Explain how IVF is used to help a couple who are experiencing infertility, and describe TWO limitations of using IVF as a fertility treatment.

Eduqas A-Level Biology — 4.1 Reproductive biology · Explain · 5 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

Infertility affects many couples who wish to have children. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one method used to help these couples conceive.

Model answer (5 marks)

IVF is a technique in which fertilisation occurs outside the body. The woman receives hormone treatment to stimulate the ovaries to produce several eggs, which are then collected by a minor surgical procedure. The eggs are mixed with sperm in a laboratory dish, allowing fertilisation to take place. The resulting fertilised egg(s) or embryo(s) are cultured for a few days and then one or more are implanted into the woman’s uterus, where they can develop into a pregnancy.

Limitations of IVF include:
1. The success rate is low; many cycles do not result in a live birth.
2. The treatment is expensive and can be emotionally stressful, and it can lead to multiple pregnancies, which carry higher health risks for mother and babies.

Examiner tips

  • Describe the hormone stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation in vitro, embryo culture and uterine implantation to cover all steps. Mention two distinct limitations, not just one. Use terms such as ‘low success rate’, ‘expensive’, ‘multiple pregnancies’ to match the mark scheme.
  • common_mistakes
  • :
  • Forgetting to mention hormone stimulation or egg retrieval. Listing only one limitation. Using vague phrases like ‘it’s hard’ instead of specific issues such as cost or multiple pregnancies.

Mark scheme (5 marks)

  1. IVF involves fertilisation of an egg using sperm outside of the body
  2. Eggs are collected from the woman's ovaries (after hormone treatment to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs)
  3. The fertilised egg(s) / embryo(s) are implanted into the woman's uterus
  4. Any ONE valid limitation — e.g. IVF has a low success rate / not guaranteed to result in pregnancy
  5. Any SECOND valid limitation — e.g. it is expensive / can result in multiple pregnancies which carry health risks / emotionally stressful / raises ethical issues about unused embryos

Key terms in this question

infertility

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