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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Infertility- Diagnosis & Management |
| Unit code |
SOCSM0009 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
M/7
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Gordon |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Health Sciences |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit covers the causes, prevalence and investigations of infertility. This unit will provide the students with a comprehensive understanding of the primary and secondary levels of infertility diagnosis and management. It will outline the clinical and laboratory techniques that are utilised in the diagnosis of infertility. This knowledge will enable students to interpret and apply these techniques at primary and secondary level of management and treatment of fertility.
The four main aims of the unit are:
- It will provide a comprehensive coverage of the primary and secondary level of management of couples with difficulty in conceiving.
- It will provide detailed coverage of various pathologies associated with infertility in both male as well as female partners.
- It will provide detailed coverage of the diagnostic tests as well as management options available for each of the pathologies.
- It will explore, through a number of practical case studies and scenarios, the difficulties as well as dilemmas faced in day to day infertility practice.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- describe the investigation pathways of couples suffering from infertility.
- identify the common pathologies associated with infertility like anovulation, endometriosis, tubal problems, unexplained and male infertility.
- recognise the contribution of related disciplines such as cytogenetics, ultrasound and counseling in infertility.
- evaluate the routine laboratory techniques and clinical procedures used to investigate cases of infertility.
- formulate a treatment pathway including the investigations and likely management in a case of infertility.
Teaching Information
- Lectures/Seminars
- Synchronous discussion sessions
- Self-directed study
- Peer-to-peer learning (group work/presentations)
- Asynchronous discussion forums
Assessment Information
- Coursework (contributing a total of 60% to the Unit)
MCQs (5 tasks) 15%
Essay (1 x 1500 words) 20%
Practical Log Book (4 x tasks) 15%
Peer assessed problem-based case studies seminar contributing 10% to Unit.
- End of Unit assessmnet (contributing a total of 40% to the Unit)
- A timed, open book end of unit written assessment
Reading and References
- Infertility in Practice by Adam H Balen, 4th edition 2015, Published by Informa Healthcare.
- Fertility problems; assessment and treatment. Sept 2017 NICE Clinical Guideline CG156
- Fundamentals of obstetrics and gynaecology by Llewellyn-Jones. Ed by Jeremy Oats & Suzanne Abraham. 9th Edition 2010. Published by Edinburgh:Mosby.
- Clinical Gynaecologic Endocrinology and Infertility. Marc A Fritz, Leon Speroff. 8th edition 2011
- Subfertility, Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted reproduction (2019) Ed Jane A Stewart, Cambridge Publications
- Practical patient management in reproductive medicine; evidence and experience based guidance (2019) David J Cahill, CRC Press
