Fertility & human reproduction

• What is the main male reproductive hormone

  Testosterone
• What is the female secondary sex hormone

  Oestrogen
• FSH stands for

  follicle stimulating hormone
• LH stands for

  Luteinising hormone
• What is the function of FSH

  FSH causes eggs to mature in the ovaries
• Oestrogen is made in the ovaries
• Progesterone is made in the ovaries
• Function of oestrogen

  Maintains the lining of the uterus

  Inhibits further release of FSH and stimulates release of LH
• Function of LH

  Stimulates ovulation
• Function of progesterone

  Maintains the lining of the uterus

  Inhibits FSH and LH production
• Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the ovary, which occurs approx. every 14 days
• IVF stands for

  In-vitro fertilisation
• Advantages of IVF

  Allows infertile couples to have children

  Can store a woman's eggs for later
• Disadvantages of IVF

  Very low success rates

  Very expensive

  Can be emotionally stressful for the mother

  Removal of mature follicles are painful - very invasive
• Reasons people may consider IVF

  Blocked fallopian tubes

  Male infertility

  STDs

  Older mothers

  Low sperm count or deformed sperm
• Contraception is a method of preventing pregnancy
• What are hormonal methods of contraception

  Combined contraceptive pill

  Progesterone only pill (POP)

  IUD

  Injection of progesterone

  Sticky patch

  Implant
• Barrier methods of contraception include

  Condoms

  Diaphragm
• Reasons people use contraception

  Preventing unwanted babies

  Reducing infant mortality

  Help prevent HIV/AIDS

  Reducing adolescent pregnancies
• IUD stands for

  Intrauterine device
• What is an IUD

  Placed in the uterus; prevent a fertilised egg from implanting in the uterus

  It produces progesterone which prevents the build up of the uterine lining
• What is the sticky patch

  Releases oestrogen and progesterone slowly
• TSH stands for

  Thyroid stimulating hormone
• Describe how hormones control the menstrual cycle

  • FSH causes eggs to mature
  • Oestrogen inhibits further FSH and stimulates the release of LH
  • LH stimulates ovulation
  • Progesterone maintains the uterus lining and inhibits further release of FSH and LH
• Other methods to avoid pregnancy

  Abstinence

  Sterilisation
• Sterilisation involves cutting or tying the fallopian tubes and is a permanent procedure
• IUD's prevent the implantation of an embryo or release a hormone
• What hormones do some oral contraceptives contain?

  Oestrogen and Progesterone
• How do oral contraceptives affect FSH production?

  They stop the production of FSH
• What is the effect of stopping FSH production on egg maturation?

  It prevents an egg from maturing
• What do some contraceptives slowly release to prevent egg maturation?

  Progesterone
• What do condoms protect against?

  STIs
• How do other contraceptives compare to condoms regarding STI protection?

  Other contraceptives don't protect against STIs
• What are some reliable forms of contraception?

  IUD, injections, and implants
• Why are IUDs, injections, and implants considered reliable?

  They are inside the body