B5 Controlling Fertility (page 65)

Question 1

How does Pregnancy happen?, and how can pregnancy be prevented?

Answer 1

if a sperm reaches the ovulated egg, so contraception can prevent this happening.

Question 2

Can Hormones be used to reduce fertility?

Answer 2

Yes

Question 3

What hormones can be used to prevent the release of an egg?

Answer 3

Oestrogen - so this can be used as a method of contraception.

Question 4

What is contraception?

Answer 4

also called birth control, it is used as methods to stop pregnancies happening.

Question 5

Why is Oestrogen a good prevention of contraception, since oestrogen naturally helps stimulate the release of eggs?

Answer 5

If oestrogen is taken every day to kepp the level of it permentently high, it inhibits the production of FSH, and after a while egg development and production stop and stay stopped.

Question 6

What other Hormone can reduce fertility, and why?

Answer 6

Progesterone, by stimulating the production of thick mucus which prevents any sperm getting through and reaching an egg.

Question 7

How can a female take contraception?

Answer 7

by taking The Pill, which is an oral contraceptive containing oestrogen and progesterone, (this is known as the combined oral contraceptive pill)

Question 8

How affective is the Pill?

Answer 8

it’s over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

Question 9

Are there side effects of taking the pill? and what are they?

Answer 9

the side effects can be headaches and nausea and it diesn’t protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Question 10

Apart from the combined oral contraceptive pill, what other pills are there for contraception?

Answer 10

There’s also a progesterone-only pill, it has fewer side effects than the pill, and is just as effective.

Question 11

Apart from The Pill, is there other forms or contraception that uses hormones? if yes, name them?

Answer 11

Yes, there is:

The contraceptive patch
The contraceptive implant
The contraceptive injection
An Intrauterine Device (IUD) (also known as The Coil)

Question 12

How do the Contraceptive Patch work to prevent pregnancy?

Answer 12

The contraceptive patch contains Oestrogen and Progesterone (the same as the combines pill) it’s a small (5cm x 5cm) patch that’s stuck to the skin. Each patch lasts one week.

Question 13

How do the Contraceptive Implant work to prevent pregnancy?

Answer 13

The Contraceptive Implant is inserted under the skin of the arm. It releases a continuous amount of progesterone, which stops the ovaries releasing eggs, it makes it hard for sperm to swim to the egg and stops any fertilised egg implanting in the uterus.

An implant can last for three years.

Question 14

How do the Contraceptive Injection work to prevent pregnancy?

Answer 14

The Contraceptive Injection also contains progesterone. Each dose lasts 2 to 3 months.

Question 15

How do an Intrauterine Device (IUD) work to prevent pregnancy?

Answer 15

An Intrauterine Devie (IUD) is a T-Shaped devie that is inserted into the Uterus to Kill Sperm and prevent implantation of a fertilised egg.

There are two main types - plastic IUD’s that release Progesterone, and Copper IUD’s that prevent the sperm surviving in the Uterus.

(they are also known as The Coil).

Question 16

Are there Non-Hormonal forms of contraception, and what are they for?

Answer 16

Yes there are Non-hormonal forms of contraception, they are designed to stop the sperm from getting to the egg.

Question 17

Name the types of Non-Hormonal forms of contraception?

Answer 17

Condoms
Female Condoms
A Diaphragm
Spermicide.

Question 18

What are Condoms (male), and how can they prevent pregnancy?

Answer 18

Condoms are worn over the Penis during intercourse to prevent the sperm entering the vagina, and protects against sexually transmitted diseases.

Question 19

What are Female Condoms, and how can they prevent pregnancy?

Answer 19

Female Condoms are worn inside the vagina, to prevent the sperm entering the uterus. The Condoms are the only form of contraception that will protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Question 20

What is a Diaphragm, and how can this prevent pregnancy?

Answer 20

A Diaphragm is a shallow plastic cup that fits over the Cervix, (the entrance to the Uterus) to form a barrier. It has to be used with Spermicide (a substance that disables or kills the sperm).

Question 21

What is Spermicide, and how can this prevent pregnancy?

Answer 21

Spermicide can be used alone as a form of contraception, but it is not as effective (only about 70-80%

(Spermicide is a contraceptive substance that destroys sperm, it is inserted vaginally prior to intercourse to prevent pregnancy. It can be used alone, but not as effective as other contraception).

Question 22

Apart from Hormone and Non Hormone forms of controlling Fertility, are there other ways to avoid pregnancy, explain your answer?

Answer 22

Yes, there is Sterilisation, and Natural Methods to avoid pregnancy, or Abstinence (not to have intercourse)

Question 23

What is Sterilisation, and how can this prevent pregnancy?

Answer 23

Sterilation involves cutting or tying the Fallopian Tubes (which connect the Overies to the Uterus) in a female, or the Sperm duct (the tube between the testes and penis) in a male.

This is a permenent procedure. However, there is a very small chance that the tubes can rejoin.

Question 24

What Natural Methods can be used to prevent pregnancy?

Answer 24

Pregnancy may be avoided by finding out when in the menstrual cycle the woman is most fertile, and avoiding sexual intercourse on those days. It’s popular with people who think that hormonal and barrier methods are unnatural, but it’s not very effective.

Question 25

To be completely sure that sperm and egg dont meet, what can you do?

Answer 25

Do Not have intercourse. (ABSTINENCE)

Question 26

Name two forms of contraception that reduce fertility by releasing oestrogen? (2 marks)

Answer 26

The Pill/Oral Contraceptives (1 mark)
The Contraceptive Patch (1 mark)

(you might be asked to evaluate the different hormonal and non-hormonal methods of contraception in your exam. If you do, make sure you weigh up and write about both the pros and cons of each method).