AQA GCSE Biology (8461), Higher tier · Homeostasis and response › Hormonal coordination in humans
Practise Hormones to treat infertility. 11 exam-style questions plus unlimited generated ones on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy5 marks
Some women cannot become pregnant because the eggs in their ovaries do not mature. They can be treated with a 'fertility drug'.
(a) Which two hormones are given in a fertility drug? Tick (✓) two boxes.[2]
FSH
Insulin
LH
Progesterone
Testosterone
(b) The stages of IVF treatment are shown below, but they are in the wrong order. A Eggs are collected from the woman. B The woman is given FSH and LH. C One or two embryos are inserted into the woman's uterus. D The eggs are fertilised by sperm in the laboratory. E The fertilised eggs develop into tiny balls of cells (embryos). Write the letters in the correct order.[2]
(c) Give one disadvantage of IVF treatment.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: FSH; LH
(b)Answer: B, A, D, E, C
B first and C last
A, D, E in this order (between B and C)
(c)Answer: It is emotionally and physically stressful / success rates are not high / it can lead to multiple births
emotionally / physically stressful / success rates are low / can lead to multiple births (which are a risk to mother and babies) / expensive
Question 2Medium8 marks
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) can help some couples to have a baby.
(a) Describe how IVF is carried out.[4]
(b) Explain why the woman is given FSH and LH before the eggs are collected.[2]
(c) Doctors usually insert only one or two embryos into the uterus. Explain why.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: The mother is given FSH and LH so several eggs mature; the eggs are collected and fertilised by the father's sperm in the laboratory; the fertilised eggs develop into embryos; one or two tiny balls of cells are inserted into the mother's uterus
the mother is given FSH and LH
(to stimulate) the maturation of several eggs
the eggs are collected (from the mother)
the eggs are fertilised by sperm (from the father) in the laboratory
the fertilised eggs develop into embryos
one or two embryos / tiny balls of cells are inserted into the mother's uterus
(b)Answer: To make several eggs mature at the same time, so more embryos can be produced and the chance of success is greater
so that several eggs mature (at the same time)
(so) more embryos can be produced / greater chance that at least one embryo develops successfully
(c)Answer: Inserting more embryos could lead to multiple births, which are a risk to both the babies and the mother
to reduce the chance of multiple births (e.g. triplets)
which are a risk to the health of the mother and the babies
Question 3Hard7 marks
A health service has £1 200 000 each year to spend on IVF. One cycle of IVF costs £4000. At this clinic, the chance of a live birth from one cycle is 30% for women under 40, and 10% for women aged 40 to 42.
(a) Calculate the number of IVF cycles the health service can pay for each year.[1]
(b) Calculate how many more live births would be expected if all of these cycles were given to women under 40, rather than to women aged 40 to 42.[2]
(c) The health service decides to pay for IVF only for women under 40. Evaluate this decision.[4]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: 300
1 200 000 ÷ 4000 = 300
(b)Answer: 60
under 40: 300 × 0.30 = 90 and aged 40 to 42: 300 × 0.10 = 30
90 − 30 = 60
(c)Answer: It gives more live births for the same money and fewer unsuccessful, stressful cycles, but it is unfair to women aged 40 to 42, who still have a chance of a baby and must pay privately, which not everyone can afford; a justified conclusion
(for) more live births for the same money (90 rather than 30 from 300 cycles)
(for) the money is used where it is most likely to succeed / fewer unsuccessful cycles, which are emotionally and physically stressful
(against) it is unfair to women aged 40 to 42, who still have a chance (10%) of a live birth
(against) older women must pay privately, which not everyone can afford, so access depends on income