The use of hormones to treat infertilitySpec 4.5.3.6
In short
Infertility can be treated with a fertility drug containing FSH and LH, so a woman may then become pregnant normally. In IVF, FSH and LH make several eggs mature. The eggs are collected and fertilised by sperm in the laboratory, and one or two embryos are inserted into the uterus. IVF is stressful and success rates are not high.
Hormones are used in modern reproductive technologies to treat infertility. A ‘fertility drug’ contains FSH and LH given to a woman. She may then become pregnant in the normal way.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
- The mother is given FSH and LH to stimulate the maturation of several eggs.
- The eggs are collected from the mother and fertilised by sperm from the father in the laboratory.
- The fertilised eggs develop into embryos.
- At the stage when they are tiny balls of cells, one or two embryos are inserted into the mother’s uterus (womb).
Evaluating fertility treatment
Fertility treatment gives a woman the chance to have a baby of her own. However:
- it is very emotionally and physically stressful
- the success rates are not high
- it can lead to multiple births, which are a risk to both the babies and the mother.
Give a balanced answer for IVF: the benefit is a baby of her own; the problems are stress, low success rates and the risks of multiple births. Social and ethical views also matter.
Written and checked against the AQA GCSE Biology (8461) specification · Updated October 2026