Hormonal coordination

• Contraception methods


  • Hormonal contraception
  • Non-hormonal contraception
• Hormonal contraception


  • Oral contraceptives - contain hormones to inhibit FSH production so no eggs mature
  • Injection, implant, skin patch, or intrauterine devices (IUD) - slowly release progesterone to inhibit maturation and release of eggs; can last months or years
• Non-hormonal contraception


  • Barrier methods, for example, condoms and diaphragms - prevent sperm reaching the egg
  • Copper IUD-prevents the implantation of an embryo
  • Surgical methods of male and female sterilisation
  • Spermicidal agents - kill or disable sperm
  • Abstaining from intercourse when an egg may be in the oviduct
• Fertility treatment


  • It is emotionally and physically stressful
  • It has a low success rate
  • It can lead to multiple births, which are a risk to both the babies and the mother
• IVF treatment


  1. Mother given FSH and LH to stimulate the maturation of several eggs

  2. Eggs collected from the mother and fertilised by sperm from the father in a laboratory

  3. Fertilised eggs develop into embryos

  4. One or two embryos are inserted into the mother's uterus (womb) when the embryos are still tiny balls of cells
• Oestrogen


  • Main female reproductive hormone
  • Produced in the ovary
  • At puberty, eggs begin to mature and one is released every 28 days
• Testosterone


  • Main male reproductive hormone
  • Produced by the testes
  • Stimulates sperm production
• Hormones involved in the menstrual cycle

  • Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) - causes eggs to mature in the ovaries, stimulates ovaries to produce oestrogen
  • Luteinising hormone (LH) - stimulates the release of mature eggs from the ovaries (ovulation)
  • Oestrogen - causes lining of uterus wall to thicken
  • Progesterone - maintains thick uterus lining, inhibits release of FSH and LH
• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)


  Causes an egg to mature in the ovary
• Luteinising hormone (LH)


  Causes an egg to be released
• The egg travels down the oviduct towards the uterus
• If the egg is not fertilised

  The uterus lining breaks down
• When the uterus lining breaks down

  Blood from the uterus lining leaves the body as a period
• After the period


  The hormones oestrogen and progesterone cause the uterus lining to build up