2.4 The artificial control of fertility

Question 1

How does the contraceptive pill prevent conception?

Answer 1

It prevent the production of FSH, therefore no eggs mature.

Question 2

What hormones are in the contraceptive pill?

Answer 2

oestrogen and progesterone, sometimes only progesterone. Progesterone only pills have fewer side effects.

Question 3

In fertility treatment which drugs are given to women who cannot produce eggs?

Answer 3

FSH and LH

Question 4

Which hormone is inhibited by the contraceptive pill but is given in fertility treatment.

Answer 4

FSH, it controls whether or not eggs mature.

Question 5

In fertility treatment where are the eggs fertalisied?

Answer 5

Eggs and sperm are mixed in a petri dish, examined under a microscope and then viable ones are implanted into the womb

Question 6

What are the advantages of contraception? (2(

Answer 6

Reduce family size which helps with poverty.

Allows women to plan their pregnancies

Question 7

What are the advantages of fertility treatment?

Answer 7

Help infertile couples to have children

Enable older women to have babies (can cause problems)

Question 8

What are the disadvantages of contraception (3)

Answer 8

Can cause side effects

Some people object on moral and ethical grounds,

• preventing pregnancy is wrong
• if no fear of pregnancy can lead to promiscuity and std’s

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of fertility treatment?

Answer 9

Expensive

Some people consider interfering in natural process unethical

Unused embryos (a new life) have to be stored or destroyed, a type of abortion

Enable older women to have babies (health issues for mother and greater chance of problems with the baby)

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of fertility treatment?

Answer 10

Expensive

Some people consider interfering in natural process unethical

Unused embryos (a new life) have to be stored or destroyed, a type of abortion

Often leads to multiple births quads, quins etc