OCR GCSE Biology B (Twenty First Century)
OCR GCSE Biology B B5.5 What role do hormones play in human reproduction? Exam Questions
Free OCR GCSE Biology B exam questions for B5.5 What role do hormones play in human reproduction?, with a mark scheme for every pack. Covers puberty, the menstrual cycle, FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone, hormonal and non-hormonal contraception and fertility treatments including IVF.
B5.5 What role do hormones play in human reproduction? exam questions
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About OCR GCSE Biology B B5.5 What role do hormones play in human reproduction?
B5.5 explains how hormones control human reproduction. You need to describe the roles of oestrogen and testosterone at puberty, the menstrual cycle and the four hormones that control it (FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone), and how they interact. Higher tier students should be able to interpret graphs showing hormone levels across the cycle. The topic also covers contraception, both hormonal and barrier methods, and the use of hormones in fertility treatment and IVF, including the social and ethical issues. It builds on hormone action in B5.3. Examiners often test hormone interactions and evaluation of contraceptive methods.
What you need to know
- Puberty Oestrogen is the main female reproductive hormone, made in the ovaries; testosterone, made in the testes, stimulates sperm production. Both cause secondary sexual characteristics.
- FSH Follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary causes an egg to mature in the ovary and stimulates the ovaries to produce oestrogen.
- LH Luteinising hormone from the pituitary stimulates ovulation, the release of an egg, around day 14.
- Oestrogen and progesterone Oestrogen causes the uterus lining to thicken and inhibits FSH. Progesterone maintains the lining and inhibits FSH and LH; when progesterone falls, menstruation occurs.
- Contraception Hormonal methods (pill, implant, injection) use progesterone and sometimes oestrogen to stop eggs maturing or being released. Non-hormonal methods include condoms, diaphragms, IUDs, spermicides, sterilisation and abstaining around ovulation.
- Fertility treatment FSH and LH can be given to stimulate egg release. In IVF, eggs are collected, fertilised in a lab, and embryos are inserted into the uterus. IVF is costly, has a low success rate and can lead to multiple births.
Common mistakes in B5.5 What role do hormones play in human reproduction?
- Saying LH causes the lining to thicken. LH triggers ovulation; oestrogen thickens the lining.
- Stating FSH is made in the ovaries. FSH and LH are made by the pituitary gland.
- Claiming the contraceptive pill kills sperm. It mainly prevents eggs maturing and being released.
- Saying condoms are hormonal contraception. They are a barrier method, which also helps protect against sexually transmitted infections.
- Describing IVF as cloning. IVF fertilises an egg with sperm outside the body; it does not copy an existing organism.
Try three B5.5 What role do hormones play in human reproduction? exam-style questions
1. Name the hormone that triggers ovulation. (1 mark)
Show the mark scheme answer
LH (luteinising hormone).
2. A clinic carried out 240 IVF cycles and 54 resulted in a live birth. Calculate the success rate as a percentage. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
54 / 240 x 100; = 22.5%.
3. Explain how oral contraceptives containing hormones prevent pregnancy. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
They contain oestrogen and/or progesterone; these inhibit FSH (and LH) production; so eggs do not mature or are not released; progesterone may also thicken cervical mucus so sperm cannot reach an egg.
B5.5 What role do hormones play in human reproduction? FAQs
What does OCR GCSE Biology B B5.5 cover?
It covers the hormones of puberty and the menstrual cycle, how FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone interact, contraception and fertility treatments such as IVF.
Which paper is B5.5 examined in?
J257 has two papers at each tier, Breadth in Biology and Depth in Biology, and content from any chapter, including B5, can be assessed on either one. Expect it to be linked to ideas about science and to other chapters.
How do I learn the menstrual cycle hormones?
For each hormone learn where it is made, what it does and which other hormone it stimulates or inhibits, then practise reading hormone level graphs across a 28 day cycle.
