Exam 3 Lecture 4

Question 1

menopause

Answer 1

refers to a point in time that follows 1 year after the cessation of menstruation

Question 2

postmenopause

Answer 2

years following menopause

Question 3

average age of menopause in the US

Answer 3

51.5 years

Question 4

average lifespan of US women

Answer 4

81 years

Question 5

perimenopause or climacteric

Answer 5

time period in the late reproductive years, usually late 40s to early 50s immediately before menopause
- menopausal transition
onset ~47 years old and spans over 4-7 years

Question 6

menopause transition begins with

Answer 6

menstruation irregularity

Question 7

ovarian mass and fertility

Answer 7

decline sharply after age 35 and even more precipitously during menopausal transition

Question 8

depletion of primary follicles

Answer 8

occurs steadily until menopause

Question 9

cigarette smokers experience menopause

Answer 9

~ years earlier

Question 10

anovulatory cycles produce

Answer 10

a hyper-estrogenic & progesterenic state that may account for the increased incidence of endometrial hyperplasia or carcinoma & uterine polyps among women of perimenopausal age

Question 11

with transition into menopause

Answer 11

estradiol falls remarkedly, whereas FSH (more) & LH levels increase

Question 12

Due to loss of inhibin & estrogen feedback regulation, what levels are relatively preserved?

Answer 12

estrone

Question 13

symptoms of perimenopausal transition

Answer 13

• changes in mentrual patterns
• vasomotor symptoms
• psychological & mental changes
• sexual dysfunction
• somatic symptoms
• other issues

Question 14

changes in menstrual patterns

Answer 14

shorter cycles (2-7 days) or longer cycles, irregular bleeding (heavy, light, spotting)

Question 15

vasomotor symptoms

Answer 15

hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances

Question 16

psychological & mental changes

Answer 16

worsening PMS, depression, irritability, mood swings, loss of concentration, poor memory

Question 17

sexual dysfunction

Answer 17

vaginal dryness, decreased libido, painful intercourse

Question 18

somatic symptoms

Answer 18

HA, dizziness, palpitations, breast pain & enlargement, joint aches and back pain

Question 19

other issues

Answer 19

dry, itch skin & thinning of skin, weight gain, muscle weakness, urinary incontinence, CVD, reduction in bone density

Question 20

most common complaint during menopausal transition

Answer 20

hot flashes

Question 21

what can suppress hot-flashes

Answer 21

estrogen therapy

Question 22

how long does a hot flash usually last?

Answer 22

1-5 minutes

Question 23

BP, HR and metabolic rate all rise during

Answer 23

a hot flash

Question 24

hot flashes may also be accompanied by

Answer 24

palpitations, anxiety, irritability and panic

Question 25

the medial preopitic area of the hypothalamus contains the

Answer 25

thermoregulatory nucleus responsible for regulating perspiration and vasodilation, which is the primary mechanism of heat loss in humans

Question 26

what plays a vital role in the development of hot flashes?

Answer 26

• estrogens.
• estrogen levels modulate central thermoregulation
• estrogens are known to modulate adrenergic receptors

Question 27

NE & HT are critical NTs involved in

Answer 27

• lowering the thermoregulatory setpoint and triggering heat loss mechanisms associated with hot flashes
• decreased Estrogen is though to lower HT release & lead to altered HT neurotransmission
• increase NE signalling-> heat loss

Question 28

normal rate of bone mass decline

Answer 28

0.4% each year

Question 29

bone mass decline rate during menopause

Answer 29

2-5% per year for the first 5 tp 10 years then slows to 1% per year

Question 30

loss of estrogen leads to

Answer 30

enhanced loss of bone mass & predisposes pts to fractures.

Question 31

why women have a lower risk of CVD than men before menopause

Answer 31

greater HDL levels which is an effect of estrogen

Question 32

hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Answer 32

• only 30% of eligible women receive HRT

Question 33

women’s health initiative (WHI)

Answer 33

stopped early.
no effect on CHD or breast cancer
- increased risk of stroke, ovarian cancer in estrogen only
- increased risk of blood clots in E/P
- incr. risk of breast cancer

Question 34

Estrogen effect on cholesterol

Answer 34

decrease LDL and increase HDL

- HRT is not recommended solely for the prevention of high cholesterol or heart disease

Question 35

increased risk of blood clots in women taking

Answer 35

estrogen