Contraception and Reducing Fertility

Question 1

what hormones can be used to reduce fertility?

Answer 1

oestrogen and progesterone

Question 2

How does oestrogen reduce fertility?

Answer 2

when taken every day to keep the level of it permanently high, it inhibits the production of FSH and after a while egg development and production stop and stay stopped

Question 3

how does progesterone reduce fertility?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

what is ‘the pill’?

Answer 4

an oral contraceptive containing progesterone and oestrogen (also known as the combined pill)

Question 5

what are the advantages of the combined pill?

Answer 5

it is over 99% effective

Question 6

what are the disadvantages of the combines pill?

Answer 6

it causes side effects like headaches and nausea does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases

Question 7

what are the advantages of the progesterone only pill?

Answer 7

it is just as effective as the combined pill but has fewer side effects

Question 8

what is a contraceptive patch?

Answer 8

-it is a small 5cm x 5cm patch that is stuck to the skinand releases progesterone and oestrogene
-Each patch lasts one week

Question 9

what is the contraceptive? implant

Answer 9

an implant that is inserted under the skin of the arm that releases a continuous amount of progesterone
-this stops the the ovaries from releasing eggs making it hard for sperm to swim to the egg and stops any fertilised egg implanting in the uterus
-An implant can last for 3years

Question 10

what is the contraceptive injection?

Answer 10

-an injection that contains progesterone
-each dose lasts for 2-3 months

Question 11

what is a intrauterine device (IUD)?

Answer 11

• a T shaped device that is inserted into the uterus to kill sperm and prevent implantation of a fertilised egg
  -there are 2 main types - plastic IUDs that release progesterone and copper IUDs that prevent the sperm surviving in the uterus

Question 12

what are non hormonal contraception/barrier types?

Answer 12

forms of contraception that are designed to stop sperm from getting to the egg

Question 13

what are the non hormonal/barrier types of contraception?

Answer 13

-condoms
-diaphragms
-spermicide

Question 14

how are condoms used?

Answer 14

-they are worn over the penis during intercourse to prevent sperm entering the vagina
-there are also female condoms that are worn inside the vagina
-this is the only form of contraception that protects against sexually transmitted disease

Question 15

what is a diaphrgm?

Answer 15

-a shallow plastic cup that fits over the cervix (the entrance to the uterus) to form a barrier
-it must be used with spermicide

Question 16

what is spermicide?

Answer 16

-a substance that disables or kills the sperm
-it can be used alone as a form of contraception but it is not as effective (only 70-80%)

Question 17

what is sterilsation?

Answer 17

-this involves cutting or tying fallopian tubes (tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus) in a female or sperm duct (the tube between the testes and penis) in a male
-this is a permanent procedure but there is a small chance the tubes can rejoin

Question 18

what are ‘natural’ methods of preventing pregnancy?

Answer 18

-this involves finding out days when in the menstrual cycle the women is most fertile and avoiding sexual intercourse
-it is popular with people who think that hormonal and barrier methods are unnatural
-this is not very effective

Question 19

what is abstinence?

Answer 19

this is 100% effective as it means not having intercourse so the egg and sperm don’t meet