containing sperm

i) cervix 9. eggs from a woman other than the mother

j) uterus 10. the organ producing follicles and egg cells

k) menstrual cycle 11. the male gamete (sex cell)

l) ultrasound 12. an embryo with human features

m) donor eggs 13. joins the uterus to the vagina

n) embryologist 14. specialist who deals with embryos

Year 10 Science Infertility & Assisted Reproduction Techniques Page 4

Complete this guided summary activity on IVF. It has been partly done for you. Fill in the rest.
Question Answer
How does it work? 1. Drugs are used to stimulate development of many eggs.
2. _____________________________________________
3. Mature eggs are collected from the ___________________.
4. An egg and _____________ are placed in ______________.
5. _____________ or _____________ embryos are transferred to the
mum’s ________________.

Who is it best for? Infertile women, with _______________ fallopian tubes, or a lack of
good quality eggs.

______________________? There are about 12 pregnancies per _____________________.

Suggest four (4) advantages of IVF, as it applies to males or females or as a process.

1. ________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

Suggest four (4) disadvantages of IVF, as it applies to males or females or as a process.

1. ________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

Year 10 Science Infertility & Assisted Reproduction Techniques Page 5

 Activity Sheet for AI

Complete this guided summary table.

Question Answer

1. Which partner is helped by this technique? • __________________________________

2. _____________________________________ • fathers sperm

_____________________________________ • donors sperm

3. Where are the sperm placed? • __________________________________

4. Where does fertilisation occur? • __________________________________

5. What is the chance of having a baby in a one

monthly cycle? • __________________________________

Read the article on AI again.

Look at the following statements. 9 if you agree, U if you disagree. Be prepared to support your answer

Does the article say this?

1. AI was first used in 1909.

2. Sperm count is the number of sperm per mL of ejaculate.
3. AI does have some risks.
4. Some men produce no sperm at all.
5. A treatment cycle may involve stimulating the production of eggs.

Interpreting the article: Does the article give you this idea? What words or phrases in the article
support your answer?

6. AI is the best technique for a man with a low sperm count

Supporting words or phrases: _______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

7. AI is a form of IVF
Supporting words/phrases/sentences: _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

Year 10 Science Infertility & Assisted Reproduction Techniques Page 6

Using the articles on IVF and AI, complete this activity.
Compare and Contrast
IVF AI

How are they alike?

• ________________________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________________________

How are they different?

In the areas of:

partner treated

where sperm are placed

where fertilisation occurs

success rate

IVF is best suited to an infertile couple when the woman has blocked fallopian tubes and the
man has a high sperm count. Give 3 reasons for this
• ________________________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________________________

AI is not suited to a couple when the woman has blocked fallopian tubes and the man has a
high sperm count. Give three (3) reasons for this.
• ________________________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________________________

Year 10 Science Infertility & Assisted Reproduction Techniques Page 7

“IVF, not AI, is the best form of treatment for an infertile couple where the woman has blocked
fallopian tubes, and the man has a normal sperm count”

Using your ideas from the previous activity, write a response which explains, with reasons, why the
statement above is correct. Communicate in grammatically correct sentences. Give full explanations.

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Year 10 Science Infertility & Assisted Reproduction Techniques Page 8

 Activity Sheet for ICSI

Three Level Guide. (A guide using three levels of questions.) Read the article. Write True or False
for each statement. Be prepared to justify your answers.

Level One: Literal statements. (Does the article say this?)

1. ICSI is a form of IVF. True / False
2. Many sperm are injected directly into the egg. True / False
3. The success rate of fertilisation is above 40% per treatment. True / False

Level Two: Interpretive statements. (Does the article give you this idea?) Use phrases or
sentences from the article to support your answer.

4. ICSI is not a risky procedure. True / False

Supporting words/phrases/sentences: _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

5. Men who only produce a low number of sperm can never become fathers. True / False
Supporting words/phrases/sentences: _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

Level Three: Evaluative statements. (Do you agree with this? Why?) Justify (give reasons for)
your answer. Write in sentences.

6. Men with low sperm count could just accept they are infertile and will not be able to have children.
True / False

Why? Justify your answer, giving at least several reasons. ______________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

Year 10 Science Infertility & Assisted Reproduction Techniques Page 9

 Activity Sheet for Lifestyle Changes

After reading the article give three (3) advantages of adopting lifestyle changes, for couples experiencing
problems with fertility.
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Give three (3) disadvantages.

1. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Complete this statement. This technique is best suited to couples with ___________________ sperm
and _________________________ functions.

Give three (3) written valid reasons to support the statement above .
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Year 10 Science Infertility & Assisted Reproduction Techniques Page 10