AQA · GCSE · Combined Science

    Course version: 8464 · Version from Sept 2018

    Contraception: oral contraceptives that contain hormones to inhibit FSH production so that no eggs mature

    Oral contraceptives are medicines taken by mouth that contain hormones, commonly a mixture of oestrogen and a progestogen.

    • 3 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Oral contraceptives are medicines taken by mouth that contain hormones, commonly a mixture of oestrogen and a progestogen. The hormones raise the level of these substances in the blood, and the pituitary gland responds by reducing the amount of FSH it releases. FSH normally stimulates a follicle in the ovary to develop and the egg inside it to mature. With less FSH, no follicle develops fully, so no egg matures and ovulation does not occur. Without a released egg, fertilisation cannot happen while the pills are taken correctly. The hormones also thicken cervical mucus and thin the uterus lining, which adds to the contraceptive effect. A student should link the hormone dose to the reduced FSH signal, then to the failure of egg maturation, rather than simply saying the pill stops pregnancy.

    What earns the marks

    • Oral contraceptives contain hormones, typically oestrogen and a progestogen, taken by mouth.
    • The hormones increase the concentration of these hormones in the blood, which is detected by the pituitary gland.
    • The pituitary gland secretes less FSH, so the normal stimulation of the ovary is reduced.
    • A follicle does not develop fully and the egg inside it does not mature.
    • Without a mature egg being released, ovulation does not occur, so fertilisation cannot take place.
    • The method is assessed by explaining the cause-and-effect chain from hormone dose to inhibited FSH production to no mature egg.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Saying the pill kills sperm.

      Put it right: It prevents an egg maturing and being released, so there is no egg to fertilise.

    • Writing that the pill stops eggs being made altogether.

      Put it right: Eggs are already present in the ovaries, but they do not mature and are not released.

    Exam tips

    • Write the sequence as a chain: hormone absorbed, FSH production inhibited, follicle does not mature, no ovulation.
    • Use the term 'mature' rather than 'made' when describing the egg, because the egg cells already exist.
    • If asked to compare methods, state that oral contraceptives are taken daily and their effect depends on correct use.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Contraception: oral contraceptives that contain hormones to inhibit FSH production so that no eggs mature lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Which hormone's production is inhibited by oral contraceptives to prevent eggs from maturing?

    See it

    A flowchart running from top to bottom. The first box says oral contraceptive taken by mouth, and an arrow leads to a box saying hormones raise the level of these substances in the blood. An arrow leads to a box saying the pituitary gland responds by reducing the amount of FSH it releases. An arrow leads to a box saying less FSH reaches the ovary. An arrow leads to a box saying no follicle develops fully. An arrow leads to a box saying no egg matures. An arrow leads to a box saying ovulation does not occur. A final arrow leads to a box saying fertilisation cannot happen.
    It shows the cause-and-effect chain from taking an oral contraceptive to the prevention of fertilisation.

    Put it in order

    Put these steps in the order they happen.

    1. 1. Hormones raise the level of these substances in the blood
    2. 2. Pituitary gland responds by reducing the amount of FSH it releases
    3. 3. Less FSH reaches the ovary
    4. 4. No follicle develops fully
    5. 5. No egg matures
    6. 6. Ovulation does not occur
    7. 7. Fertilisation cannot happen
    8. 8. Oral contraceptive taken by mouth

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Oral contraceptives

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    FSH

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Ovulation

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Oral contraceptives
    Medicines taken by mouth that contain hormones, commonly a mixture of oestrogen and a progestogen.
    FSH
    A hormone that normally stimulates a follicle in the ovary to develop and the egg inside it to mature.
    Ovulation
    The release of a mature egg, which does not occur when the pituitary gland secretes less FSH.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A flowchart running from top to bottom. The first box says oral contraceptive taken by mouth, and an arrow leads to a box saying hormones raise the level of these substances in the blood. An arrow leads to a box saying the pituitary gland responds by reducing the amount of FSH it releases. An arrow leads to a box saying less FSH reaches the ovary. An arrow leads to a box saying no follicle develops fully. An arrow leads to a box saying no egg matures. An arrow leads to a box saying ovulation does not occur. A final arrow leads to a box saying fertilisation cannot happen.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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