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 the release of an egg from an ovary

  Leads to secretion of progesterone by the empty follicle that contained the egg
• Function of progesterone

  Maintains the lining of the uterus
• 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
• Natural methods of birth control

  Abstinence

  Family planning