1- Reproductive Cycle Flashcards
Average age of menarche and menopause?
12-51
When is the beginning of menses?
At first blood
Average span of menses?
28 days
When is the follicular phase
Onset of menses until LH surge. 14 days
When does ovulation occur?
30-36 hours of LH surge
When is the luteal phase?
Day LH surge ends until menses. 14 days
What do you measure GnRH for as a proxy?
LH. Because GnRH has a short half life. Minutes.
What promps the release of FSH?
Low estrogen
What is atresia?
When precordial follicles undergo a degenerative process.
Three areas of Follicle
Theca externa, Theca interna, and granulosa cells
What do thecal cells produce?
Androgens that the granulosa cells turn into estrogens
What does FSH do to follicle?
Increases granulosa cells to make more estrogen. Estrogen stimulates more LH receptors, which create more androgens
What are the two phases of the endometrium?
The proliferative and secretory phases
How much blood is lost in menses?
20-60 cc
What causes the contractions of the uterine vasculature and musculature
Prostaglandins
What is it called when a woman can feel ovulation?
Mittelschmerz
What characterizes the luteal phase?
Dominance of estrogen to progesterone
What does progesterone do?
Inhibits the hormones (FSH and LH), acne, bloating, hyper pigmentation, increases appetite, vascularization of endometrium,
What do the theca cells turn into?
Corpus Luteum, which secretes progesterone
What happens if the egg is fertilized?
Releases HCG which causes the corpus luteum to continue to release progesterone. If not it becomes a corpus albicans
What does estrogen do?
Increases the stratum functionalis, It makes it a proliferative endometrium. Vs secreretory endometrium of the progesterone.
What will identify a proliferative endometrium?
Only endometrial biopsy
What will happen if progesterone production is not stopped?
It will continue to initiate desquamation of the endometrium and may result in abnormal uterine bleeding.
What action does estrogen have on cervix?
secretes mucus on cervix that facilitates sperm capture.
