Fertility and the Menstrual Cycle-PAPER2 Flashcards
Name the four stages of the menstrual cycle.
1-Lining of the uterus in broken down
2-Lining of the uterus builds up
3-Egg released (ovulation)
4-Lining of the uterus is maintained.
What is FSH?
hormone produced in the pituitary gland, causes the egg to mature in one of the ovaries.
Stimulates the ovaries to make oestrogen.
What is LH?
A hormone that stimulates the release of an egg during ovulation, also produced by the pituitary gland.
What is oestrogen?
A hormone that causes the lining of the uterus to grow. It stimulates the release of LH.
Produced by ovaries.
What is progesterone?
A hormone that maintains the lining of the uterus during the second half of the cycle. When progesterone levels fall, the lining breaks down
Also made in the ovaries.
How can you prevent pregnancy?
Using contraception.
What hormone can be taken daily to prevent the release of an egg?
Oestrogen, as if you keeps levels permanently high then it inhibits the production of FSH (which causes the egg to mature)
The pill contains what?
Oestrogen and progesterone.
How effective is the pill?
99%
Name a type of barrier that stops egg and sperm meeting that ALSO is the only contraception protecting against STD’s.
Condoms.
Name a permanent procedure that is a contraceptive.
Sterilisation, cutting/ typing fallopian tubes or the sperm duct.
What way is the ONLY 100% guarantee that you won’t get pregnant?
Not having sexual intercourse.
What is IVF?
IVF involves collecting eggs from a womans ovaries and fertilising them in a lab. Or it may involve directly injecting sperm into an egg.
Advantages and disadvantages of IVF?
Can give an infertile couple a child.
Multiple births may happen which is risky as miscarrying it at a higher risk.
Average success rate is 26%
Some women have strong reactions to hormones e.g. vomiting.
Why are some people against IVF?
The process results in unused embryos that are eventually destroyed. This can be seen as unethical as it is a potential human life.
What does testosterone do?
Stimulates the testes to produce sperm
In preparation for the egg what happens to the uterus lining?
It becomes thick and spongy
If the egg is fertilised by a sperm, what then happens to the egg?
It implants into the uterus wall where it can develop as a baby.
In first stage which hormone is released?
FSH is released by the pituitary gland
Where do hormones travel through?
The blood stream
What does oestrogen stop?
Any more FSH to be released.
LH triggers…
ovulation
What are the 2 effects of progesterone?
Stops FSH and LH from being released
Why do you want FSH and LH to stop being released after you have a fertilised egg?
To prevent any more eggs from maturing or being released.
