Carried in blood plasma to
other parts of the body
Only affect target cells in
particular places
Have long lasting effects
Control things in organs and
cells that need constant
adjustment
Produced in and secreted by
various glands
The pituitary gland
Produces important
hormones including FSH
and LH
Ovaries
Produce oestrogen
Involved in menstrual cycle
Difference
between nerves
and hormones
Nerves
1) Very FAST action
2) Act for a SHORT
TIME 3) Act on a
PRECISE AREA
Hormones
1) SLOWER action
2) Act for a LONG
TIME 3) Act in a
GENERAL way
Menstrual cycle
Four stages
Day 1 is when the bleeding starts.
The uterus lining breaks down for
about four days
The lining of the uterus builds up
again from day 4 to 14 into a thick
spongy layer full of blood vessels,
ready to receive a fertilised egg
An egg is released from
the ovary at day 14
The wall is then maintained for about 14
days, until day 28. If no fertilised egg has
landed on the uterus wall by day 28 the
spongy lining starts to break down again
and the whole cycle starts again
Three main hormones
FSH (Folicle-Stimulating Hormone)
Causes an egg to mature
in one of the ovaries
Stimulates the ovaries
to produce oestrogen
LH (Luteinsing Hormone)
Produced by the pituitary gland
Stimulates the release of an
egg at around the middle of the
menstrual cycle
Oestrogen
Produced in the ovaries
Causes pituitary to produce LH
Inhibits further release of FSH
Reducing fertility
Oestrogen
Taken everyday
egg development
and production
stop
Progesterone
Stimulates the
production of thick
cervical mucus which
prevents sperm
getting through
The pill
First made in 1950s and
contained high levels of
oestrogen and
progestorone
Link between blood
clots so lower doses of
oestrogen now
IVF
Involves collecting
eggs from ovaries
and fertilises them
in a lab using
sperm. These are
grown into embryos
Once embryos are
grown the best are
transferred to the
womb to improve
chance of
pregnancy
FSH nad LH are
given before egg
collection to
stimulate egg
production
Pros
Give infertile
couples a child
Cons
Strong reaction to
hormones eg.
abdominal pain,
vomiting, dehydration