Contraception - The Pill
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 5.3.26
Controlling Fertility - The Contraceptive Pill
Pharmaceutical companies have designed contraceptive pills. They reduce a woman’s fertility to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy. The contraceptive pill comes in two main forms:
Progesterone-only pill
- Stimulates the production of thick, sticky mucus, which is very difficult for any sperm to penetrate.
- Inhibits the release of FSH, so that eggs don’t mature.
- Just as effective as the combined pill but with fewer side effects.
Combined pill
- Contains both oestrogen and progesterone.
- By taking it every day, enough oestrogen builds up in the female body to inhibit the production of FSH so that no eggs mature.
Test yourself on Contraception - The Pill
How does the thick, sticky mucus produced by the progesterone-only pill help prevent pregnancy?
Which hormones does the combined contraceptive pill contain?
Why must a person take the combined pill every day to prevent pregnancy effectively?
Select the correct statement in each pair
A person misses several days of the combined pill, causing their oestrogen levels to fall. What is most likely to happen as a result?