Female Reproductive Flashcards
name the internal female reproductive organs
- ovaries
- uterus
- fallopian tubes
- vagina
- breasts
describe maturation of female reproductive organs (during puberty)
During puberty:
1. Hypothalamus secretes GnRH (gonadotropic releasing hormones) = stimulates Pituitary gland to release FSH and LH
2. FSH & LH activate ovaries to secrete estrogen and progesterone
= mensuration
describe menarche
first episode of menstrual bleeding (millions of immature eggs but ~300 mature during menses)
- Ovary starts to release an ovum
- During this period -> puberty starts
describe menopause
- The permanent cessation of menstrual cycle
- compensatory: FSH is elevated to try to stimulate the ovaires
- Perimenopause- gradual decline in hormone production, may last for years
- Physiologic changes: erratic menses, atrophic vaginitis, vasomotor instability (high BP, palpitations)
= hot flashes, night sweats, irritable, insomnia, painful intercourse (dyspareunia) b/c of atrophic vaginitis
what gland is the breast
mammary gland
- contains 15-25 glandular secretions (called breast lobule)
what is thelarche
onset of breast tissue development
= stimulated by the pituitary gland and the hormones at puberty
describe proliferation of breast tissue
Proliferation of breast tissue and lactation occur in pregnancy
= This is influenced by hormones Prolactin, and Oxytocin
- milk production is stimulated by prolactin
- milk release is stimulated by oxytocin
what is a fibrocystic breast
contains benign, movable, tender mass that changes in size with the menstrual cycle
- does NOT increase the susceptibility to breast cancer
- rarely happens after menopause unless they are taking hormone replacement therapy
name the menstrual disorders
- amenorrhea
- dysmenorrhea
- menorragia
- metrorrhagia
- oligomenorrhea
what is amenorrhea; primary and secondary
- Absence of menstrual period
- Primary – absence of menses by age 15
= caused by genetics, probs with hypothalamus or pituitary gland, and ovarian failure (immature) - Secondary – lack of menses for more than 3 months after the woman has started menstruating
—>Asherman’s syndrome- lack of uterine endothelial lining due to scarring
= scarring can be due to frequent abortions (spontaneous or planned) or D&C (dilation & curettage)
= can also be caused by drastic weight loss, eating disorders, severe or chronic stress/anxiety, and significant weight gain
what is dysmenorrhea
- Painful menstrual period due to release of prostaglandins
= Pelvic cramping that radiates to groin, back and legs
prostaglandin F is a uterine muscle stimulant and a vasoconstrictor within the uterus
treatment: NSAIDs (inhibit prostaglandins)
causes:
1. primary: unknown, some women are just prone
- secondary:
- hormonal imbalance
- ovarian cysts
- endometriosis
- PID
- cancer
what is menorrhagia
Excessive menstrual bleeding
- menses that last longer than 7 days, or bleeding is greater than 80mL
causes:
- hormonal imbalance
- tumors
- ovarian disorders
- bleeding disorders
- taking AC
what is metrorrhagia
Excessive uterine bleeding
- mensuration happens at more frequent intervals
- normal is 21-40 day cycle
causes:
- hormonal imbalance
- tumors
- ovarian disorders
- bleeding disorders
- taking AC
what is oligomenorrhea
irregular periods w/ a long time in between them
what is endometritis
an infection/inflammation of the uterus
causes of endometritis w/ most and least common
- Instrumentation
- Abortion
- Childbirth - least common
- IUD
Note: ascending infection from vagina is the most common culprit!
common microorganisms that cause endometritis
- Gonococcus
- Chlamydia
- trachomatis
- Enterococcus
s/s of endometritis
- abnormal vaginal bleeding
- uterine tenderness
- fever
- foul-smelling discharges
diagnostics for endometritis
Endocervical culture must be obtained for gonorrhea and/or chlamydia
Other tests:
- Blood culture, urine culture and analysis
- CT scan or ultrasound of the lower abdomen to check for any retained tissue from things like an abortion
common microorganisms that cause cervicitis
- HIV
- gonococci
- trichomonas
- chlamydia
- HPV
- herpes simplex
s/s related to cervicitis
- erythema and edema to cervix
- purulent discharges
Note: some inflammatory changes may resemble precancerous lesions
female external repro organs
vulva, composed of the
- mons pubis
- labia: minora and majora
describe the ovaries
(2 total): oocyte, produce female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone)
describe the uterus
womb, where fertilized ovum called a zygote will be planted into the uterus
- 3 layers:
1. outermost: serosal
2. muscle/bulk: myometrium
3. innermost: endometrium, which grows and sheds every month (menses)
describe the fallopian tubes
aka oviducts
- site of fertilization
- if sperm travels to fallopian tube b/c of constriction then ecoptic pregnancy can occur, can happen from gonorrhea
describe the vagina
passageway of the menstrual flow, sexual intercourse, and childbirth
describe the cervix
the deepest part of the vagina
- contains a narrow opening into the uterus where the semen/sperm travel into to meet the mature egg
what are the gonadotropic hormones secreted from the pituitary during puberty
- FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
2. LH (leutinizing hormone)
each month the FSH & LH stimulates what?
- FSH stimulates the ovary to produce a mature egg
- as the egg matures, the ovary produces estrogen = stimulates LH
- then the LH stimulates the release of this egg
= if in ovulation and population occurs, woman can get pregnant - LH causes progesterone release, which will maintain pregnancy
endometriosis
endometriosis - an abnormal growth of the endothelial tissues outside the uterus (into vagina, ovaries, or uterine ligaments)
= has to be removed
complications of cervicitis
- potential for ascending infection
- systemic infection
- pregnancy-related complications
- predisposition to cancer (HPV mainly)
what is cervicitis
cervical inflammation
- some degree of cervical inflammation is found in most women is normal
diagnostics for cervicitis
- pelvic exam - physical examination of the external/internal organs
- pap smear - cervical screening for abnormal cervical cells (scrapping) for biopsy
- biopsy
- colposcopy - visually examine the cervix and the vagina w/ a scope
