6. Menstrual Cycle Flashcards
What are the aims of the menstrual cycle?
selects single oocyte regular spontaneous ovulation support (potential) fertilized embryo prepare the uterus endometrium lining growth
What is GnRH and LH/FSH release co-ordinated with?
Follicle growth
Hoq long is the menstrual cycle?
28 days
How long does the follicular phase last?
14 days (but can vary)
What happens in the follicular phase?
- Select dominant follicle
2. Follicle growth
What is the follicular phase dominated by?
Oestradiol (produced from dominant follicle)
How long is the luteal phase?
14 days (fixed) happens after ovulation
What is the luteal phase dominated by?
Progesterone (released by corpus luteum)
What is day 1 of the menstrual cycle?
bleed (first day of period)
What is the midpoint of the menstrual cyycle?
Ovulation of the selected dominant follicle= day 14
What is the corpus luteum
After egg has been released, whatever is left is the corpus luteum
releases progesterone
Whathappens to the corpus luteum if there is no fertilization or pregnancy?
corpus luteum dies
instigates new cycle to start
when corpus luteum dies,endometirum (lining of the womb) sheds and then get menstrual bleed
Other than androgens, oestrogens and progestogens, what are the other 2 proteins that act on the HPG acis?
activin and inhibin
What do activin and inhibin act on in the HPG axis?
pituitary
What kind of feedback is it in the luteal phase?
negative feedback (through progesterone)
What kind of feedback is it in the follicular phase?
Variable feedback
- negative feedback from luteal is released (so no negative feedback)
- negative feedback back to normal
- negative feedback to positive feedback switch
What happens in late luteal/early follicular phase?
- corpus luteum dies
- so less progesterone
- progesterone always makes negative feedback- so now no more negative feedback
- so FSH rises=INTERCYCLE RISE OF FSH
What is FSH needed for?
for antral follicle growth
What happens in the midfollicular phase?
- high FSH
- antral follicles can grow bc granulosa cells release oestrogen
- oestrogen act on pituitary and hypothalamus= negative feedback
- FSH drops
- lots of follicles die except dominant
What switches the feedback from negative to positive?
dominant follicle releases oestrogen (above 300pmol) for 48 hours
What happens in the midcycle stage?
oestrogen levels high
so LH surge
LH causes ovulation
What happens in the midluteal stae?
1, corpus luteum secrete progesterone
2. negative feedback again