Puberty And The Menstrual Cycle Flashcards
What happens to people’s hormones at puberty and what are the wider effects?
Your body starts releasing sex hormones that trigger off secondary sexual characteristics (like facial hair and breasts), and causes eggs to mature in women.
What is the main male reproductive hormone, where is it produced, and what does it do?
Testosterone.
It’s produced by the testes.
It stimulates sperm production.
What is the main female reproductive hormone, where is it produced, and what does it do?
Oestrogen.
Produced by the ovaries
Brings about physical changes and is involved in the menstrual cycle
How many stages does the Menstrual Cycle have?
Four stages
What happens in each stage of the menstrual cycle?
Stage 1- Day 1- menstruation starts. The uterus lining breaks down for about 4 days.
Stage 2- Day 4 - Day 14 -The uterus lining builds up again into a thick spongy layer full of blood vessels, ready to receive a fertilised egg.
Stage 3-Day 14- An egg develops and is released from the ovary - this is called ovulation.
Stage 4- Day 14 -28- The wall is then maintained for this period. If no fertlised egg has landed on the uterus wall by day 28, the spongy lining starts to break down and the whole cycle starts again.
What four hormones is the Menstrual Cycle controlled by?
FSH (Follicle-Stimulating hormone)
Oestrogen
LH (Luteinising hormone)
Progesterone
First hormone stage of Menstrual Cycle?
FSH
1) Produced in the pituitary gland
2) Causes an egg to mature in one of the ovaries
3) Stimulates the ovaries to produce oestrogen
What is the second stage of the Menstrual cycle?
Oestrogen
1) Produced in the ovaries
2) Causes uterus lining to grow
3) Stimulates the release of LH (which causes the release of an egg) and inhibits the release of FSH
What is the third stage of the Menstrual Cycle?
LH
1)Produced by the pituitary gland
2) Stimulates the release of an egg at day 14 (ovulation)
3)Inhibits production of oestrogen
Stimulates production of progesterone
What is the fourth stage of the Menstrual cycle?
Progesterone
1) Produced in the ovaries by the remains of the follicle after ovulation
2) Maintains the lining of the uterus during the second half of the cycle. When the level of progesterone falls, the lining breaks down.
3) Inhibits the release of LH and FSH
Diagrams for hormones and menstrual cycle
Favourites album
Contraception aims to ……?
Stop the sperm reaching the ovulated egg
How can oestrogen be used as a method of contraception?
It can be used to prevent the release of an egg. If oestrogen is 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.
How can progesterone reduce fertility?
By stimulating the production of thick mucus which prevents any sperm getting through and reaching an egg.
What is The Pill and how effective is it?
It is an oral contraceptive containing oestrogen and progesterone (known as the combined oral contraceptive pill). It is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.
Drawbacks to The Pill
Can cause side effects like headaches and nausea and it doesn’t protect against STD’s
How does the progesterone-only pill compare to The Pill?
It has fewer side effects than the pill, and is just as effective.
How does the contrceptive patch work and how long does it last for?
It contains oestrogen and progesterone (same as the combined pill). It’s a small (5cm x 5cm) patch that’s stuck to the skin. Each patch lasts one week.
How does the contraceptive implant work and how long does it last for?
The contraceptive implant is inserted under the skin of the arm. It releases a continuous amount of progesterone, which stops the ovaries releasing eggs, 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.