Menstrual Cycle, Controlling Fertility and Adrenaline and Thyroxine

Question 1

What is a hormone?

Answer 1

A chemical messenger produced in glands and carried by the blood to specific organs in the body

Question 2

What is Puberty?

Answer 2

The time when sexual maturity occurs, over a period of time gradually.

Question 3

What is Testosterone?

Answer 3

Produced by the testes - is the main male reproductive hormone and it stimulates sperm production.

Question 4

What is Oestrogen?

Answer 4

Produced by the ovaries - is the main female reproductive hormone. At puberty, eggs begin to mature and one is released approximately every 28 days. This is called ovulation.

Question 5

What is the Menstrual Cycle?

Answer 5

A reoccurring cycle which takes around 28 days.

Question 6

What happens during the Menstrual Cycle?

Answer 6

1) The Uterus lining breaks down for about four days
2) The uterus lining begins to build up again, into a spongy layer full of blood vessels, ready for a fertilised egg
3) An egg develops and is released - ovulation
4) Wall is maintained, until day 28, where the lining breaks down and the whole cycle repeats

Question 7

What is FSH, what does it do and where is it produced?

Answer 7

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), causes the maturation of an egg in the ovary.

Produced in Pituitary Glands

Question 8

What is LH,what does it do and where is it produced?

Answer 8

Luteinising hormone (LH) stimulates the release of the egg.

Produced in Pituitary Glands

Question 9

What does Oestrogen do and where is it produced?

Answer 9

Is involved in repairing and thickening the uterus lining, while progesterone maintains it.

Produced in Ovaries

Question 10

What can Oestrogen be used for?

Answer 10

To prevent the release of the egg - method of contraception

Question 11

What is another hormone can be used to reduce fertility?

Answer 11

Progesterone

Question 12

What is The Pill?

Answer 12

An oral contraceptive containing oestrogen and progesterone, it has over 99% effectiveness at preventing pregnancy, but has side effects, and does not protect against STDs

Question 13

What are two other contraceptives that also contain hormones?

Answer 13

1) The contraceptive injection (contains progesterone) lasts around 2-3months
2) Contraceptive patch (contains oestrogen and progesterone), a small patch that is stuck to skin lasts a week.

Question 14

Name 3 non-hormonal forms of contraception?

Answer 14

1) Condom - the only form of contraception that protects against STDs
2) Spermicide (not as effective only 70-80%)
3) Sterilisation - a permanent procedure cuts sperm duct or fallopian tubes

Question 15

What hormones can be given to women as a fertility drug?

Answer 15

FSH and LH - to stimulate ovulation

Question 16

What are the cons of using FSH and LH as a fertility drug?

Answer 16

1) Don’t always work - can be expensive

2) Too many eggs stimulated could lead to multiple pregnancies

Question 17

What does IVF involve?

Answer 17

Collecting eggs from women’s ovaries and fertilising them in a lab using the man’s sperm

Question 18

What happens to the fertilised egg in IVF?

Answer 18

Grows into embryos, which are then transferred into the women’s Uterus to improve the chance of pregnancy.

FSH and LH are given to the egg before collection to stimulate eggs to mature

Question 19

What are some downsides to IVF?

Answer 19

1) Multiple births can occur if more than one embryo develops - higher risk for miscarriage
2) The low success rate at around the UK average of 26%, can be stressful and expensive.

Question 20

Why are some people against IVF?

Answer 20

1) Unethical due to unused embryos which is a potential life

2) Genetic Testing before implantation could lead to preferred characteristics of e.g gender or eye colour.

Question 21

Where is Adrenaline released?

Answer 21

By the adrenal glands just above the kidneys

Question 22

What is Adrenaline released in response to?

Answer 22

A stressful or scary situation - fear is detected which sends nervous impulses to adrenal glands/

Question 23

What does the triggering of the “Fight or Flight” mechanism in the body cause?

Answer 23

Increased supply of oxygen and glucose to cells in the brain and the muscles.

Question 24

How can hormone releases be affected by a negative feedback loop?

Answer 24

The body controls the level of hormones, so if it detects it above or below the normal level it will bring it back to normal.

Question 25

What hormone regulates Metabolism?

Answer 25

Thyroxine

Question 26

Where is Thyroxine produced?

Answer 26

In the thyroid gland, which is in the neck

Question 27

What does it regulate in Metabolism?

Answer 27

The basal metabolic rate - the speed at which chemical reactions in the body occur at rest.

Question 28

What are other processes in the body is Thyroxine useful for?

Answer 28

Stimulating protein synthesis for growth and development

Question 29

What is Thyroxine released in response to?

Answer 29

The Thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH), which is released in the pituitary gland

Question 30

What does the negative feedback loop do to the level of Thyroxine?

Answer 30

It keeps it at the right level - when it is higher than normal it will reduce it and vis versa