Infertility Management Training Course

Module 1
Physiology of the Menstrual Cycle and Pregnancy

Description

The female reproductive system includes reproductive organs and hormones. This system undergoes many changes through the course of a lifetime. During the fertile period between adolescence and menopause, women experience monthly hormone changes leading to ovulation. If the egg is fertilized and implants into the uterus, hormone changes associated with pregnancy will occur. If not, the woman will experience menses.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe normal physiologic changes in the reproductive system that occur throughout a woman's lifetime.
• List the phases of the female menstrual cycle.
• Describe the hormonal changes that occur during each phase of the menstrual cycle.
• Explain the role of the major female reproductive hormones: estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and human chorionic gonadotropin.
• Outline the major events and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy.

Faculty

Heather Ipema, PharmD

Heather Ipema obtained her PharmD from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Pharmacy and completed both a general pharmacy practice residency and specialty residency in drug information at UIC. She is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor and Drug Information Specialist with the Drug Information Group at the UIC College of Pharmacy. Her professional interests include evidence-based medicine, teaching, medical writing, and formulary management.

Accreditation

Pharmacists

ProCE, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. ACPE Universal Activity Number 221-999-11-012-H01-P has been assigned to this knowledge-based home-study CE activity (initial release date 01-24-11). This program is approved for 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU) in states that recognize ACPE providers. The program is provided at no cost to participants. Statements of credit will be issued online upon completion of the program evaluation and the post-test with a score of 70% or higher. No partial credit will be given.

Nurse:

Nursing credit is provided for this program through collaboration between ProCE, Inc. and Wild Iris Medical Education, Inc., a provider of continuing education accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. This activity provides 1.0 contact hour of nurse CE credit.

Module 2
Common and Frequent Cases of Infertility in Women and Men

Description

Evaluation or testing for infertility is generally done when a couple has been unable to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected intercourse.1  The cause of infertility can be attributed to problems with the female reproductive system about 30% of the time, with the male system 30% of the time, and to problems with both in another 30%.  Therefore, both partners need to be evaluated for any medical problems that may result in infertility.  Testing for infertility is usually done after 1 year of failed attempts at conception.  However, in some instances, testing can done earlier—at 6 months when the woman is over 35 years of age or has a history of menstrual irregularities, or if there is a history in either partner of certain conditions that are known to affect fertility, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, surgery, trauma, or exposure to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the purpose of infertility testing and when it should be done.
• Explain the processes involved in infertility testing and why specific tests are done.
• Interpret the findings of infertility testing.
• Describe factors that may affect the results of a fertility test.

Faculty

Joan Stachnik, PharmD, BCPS

Dr. Stachnik has been a Clinical Assistant Professor and Drug Information Specialist in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Illinois since 1991. She is a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist who is actively involved in teaching within the pharmacy curriculum, both as a lecturer and a preceptor for fourth-year pharmacy students. She is the author of many educational programs and reviews on a variety of topics related to both pharmacy and nursing.

Accreditation

Pharmacists

ProCE, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. ACPE Universal Activity Number 221-999-11-013-H01-P has been assigned to this knowledge-based home-study CE activity (initial release date 01-24-11). This program is approved for 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEUs) in states that recognize ACPE providers. The program is provided at no cost to participants. Statements of credit will be issued online upon completion of the program evaluation and the post-test with a score of 70% or higher. No partial credit will be given.

Nurse:

Nursing credit is provided for this program through collaboration between ProCE, Inc. and Wild Iris Medical Education, Inc., a provider of continuing education accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. This activity provides 1.5 contact hours of nurse CE credit.

Module 3
Testing for Infertility in Women and Men

Description

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) defines infertility as the inability to achieve a “successful pregnancy after 12 months or more of unprotected intercourse”.1  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that in 2002, 7.4% of all married women (age 15 to 44 years) were infertile.2  This prevalence increases with increasing age; 27% in women age 40 to 44 years compared with 11% in women 15 to 29 years.  Infertility can also affect men. The CDC has estimated that about one-third of infertility cases are a result of reproductive problems in men.3  A number of factors can contribute to infertility in both women and men, including lifestyle issues, medical conditions, or environmental exposures. Often, however, the cause of infertility is not known.

Learning Objectives:

• Define infertility and associated risk factors.
• Describe the common causes of infertility among women.
• Describe the common causes of infertility among men.
• Identify lifestyle issues that may contribute to infertility.

Faculty

Joan Stachnik, PharmD, BCPS

Dr. Stachnik has been a Clinical Assistant Professor and Drug Information Specialist in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Illinois since 1991. She is a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist who is actively involved in teaching within the pharmacy curriculum, both as a lecturer and a preceptor for fourth-year pharmacy students. She is the author of many educational programs and reviews on a variety of topics related to both pharmacy and nursing.

Accreditation

Pharmacists

ProCE, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. ACPE Universal Activity Number 221-999-11-014-H01-P has been assigned to this knowledge-based home-study CE activity (initial release date 01-24-11). This program is approved for 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEUs) in states that recognize ACPE providers. The program is provided at no cost to participants. Statements of credit will be issued online upon completion of the program evaluation and the post-test with a score of 70% or higher. No partial credit will be given.

Nurse:

Nursing credit is provided for this program through collaboration between ProCE, Inc. and Wild Iris Medical Education, Inc., a provider of continuing education accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. This activity provides 1.5 contact hours of nurse CE credit.

Module 4
Therapeutic Options for Infertility

Description

There are many causes of infertility; therefore, management must be tailored to each clinical situation. Success of infertility treatments varies because many patient-specific factors can affect the outcome. The greatest potential for success requires an accurate diagnosis with interventions that are focused on the specific cause. Therapeutic options include lifestyle changes, treatment of underlying medical conditions with medication or surgery, medical induction of ovulation, and assisted reproductive technologies.

Learning Objectives:

• List the factors that can influence infertility treatment success.
• Describe the therapeutic rationale for the most common infertility treatment options.
• Describe the common causes of infertility among men.
• Identify lifestyle issues that may contribute to infertility.

Faculty

Heather Ipema, PharmD

Heather Ipema obtained her PharmD from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Pharmacy and completed both a general pharmacy practice residency and specialty residency in drug information at UIC. She is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor and Drug Information Specialist with the Drug Information Group at the UIC College of Pharmacy. Her professional interests include evidence-based medicine, teaching, medical writing, and formulary management.

Accreditation

Pharmacists

ProCE, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. ACPE Universal Activity Number 221-999-11-015-H01-P has been assigned to this knowledge-based home-study CE activity (initial release date 01-24-11). This program is approved for 2.0 contact hours (0.20 CEUs) in states that recognize ACPE providers. The program is provided at no cost to participants. Statements of credit will be issued online upon completion of the program evaluation and the post-test with a score of 70% or higher. No partial credit will be given.

Nurse:

Nursing credit is provided for this program through collaboration between ProCE, Inc. and Wild Iris Medical Education, Inc., a provider of continuing education accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. This activity provides 2.0 contact hours of nurse CE credit.

Disclosure

It is the policy of ProCE, Inc. to require the disclosure of the existence of any significant financial interest or any other relationship a faculty member or a sponsor has with the manufacturer of any commercial product(s) discussed in an educational presentation.

Dr. Ipema reported having no financial and/or commercial relationships.

Dr. Stachnik reported having no financial and/or commercial relationships.

Please note: The information and views presented in this CE activity are those of the faculty through clinical practice and knowledge of the professional literature. Portions of this program may include the use of drugs and/or devices for unlabeled indications. Use of drugs and/or devices outside of labeling should be considered experimental. Participants are advised to consult and verify manufacturer product information, the professional literature and use his/her professional judgment in applying the presented information in patient care activities.

Funding

This program is supported by an educational grant from DesignRx, LLC.