Female Reproductive Cycle

Question 1

Hormone that stimulates the production of LH and FSH

Answer 1

GnRH - gonadotrophin releasing hormone

Question 2

Where is GnRH produced?

Answer 2

In the hypothalamus

Question 3

Where are FSH and LH produced?

Answer 3

In the anterior pituitary gland

Question 4

The name of the first phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 4

The follicular phase (day 0-14)

Question 5

The name of the second phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 5

The luteal phase (day 14-28)

Question 6

What does FSH do within the ovaries

Answer 6

It stimulates follicular maturation of the primary follicles causing them to mature into secondary follicles

Question 7

Which hormone do the secondary follicles produce?

Answer 7

Oestrogen

Question 8

What effect does Oestrogen have during the follicular phase?

Answer 8

Day 0-10: at low concentrations negative feedback on the pituitary inhibiting the release of LH
High levels of oestrogen will reduce the levels of FSH
After day 10: at high concentrations stimulates LH secretion - leads to spike in LH hormone
Stimulates bone and muscle growth
Stimulation of endometrial growth
Maintains female secondary characteristics
Maintains glands (e.g, breasts)

Question 9

What leads to the spike in LH secretion?

Answer 9

High levels of oestrogen stimulate the release of LH

Question 10

What effect does the spike in LH secretion levels have?

Answer 10

Triggers ovulation of the most mature follicle in the ovary - oocyte released

Question 11

What happens to the levels of LH, FSH and GnRH following ovulation?

Answer 11

They decrease

Question 12

What happens to the follicle following ovulation

Answer 12

Becomes the corpus luteum

Question 13

Name the three hormones which the corpus luteum secretes

Answer 13

Oestrogen
Inhibin
Progesterone

Question 14

What effect does inhibin have?

Answer 14

It has a negative feedback effect on FSH - don’t need any more mature follicles

Question 15

What effect does progesterone have during the luteal phase?

Answer 15

Suppress GnRH release

Stimulates endometrial growth

Question 16

What happens if there is no fertilisation

Answer 16

Corpus luteum degenerates decreasing the production of oestrogen, progesterone and inhibin.

Question 17

What allows a new menstrual cycle to occur?

Answer 17

Degeneration of the corpus luteum means that progesterone is no longer being produced and so the endometrium breaks down and GnRH is no longer inhibited. This allows a new follicle to develop and the cycle to start again.

Question 18

Length of menstrual cycle normal range

Answer 18

21-35 days

Question 19

Length of menstrual loss normal range

Answer 19

4-6 days

Question 20

Menorrhagia

Answer 20

prolonged and increased menstrual flow

Question 21

Metrorrhagia

Answer 21

regular intermenstrual bleeding

Question 22

Polymenorrhoea

Answer 22

More frequent periods (cycle

Question 23

Polymenorrhagia

Answer 23

increased bleeding and frequent cycle

Question 24

Menometrorrhagia

Answer 24

prolonged menses and intermenstrual bleeding

Question 25

Amenorrhoea

Answer 25

absence of menstruation >6 months

Question 26

Oligomenorrhoea

Answer 26

Menses at intervals of >35days

Question 27

Women over what age with menorrhagia should be investigated for endometrial carcinoma?

Answer 27

SIGN = 40 years
(NICE= 45 years)

Question 28

When is the earliest time you can have a positive pregnancy test

Answer 28

10-11 days post conception (when you miss a period)

Question 29

When does ovulation tend to occur in a regular menstrual cycle?

Answer 29

Usually 14 days before the next period

Question 30

At what duration prior to ovulation does the LH surge occur?

Answer 30

24-36 hours

Question 31

Changes in the endometrium in the luteal phase are direct effect of which hormone?

Answer 31

Progesterone