StudyPacks
STUDY.
KS4
SCIENCE
Coordination & Control
Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle
This Study Pack aims to cover:
1. The role of Hormones in the Menstrual Cycle.
2. The role of Hormones in controlling fertility.
SB6
Study Packs are prepared by Qualified Teachers and Specialists and are a complete range of comprehensive
compiled resources based on the UK National Curriculum covering the Primary and Secondary Frameworks
including SATs and GCSE examinations.
Student Name
Contents
Kinetic theory notes
2-7
Practice questions
8-12
Exam questions
13-17
Mark scheme
18-21
1
Hormones
Hormones are chemical substances that help to regulate processes in the body. Hormones
are secreted by glands and travel to their target organs in the bloodstream. Several
hormones are involved in the female menstrual cycle. Hormones can be used to control
human fertility and have advantages and disadvantages.
Hormones and glands
Hormones are chemicals secreted by glands in the body. Different hormones affect different target
organs. The bloodstream transports hormones from the glands to the target organs.
Move the mouse over the different glands to see what they do.
The target organ and effects of glands and
hormones
Gland
Hormone
Target organs
Effect
adrenal
gland
adrenalin
vital organs, eg liver
and heart
Prepares body for action - 'fight or flight'.
ovary
oestrogen
ovaries, uterus,
pituitary gland
Controls puberty and the menstrual cycle in females; stimulates production of LH
and suppresses the production of FSH in the pituitary gland.
ovary
progesterone
uterus
Maintains the lining of the womb - suppresses FSH production in the pituitary
gland.
pancreas
insulin
liver
Controls blood sugar levels.
pituitary
gland
anti-diuretic hormone
(ADH)
kidney
Controls blood water level by triggering uptake of water in kidneys.
pituitary
gland
follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH)
ovaries
Triggers egg ripening and oestrogen production in ovaries.
pituitary
gland
luteinising hormone
(LH)
ovaries
Triggers egg release and progesterone production in ovaries.
testes
testosterone
male reproductive
organs
Controls puberty in
2
3
Hormones in the menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle in women is a recurring process in which the lining of the uterus - womb - is
prepared for pregnancy, and if pregnancy does not happen, the lining is shed at menstruation.
Several hormones control this cycle, which includes controlling the release of an egg each month from
an ovary, and changing the thickness of the uterus lining. These hormones are secreted by the ovaries
and pituitary gland.
FSH
The hormone FSH is secreted by the pituitary gland. FSH makes two things happen:
1. it causes an egg to mature in an ovary
2. it stimulates the ovaries to release the hormone oestrogen
Oestrogen
The hormone oestrogen is secreted by the ovaries. Oestrogen makes two things happen:
1. it stops FSH being produced - so that only one egg matures in a cycle
2. it stimulates the pituitary gland to release the hormone LH
LH
The hormone LH causes the mature egg to be released from the ovary.
This image shows how the level of oestrogen changes during the menstrual cycle. Progesterone is
another hormone secreted by ovaries: it maintains the lining of the uterus and stays high during
pregnancy.
4
5
Controlling fertility
Human fertility is controlled by hormones. This means that knowledge of hormones can be used to
decide to increase, or reduce, the chances of fertilisation and pregnancy.
Oral contraceptives
Contraceptive pills
The oral contraceptive, 'the pill', greatly reduces the chances of
mature eggs being produced. The pill contains oestrogen, or
oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones inhibit the production
of FSH, which in turn stops eggs maturing in the ovaries.
Fertility treatment
Some women have difficulty becoming pregnant because they don't produce enough FSH to allow their
eggs to mature. 'Fertility drugs' contain FSH, which stimulates eggs to mature in the ovary
Benefits and problems of controlling fertility
Oral contraceptives
Oral contraceptives allow couples to choose the time they start a family, and choose the time they stop
having children.
However, some women who take the pill may suffer from changes in weight, mood and blood pressure,
as a result of the hormones in it. There is also a chance of an increased risk of developing blood clots.
On the other hand, there is evidence of a decreased risk of developing cancer of the uterus or ovaries.
Fertility treatment
Fertility treatments increase a woman's chance of becoming pregnant, although the treatment may not
always work. On the other hand, because the treatment boosts the production of mature eggs,
multiple conceptions sometimes occur, with twins or triplets being expected. This increases the risk of
complications in pregnancy and childbirth, and may lead to premature or underweight babies.
IVF
If a couple are having difficulty conceiving a child because the quantity or quality of the man’s sperm is
poor then in vitro fertilisation - or IVF - can be used. This is where the egg is fertilised outside the
woman’s body and then implanted back into her uterus. As FSH can also be used to encourage the
production of several mature eggs at once, it is used as part of IVF to increase the number of eggs
available for fertilisation.
6
7
What’s that for?
Aims
You should be able to name the hormones involved in the menstrual cycle and describe their roles.
Activity
Study the summary diagram below, then complete the job description cards.
Job description: to stimulate
development of lining of womb
Hormone: …………………………
Job description: to secrete FSH
Job description: to mature eggs
Organ: ……………………………
Hormone: …………………………
Job description: to secrete LH
Job description: to inhibit FSH
Organ: ……………………………
Hormone: ………………………….
Job description: to secrete oestrogen
Job description: to stimulate
oestrogen production
Organ: ……………………………
Hormone: ……………….…………
Job description: to stimulate LH
production
Job description: to stimulate release
of eggs
Hormone: ……………………………
Hormone: …………………………
8
Now, without looking, try to complete the following table:
Hormone
Secreted by
Role
FSH
LH
Oestrogen
9
The artificial control of fertility
Aims
This sheet will help to remind you of the different stages of IVF and why each stage is important. It also
requires you to think about some of the issues behind IVF and helps you to form your own opinion.
Method
Draw pictures and complete the gaps in the following boxes.
Fill in the blanks in the sentences at the bottom.
1. Fertility drugs are used to make
lots of eggs mature at the same time
for collection.
6. When the fertilised
eggs have formed tiny
balls of cells, 1 or 2 are
placed in the _________
of the mother. Hopefully,
at least one baby will
survive.
5. The eggs are checked
to make sure they have
been __________ and the
early _________ are
developing properly.
2. The eggs are collected and placed
in a special solution in a ________
dish.
3. A sample of
________ is
collected.
4. The _______ and
_________ are mixed
together.
Fill in the blanks
1
Hormones can be used to control……………………
2
Oral contraceptives contain……………………which stop the production of
……………………. This means no …………………… mature.
3
……………………can be used as a fertility drug, to stimulate …………………… to
10
mature in the ……………………. These eggs can be used in …………………… treatments.
4
Do you think all women should be allowed IVF? Should there be any rules about who can have the
treatment? Should it be paid for by the NHS?
What to do with the rest?
Aims
During IVF, numerous egg cells from the woman are fertilised by sperm cells from the man. This is to
increase the chances of obtaining viable embryos that can be implanted into the woman’s uterus.
However, there might be more viable embryos than are needed, and so some are not implanted and
are left over.
In this activity you will encounter some of the opinions regarding the use of these embryos.
Instructions
Read the following points of view – then write down your own point of view.
Roman Catholic priest: “I believe that life starts at fertilisation and that all life is sacred. These embryos
have rights and these are just as important as a baby that has been born. I don’t think that IVF should
be allowed at all.”
A pregnant mother: “IVF has given me the chance to have a child when it looked impossible. I’d like to
keep those spare embryos in case I want another child in the future. If I don’t use them, I’m happy for
them to be donated to other couples who would like a child.”
Scientist: “We have such an opportunity to use these embryos for work in human cloning and stem cell
research. They’re not ‘human’ yet – they are just a ball of cells. We should use them to research the
prevention of disease and human suffering.”
Politician: “I am thoroughly against the use of spare IVF embryos for scientific research. It’s a slippery
slope to human cloning and selecting embryos for characteristics. Even though they can’t live on their
own, they still have the potential to be a human life and that should be respected.”
You: ...........................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
11
Choose the opinion you least agree with and imagine you have the opportunity to ask that person
some questions. What would you ask? Do you have a point of view that you would want them to
consider? What else would you like to say to them?
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
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12
Exam questions
Q1.
Hormones regulate the functions of many organs.
Complete the following sentences.
(a)
Hormones control the monthly release of an egg from the
woman’s ................................... .
(1)
(b)
Hormones also control the thickness of the lining of her .................................. .
(1)
(c)
Hormones given to women to stimulate the release of eggs
are called ..................................... drugs.
(1)
(Total 3 marks)
Q2.
Read the information about the trialling of the first contraceptive pill.
The Pill was developed by a team of scientists led by Gregory Pincus. The team
needed to carry out large scale trials on humans.
In the summer of 1955, Pincus visited the island of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is
one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Officials supported birth
control as a form of population control. The women in Puerto Rico were mainly
poor and uneducated.
The scientists selected a pill with a high dose of hormones. The Pill was found to
be 100 % effective when taken properly. But 17 % of the women in the study
complained of side effects.
The women in the trial had been told only that they were taking a drug that
prevented pregnancy. They had not been told that the Pill was experimental or
that there was a chance of dangerous side effects.
Evaluate the issues involved with methods used by Pincus in trialling the contraceptive pill.
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
13
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
(Total 6 marks)
Q3.
In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is used to help infertile women to have babies.
The table gives statistics from one clinic that gives IVF treatment.
Age of women given IVF treatment
Under 35
years
35 – 37
years
38 – 39
years
40 – 42
years
Number of women treated
425
208
106
53
Number of single births
90
44
17
1
Number of sets of twins
24
8
4
1
Number of sets of triplets
1
0
0
0
Use data from the table to help you to answer these questions.
(a)
How many of the women aged 38 – 39 had babies?
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(b)
What proportion of the treated women aged 35 – 37 had twins?
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(c)
For which age group was IVF treatment most successful?
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................(1)
14
(d)
Give two disadvantages of IVF treatment.
1 ..................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
2 ..................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 5 marks)
Q4.
The diagram shows how three hormones, FSH, LH and oestrogen, work together in a
woman’s body.
(a)
Name the part of the brain labelled X.
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(b)
Use information from the diagram and your own knowledge to explain why some oral
contraceptive pills contain oestrogen.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
15
.....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 4 marks)
Q5.
Oestrogen, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) work together
to coordinate the menstrual cycle. A woman will be infertile if her pituitary gland does not
release enough follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
Explain how injections of FSH could increase her chances of having a baby.
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
(Total 3 marks)
Q6.
The picture shows some birth control (contraceptive) pills for women.
These are some facts about using the birth control pills:
•
birth control pills are 99 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy
•
the hormones in the pills have some rare but serious side effects
•
this method of birth control gives no protection against sexually transmitted diseases
•
the hormones in the pills give protection against some women’s diseases
•
the woman has to remember to take the pill every day
•
the woman’s monthly periods become more regular.
Use the information above to answer these questions.
(a)
Give two advantages of using birth control pills.
1 ..................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
16
2 ..................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(b)
Give two disadvantages of using birth control pills.
1 ..................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
2 ..................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 4 marks)
Q7.
A woman wants to have a baby. She has been told that her body is not making and
releasing eggs. However she has thousands of cells which could develop into them. A possible
treatment is to give her a hormone called FSH. This hormone will start the development of
these cells.
Once the eggs have developed, explain what causes their release.
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
(Total 4 marks)
17
Answers to Exam Questions
M1.
(a)
ovary
1
(b)
womb / uterus
1
(c)
fertility
1
[3]
M2.
argued evaluation
•
large scale trial gave better results
•
chose uneducated women so that if these women
could use it correctly, women elsewhere would be able to
•
uneducated women unlikely to give informed consent
•
no placebo
•
used pill with high dose of hormone / should have tried
a range of doses / results not valid for other populations
•
women not told pill was experimental / pill might have side
effects / should have done pre-trial to check for side effects
[6]
M3.
(a)
21
1
(b)
1/26 or 8/208 or 4/104 or 2/52 or 3.8%
allow ‘out of’ in each case
(c)
under 35
2
(d)
any two from:
•
low success rate or not always successful
•
high number of multiple births
•
expensive
•
stressful / emotional
•
side effects
2
[5]
18
M4.
(a)
pituitary (gland / body)
1
(b)
oestrogen inhibits the release of FSH
ignore references to LH
1
FSH stimulates follicle development / causes egg to develop
or no follicle / egg development if high oestrogen
accept growth / maturing / ripening for development
1
no ovulation / no egg release
do not accept no egg to be fertilised
1
[4]
M5.
any three from:
FSH stimulates growth / maturing of follicle(s) / eggs
FSH stimulates oestrogen release
oestrogen stimulates development of uterus lining
oestrogen stimulates LH release / production
LH stimulates ovulation / egg release
[3]
M6.
(a)
any two for one mark each
answers should relate to the ideas in the list
birth control pills are 99 % effective in preventing pregnancy
the hormones in the pills give protection against some women’s diseases
condom (neutral)
the woman’s monthly periods become more regular
2
(b)
any two for one mark each
answers should relate to the ideas in the list
the hormones in the pills have some rare but serious side effects
only 99% effective
this method of birth control provides no protection against
sexually transmitted disease
a woman has to remember to take a pill every day
2
[4]
M7.
oestrogen produced
gains 1 mark
19
but
N.B. sequence important here
oestrogen produced by ovary
gains 2 marks
LH produced
gains 1 mark
but
LH produced by pituitary
gains 2 marks
LH causes egg release
for1 mark
[4]
Answers ‘ what’s that for?’ worksheet
Job description: to secrete FSH
Job description: to mature eggs
Organ: …Pituitary gland………
Hormone: ………FSH……………
Job description: to secrete LH
Job description: to inhibit FSH
Organ: …… Pituitary gland........
………………………
Hormone: …Oestrogen…….
Job description: to secrete oestrogen
Organ: …......Ovaries………
Job description: to stimulate
oestrogen production
Hormone: …......FSH…….……
Job description: to stimulate LH
production
Job description: to stimulate release
of eggs
Hormone: ……Oestrogen…......
Hormone: ………LH……………
Job description: to stimulate
development of lining of womb
Hormone: …Oestrogen…………
20
Answers to ‘The artificial control of fertility’
The blanks from the diagram:
2
The eggs are collected and placed in a special solution in a petri dish.
3
A sample of sperm is collected.
4
The sperm and eggs are mixed together.
5
The eggs are checked to make sure they have been fertilised and the early embryos are developing properly.
6
When the fertilised eggs have formed tiny balls of cells, 1 or 2 are placed in the uterus of the mother.
Hopefully, at least one baby will survive.
Gap-fill questions:
1
Hormones can be used to control fertility.
2
Oral contraceptives contain hormones/oestrogen, which stop the production of FSH. This means no eggs
mature.
3
FSH can be used as a fertility drug, to stimulate eggs to mature in the ovaries. These eggs can be used in IVF
treatments.
4
Do you think all women should be allowed IVF? Should there be any rules about who can have the
treatment? Should it be paid for by the NHS?
21