Questions on oral contraceptives.

Where is FSH secreted from?
Which process cannot take place if there are no mature ovarian follicles?

Questions on treating infertility.

If ovulation is not taking place which hormone will always be at low levels in her blood?
FSH
 LH
 oestrogen
 progesterone
Clomiphere stimulates the production of
oestrogen
 progesterone
 FSH
 LH only
Clomiphere does this by
preventing oestrogen inhibiting the production of FSH
 preventing progesterone inhibiting the production of FSH
 directly stimulating the pituitary gland
 stimulating the production of oestrogen
Invitro fertilisation means outside the body.
True
 False

 

Human fertility

1. Contraceptives

The most common types of oral contraceptives contain the hormones oestrogen and progesterone and so inhibit the production of FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone). This means that the primary follicles do not develop into mature ovarian follicles.

2. Fertility drugs.

If infertility has been caused by ovulation failing to take place this can be treated using hormones.

Simple explanation…Fertility drugs contain FSH and so stimulate the development of follicles within the ovaries.

Or a more complicated one ….

There are two main methods of fertility treatment .

a. A synthetic hormone (e.g. Clomiphere) is used to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce more gonadotrophins (FSH and LH) and so bring about ovulation. Clomiphere works by preventing oestrogen from inhibiting the production of FSH.

b. Gonadoptrophins can be extracted from the urine of post-menopausal women.

Problems

Fertility treatment may result in the release of more than one egg at once, and so result in a multiple pregnancy (N.B. Now that more is known about the methods of fertility treatment the risk of this happening has been reduced).

These hormones are also used as part of invitro fertilisation programmes (IVF) Several follicles mature at once and are removed (surgically) from the ovary before ovulation. They are then mixed with sperm on a petri dish (not a test tube!) and the successfully fertilised eggs implanted usually after the first few cell divisions. Hormones are used to ensure that the uterus is ready for implantation.