Question 1

How has modern medicine changed death rates for mothers and newborn babies in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Modern medicine has significantly reduced death rates for mothers and newborns, but disparities remain, with minority groups experiencing higher death rates than the general population.

Question 2

The odds of a woman dying during childbirth in the United States are closest to

Accepted Answer

The maternal mortality rate in the United States is approximately 17 deaths per 100,000 live births, making option E the closest estimate.

Question 3

A woman becomes pregnant five days after her last sexual encounter. What is the most likely explanation for this?

Accepted Answer

Sperm held in quiescence and released gradually fertilized a just-released egg.

Question 4

The correct order of the process that occurs when a sperm encounters an egg is the

Accepted Answer

The answer of The correct order of the process that...

Question 5

Doctors consider a pregnancy to be confirmed, or "established," at which point?

Accepted Answer

Implantation is when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall, marking the establishment of pregnancy as it leads to the production of hCG, which is detectable in pregnancy tests.

Question 6

Given what you know of the role of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), what would you predict would happen if a woman was injected with hCG?

Accepted Answer

hCG supports the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone to maintain the uterine lining, making menstruation less likely to occur on schedule.

Question 7

A woman very eager to become pregnant takes a home pregnancy test about a week before her period is due because there is a chance an egg has already been fertilized. She is devastated when the test comes back negative, but then she fails to get her period a week later. What would a doctor most likely tell her?

Accepted Answer

Home pregnancy tests detect the hormone hCG, which may not be at detectable levels a week before a missed period. Retesting after a missed period is recommended.

Question 8

Which would provide the most reliable and accurate evidence of pregnancy very soon after implantation?

Accepted Answer

A laboratory blood test for hCG is the most reliable and accurate method for detecting pregnancy soon after implantation, as it can detect lower levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) earlier than other methods.

Question 9

An avid marathon runner in his early thirties and his wife have been trying unsuccessfully for the last year to get pregnant. What advice would a doctor be most likely to give them?

Accepted Answer

The answer of An avid marathon runner in his early...

Question 10

How does artificial insemination increase the likelihood of conception?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does artificial insemination increase the likelihood...

Question 11

The standard method of in vitro fertilization (IVF) involves

Accepted Answer

The answer of The standard method of in vitro fertilization...

Question 12

A couple planning to undergo IVF is also considering preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). The most likely purpose of this genetic screening would be to

Accepted Answer

Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) is primarily used to check embryos for chromosomal abnormalities, which can include specific genetic diseases, to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Question 13

After having a son with a severe genetic disease, a couple working with doctors in the United States undergoes preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) to ensure that they have a girl. The couple is most likely trying to

Accepted Answer

The couple is likely trying to avoid having another child with a sex-linked genetic defect, which often affects males more frequently due to the presence of only one X chromosome.

Question 14

A couple wants a second child that is biologically related to them. They have been trying for five years. The wife is 45 years old and healthy, with no history of sexually transmitted diseases. Three rounds of artificial insemination with her husband's sperm have failed. There is no evidence of any problem with her husband's sperm count or motility. What would be the most likely next step?

Accepted Answer

Given the wife's age of 45, her egg quality may be compromised, making in vitro fertilization using a donor egg and her husband's sperm a more viable option for achieving pregnancy.

Question 15

A woman is infertile due to extensive scarring in her oviducts. Her doctor would most likely suggest

Accepted Answer

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a common treatment for infertility due to blocked or scarred oviducts, as it involves fertilizing the egg outside the body and then implanting the embryo directly into the uterus.

Question 16

Refer to the figure.
 The graph shows the percentage of women, grouped by age at marriage, who remain childless after a first marriage in spite of continued efforts to produce a child. What is the most accurate conclusion that can be drawn from the graph?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure.
 The graph shows...

Question 17

What is the likelihood of pregnancy for a postmenopausal woman?

Accepted Answer

Postmenopausal women can become pregnant using assisted reproductive technologies such as donated ova and hormone treatments, which help prepare the uterus for implantation.

Question 18

The likelihood that a woman will give birth to a child with Down syndrome increases with maternal age. However, four out of five babies with Down syndrome are born to women younger than age 35. This is because women under 35

Accepted Answer

Women under 35 give birth to more babies overall, so even though the risk per individual is lower, the total number of births results in more babies with Down syndrome being born to this age group.

Question 19

Which couple is statistically most likely to have a child with Down syndrome?

Accepted Answer

The risk of having a child with Down syndrome increases with maternal age, and a 45-year-old woman has a significantly higher risk compared to younger women.

Question 20

The number of children available for adoption in the United States is

Accepted Answer

The number of children available for adoption in the United States is decreasing because more unmarried mothers are choosing to keep their babies rather than placing them for adoption.

Quiz 8: Fertility, Pregnancy, and Childbirth