cification"}]},{"type":"text","order":2,"title":"Name the condition","content":"This pattern is consistent with **primary ovarian insufficiency**, also called **premature ovarian failure** or **early menopause**. The ovaries are not producing enough estradiol at this age.\n\nGiving this diagnosis earns **A1**.","highlights":[{"text":"secondary amenorrhea (absence of menstruation for over 6 months), severe hot flushes, and difficulty conceiving","location":"specification"}]},{"type":"text","order":3,"title":"Link low estradiol","content":"Estradiol normally helps follicles mature and helps the endometrium (the uterus lining) thicken. With too little estradiol, follicle maturation and lining thickening are not stimulated properly. This explains difficulty conceiving and amenorrhoea.\n\nLow estradiol also causes **vasomotor instability**: unstable control of widening and narrowing blood vessels. This produces hot flushes. These physiological links earn **A1**."},{"type":"text","order":4,"title":"Explain the high hormones","content":"Estradiol normally gives negative feedback to the pituitary gland, reducing FSH and LH release. Because this woman's estradiol level is very low, there is less negative feedback, so the pituitary is not inhibited and releases more FSH and LH.\n\nThis explains why both FSH and LH are abnormally high. This earns the final **A1** mark.","highlights":[{"text":"Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)","location":"specification"},{"text":"Luteinizing Hormone (LH)","location":"specification"},{"text":"Estradiol (estrogen)","location":"specification"}]}]}],"generatedAt":"2026-07-22T07:36:21.574Z","modelVersion":"gpt-5.6-terra+diagrams-1","explanationVersion":"v3"},"options":[]}],"options":[],"explanation":null,"firstAttemptFullMarks":null},{"id":"af847d48-74b5-4108-8151-58fc950ca3cb","revisionId":"70991803-0d9b-43a0-9360-a97d58e5c7c4","questionNumber":null,"questionType":"LA","specification":"","difficulty":7,"difficultyBand":"hard","totalMarks":6,"sourceTitle":null,"calculatorUse":null,"parts":[{"id":"59359e75-bf37-4afc-a5d5-01d9205e7af4","label":null,"content":"Explain how the hormones released by the pituitary gland and the ovaries interact to regulate the menstrual cycle.","markscheme":"- **FSH** (from the pituitary gland) stimulates follicle/egg maturation in the ovary and stimulates the ovaries to secrete estrogen B1\n- **Estrogen** (from the ovaries) stimulates the lining of the uterus to thicken B1\n- Estrogen inhibits the release of FSH (negative feedback) and stimulates the pituitary gland to release **LH** (positive feedback) B1\n- A peak/surge in LH (from the pituitary gland) triggers **ovulation** (the release of the mature egg around day 14) B1\n- **Progesterone** (secreted by the corpus luteum/empty follicle in the ovary) maintains the uterus lining in preparation for a fertilised egg B1\n- Progesterone inhibits both FSH and LH; if fertilisation does not occur, progesterone levels fall, triggering menstruation and allowing FSH levels to rise again to start a new cycle B1","marks":6,"order":0,"markingRubric":null,"explanation":{"methods":[{"id":"hormonal_feedback_cycle","label":"Trace the hormone feedback","steps":[{"type":"text","order":1,"title":"Start with FSH","content":"At the start of the cycle, the pituitary gland releases **FSH** (follicle-stimulating hormone). FSH stimulates a follicle in an ovary to mature an egg, and it also stimulates the ovaries to secrete **oestrogen**.\n\nThis linked source-and-effect statement earns the first mark.","highlights":[{"text":"hormones released by the pituitary gland and the ovaries interact to regulate the menstrual cycle.","location":"specification"}]},{"type":"text","order":2,"title":"Build the uterus lining","content":"Oestrogen is released by the ovaries. It stimulates the lining of the uterus to **thicken**, so the uterus is prepared for a possible pregnancy.\n\nStating both the hormone and its effect on the lining earns the next mark."},{"type":"text","or

Hormones, the menstrual cycle and reproduction

Question 9

Hormones, the menstrual cycle and reproduction Questions

Hormones, the menstrual cycle and reproduction

Question 9

Hormones, the menstrual cycle and reproduction Questions