Animal and Plant Hormones- biology paper 2 Flashcards
What happens at puberty?
The body starts releasing sex hormones that trigger off secondary sexual characteristics and cause eggs to mature in women
What’s the reproductive hormone in men?
Testosterone
What’s the reproductive hormone in women?
Oestrogen
What’s the menstrual cyclce?
The monthly sequence of events in which the female body releases an egg and prepares the uterus(womb) in case it releases a fertilised egg
How many stages does the menstrual cycle have?
4
What happens during stage 1 of the menstrual cycle?
Menstruation (bleeding) starts and the uterus lining breaks down for about 4 days
What happens during stage 2 of the menstrual cycle?
The lining of the uterus builds up again, from day 4 to day 14, into a thick spongy layer full of blood vessels, ready to receive a fertilised egg.
What happens during stage 3 of the menstrual cycle?
An egg is released from the ovary at day 14. This is called ovulation
What happens during day 4 of the menstrual cycle?
The uterus is maintained for about 14 days, until day 28 If no fertilised egg has landed on the uterus wall by day 28, the spongy lining starts to break down again and the whole cycle starts again.
What does FSH do?
causes an egg to mature in one of the ovaries in a structure called a follicle. It also stimulates the production of oestrogen
What does LH do?
stimulates the release of an egg at dy 14.
What does oestrogen do?
stops FSH being produced, repairs thickens and maintains the uterus lining, stimulates the release of LH
What does progesterone do?
Maintains the lining of the uterus during the middle part of the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy.Also stops the release of LH and FSH
What produces FSH?
The pituitary gland
What produces oestrogen?
The ovaries
What produces LH?
The pituitary gland
What produces progesterone?
The ovaries
What are contraceptives?
Things that are used to prevent pregnancy
What hormones are usually used in contraceptives?
Oestrogen and Progesterone
How does oestrogen reduce fertility?
Although oestrogen stimulates the release of an egg, if taken every day to keep the level permanently high, it stops the production of FSH. So, after a while, egg maturation is stopped and therefore egg release stops.
How does progesterone reduce fertility?
It stimulates the production of thick cervical mucus which prevents any sperm getting through and reaching an egg. It can also stop egg maturation and the release of an egg.
Why does the pill now contain lower levels of oestrogen?
So that there’s fewer side effects, like blood clots
Why is there now a progesterone-only pill?
So that there’s fewer side effects than the combined pill.
What are the benefits of taking the oral contraceptive pill?
- Over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy
- Reduces risk of getting certain cancers
What are the problems with taking the oral contraceptive pill?
- Not 100% effective, so still a slight chance of getting pregnant
- Can cause side effects like headaches, nausea, irregular menstrual bleeding, and fluid retention
- Doesn’t protect against STD’s
Describe the contraception patch
It’s a small patch containing oestrogen and progesterone that is stuck to the skin and lasts about a week
Describe the contraceptive implant (arm)
The implant is inserted under the skin of the arm and continuously produces progesterone. This progesterone stops the ovaries from releasing eggs, makes it hard for the sperm to swim to the eggs and stops any fertilised eggs implanting in the uterus. An implant can last for three years.
Describe the contraceptive injection
This injection contains progesterone and each dose lasts 2 to 3 months
What are barrier methods of contraception?
Non-hormonal barrier forms of contraception that are designed to stop the sperm from getting to the egg.
Describe condoms
Condoms are worn over the penis during intercourse to prevent the sperm from entering the vagina. Condoms are the only form of contraception that protect against STD’s