Leader: Dr Sally Catt

Offered

Clayton First semester (extended) 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit is about the infertile patient and the assisted reproduction technologies used to treat infertility. The normal events of oocyte production in vivo and how these events are manipulated to increase the success of in vitro technologies are explored. The unit also focuses on the outcomes of ART and its impact on the offspring generated. The theoretical basis of the techniques of: oocyte handling, oocyte maturation in vitro, the preparation of oocytes for IVF, standard insemination, the assessment of fertilisation, embryo handling and manipulation, embryo assessment, selection and transfer are presented and discussed in lectures, tutorials, journal reviews and seminars.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students will:

1. possess a sound theoretical knowledge and understanding of the techniques essential to the production of viable embryos in a clinical human IVF program an in an animal research laboratory;
2. understand the uses and approaches to oocyte maturation;
3. be familiar with the different methods of embryo transfer used in IVF;
4. gain some insight into the uses of assisted hatching and embryo biopsy in IVF;

Assessment

Written examination (3 hours): 50%
Presentation of journal review: 20%
Essay (3000 words): 30%

Contact hours

6 weeks (first 5 weeks - two 1-hour lectures, 2-hour tutorial, 1.5-hour seminar, 1.5-hour journal review), 2-hour revision tutorial in Week 6