Hormones, menstrual cycle and controlling fertility

Question 1

What are hormones?

Answer 1

Hormones are CHEMICAL MESSENGERS sent in the BLOOD.

Question 2

How are hormones transported in the body?

Answer 2

Hormones are carried in the blood plasma to other parts of the body but they only affect particular cells (called TARGET CELLS) in particular places.

Question 3

What do hormones do?

Answer 3

Hormones control things in organs and cells that need constant adjustment.

Question 4

How are hormones produced?

Answer 4

Hormones are produced (and seccreted by various glands such as the PITUITARY GLAND AND THYROID GLAND.

Question 5

Are hormones short lasting or long lasting?

Answer 5

Hormones tend to to have a relatively long lasting effect.

Question 6

List 3 differences between hormones and nerves?

Answer 6

Nerves are very fact action, they act for a short time and act on a precise area.

Hormones are slower action, act for a longe peropd and act in a more general way.

In other words if the response is quick it will be nerve an if it is long it will be a hormone.

Question 7

What are the 4 stages of menstrual cycle?

Answer 7

Stage 1 - bleeding starts (uterus lining breaks down for about 4 days)

Stage 2 - the Lining of the uterus builds up again from day 4 to day 14

Stage 3 - an egg is released from the ovary at day 14

Stage 4 The wall is then maintained for about 14 days, until day 28. Of no fertlisied egg landed on the uturus by day 28 then spongy lining starts to break down again and the whole cycle starts again.

Question 8

What are the three main hormones involved with the menstual cycle?

Answer 8

1. FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone)

• Produced by the Pitutary Gland
• Causes egg to mature in one of ovaries
• Stimulates the ovaries to produce oestrogen

2. Oestrogen

• Produced in the ovaries
• Causes pitutary to produce LH
• Inhibits the further release of FSH

3. LH (Luteinising Hormone)

• Produced by the pituitary gland
• Stimulates the release of an egg at around the middle of the menstrual cycle

Question 9

How can hormones be used to reduce fertility?

Answer 9

Oestrogen can be used to prevent the release of an egg

Question 10

How can oestrogen prevent the release of an egg?

Answer 10

If a woman takes oestrogen every day it keeps the level of this hormone high. As such it inhibits the production of FSH and after a while egg development and production stop and stay stopped.

Question 11

What is Progesterone?

Answer 11

Progesterone is a hormone which reduces fertility by stimulating production of the thick cervical mucus which prevents any sperm getting through and reaching the egg.

Question 12

What is the pill and how does it work?

Answer 12

The pill is an oral contraceptive which was first made in the 1950s ad contains high levels of oestrogen and progesterone (known as the combined oral contraceptive pill)

Question 13

What were the concerns with the pill and what happened as a result of these concerns?

Answer 13

There were concerns about a link between oestrogen in the pill and side effecrs like blood clots os the pill now contains lower doses of oestrogen so it has fewer side effects.

Question 14

What are the pros and cons of the pill?

Answer 14

Pros:

1. The pill is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy
2. It reduces the risk of getting some types of cancer

Cons:

1. It isn’t 100% effective so you could still get pregnant
2. It can cause side effects like headaches, irregular menstrual bleeding and fluid retention
3. It doesn’t protect against STDs

Question 15

Is there a progesterone only pill?

Answer 15

Yes and it has fewer side effects than the pill but it is not as effective.

Question 16

Can hormones help with fertility?

Answer 16

Yes, some women have too low level of FSH (Follicle-Stmulating Hormone) which means no eggs are released and women can’t get pregnant.

The hormones FSH and LH can be injected by these womento stimulate egg release in their ovaries.

Question 17

What is the pros and cons of using FSH and LH to increase fertility?

Answer 17

Pros:
It can help some woemn to get pregnant when otherwise they couldn’t

Cons:
It doesn’t always work and can be expensive

Too many eggs could be stimulated resuting in twins or triplets

Question 18

What is IVF?

Answer 18

IVF - In Vitor Fertilisation

Question 19

How does IVF work?

Answer 19

IVF involves collecting eggs from the woman’s ovaries and fertilsing them in alab using the man’s sperm.

These eggs are then grown into embryos.

Once the embryos area tiny ball of cells one or two pf them are transferred to the woman’s ulterus (womb) to improve the chance of pregancy.

FSH and LH are given before egg collection to stimulate egg production.

Question 20

What are the pros and cons of IVF

Answer 20

Pros:
Fertility treatment can give an infertile couple a child - a pretty obvious benefit.

Cons:
1. Some women have a strong reaction to the hormones eg abdominal pain, vomitting

2. There have been reports to an increased risk of cancer due to the hormonal treatment
3. Multiple births can happen if more yhan one embryo grows into a baby - this is more risky for mother and child.