AQA GCSE Biology (8461), Higher tier · Homeostasis and response › Hormonal coordination in humans
Practise Contraception. 14 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
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There are many different methods of contraception. How do spermicidal agents prevent pregnancy?
They kill or disable sperm
Oral contraceptives contain hormones that stop eggs maturing. Which hormone do they inhibit?
FSH
Name one method of contraception that releases progesterone slowly over several months or years.
A contraceptive implant
There are two main types of contraceptive pill: the combined pill and the progesterone-only pill. Name the two hormones contained in the combined pill.
Oestrogen and progesterone
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy5 marks
There are many different methods of contraception.
(a) Which method of contraception is a barrier method? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
Contraceptive implant
Contraceptive injection
Diaphragm
Oral contraceptive pill
(b) Which two methods of contraception contain hormones? Tick (✓) two boxes.[2]
Condom
Contraceptive skin patch
Diaphragm
Oral contraceptive pill
Spermicide
(c) How do spermicidal agents prevent pregnancy?[1]
(d)Answer: Sterilisation (e.g. cutting or tying the sperm ducts or the oviducts)
(male or female) sterilisation / vasectomy / cutting or tying the oviducts or sperm ducts
Question 2Medium6 marks
Hormones can be used as contraceptives.
(a) Explain how the oral contraceptive pill prevents pregnancy.[2]
(b) A contraceptive implant is placed under the skin of the arm. It releases progesterone slowly for up to 3 years. Explain how the implant prevents pregnancy.[2]
(c) Give one advantage of using an implant rather than the oral contraceptive pill.[1]
(d) Give one disadvantage of using an implant rather than a condom.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: It contains hormones that inhibit FSH production, so no eggs mature
it contains hormones that inhibit FSH (production)
so no eggs mature
(b)Answer: Progesterone inhibits the maturation of eggs and the release of eggs
progesterone inhibits the maturation of eggs
(and) inhibits the release of eggs / ovulation
(c)Answer: There is no need to remember to take a pill every day
no need to remember to take it every day / lasts for up to 3 years
(d)Answer: It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections
does not protect against sexually transmitted infections / STIs
Question 3Hard6 marks
A combined contraceptive pill contains oestrogen and progesterone. A woman takes one pill every day for 21 days, then takes no pills for 7 days before starting the next pack.
(a) The woman has a bleed, like a period, during the 7 days without pills. Explain why.[2]
(b) Suggest why the woman is still protected from pregnancy during the 7 days without pills.[2]
(c) Missing a pill on the first day of a new pack increases the risk of pregnancy more than missing a pill in the middle of a pack. Suggest why.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: When she stops taking the pills, the concentrations of oestrogen and progesterone in her blood fall; without progesterone, the lining of the uterus is not maintained, so it breaks down
the concentrations of the hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) in her blood fall when she stops taking the pills
without progesterone, the lining of the uterus is not maintained, so it breaks down
(b)Answer: During the 21 days the hormones inhibited FSH, so no egg matured; an egg takes longer than 7 days to mature, so none is released before she starts the next pack
during the 21 days the hormones inhibited FSH (and LH), so no egg matured / was released
an egg takes longer than 7 days to mature, so no egg is released before she starts the next pack
(c)Answer: Missing the first pill makes the time without hormones longer than 7 days, so FSH is no longer inhibited for long enough for an egg to mature and be released
missing the first pill makes the time without hormones longer than 7 days
so FSH is not inhibited for long enough for an egg to mature (and be released)