Fertility Flashcards
What is the position of the uterus in relation to the bladder?
Antroverted (usually)
What type of feedback is there in the menstrual cycle?
Oestrogen causes positive feedback in the first half and negative feedback in the second half
How many eggs does a woman have before birth?
7 million eggs
When does atresia of eggs start?
20 weeks gestation
Why does a woman’s fertility decrease after age 30?
Age related decline in quantity and quality of ovarian reserve
Age related increase in aneuploidy due to non-disjunction
What is the biggest predictor of fertility?
Maternal age
What is the biggest predictor of successful ovulation?
Regular periods
How is the ovarian reserve measured?
Antral follicle count (AFC)
Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH)
What is the life cycle of an ovarian follicle?
Primary follicle matures, ovulates and then becomes corpus luteum, which then regresses
What are the 3 phases of the menstrual cycle?
- Menstrual phase
- Proliferative phase
- Secretory phase (progesterone rises)
What are the 3 phases of the ovarian cycle?
- Follicular phase
- Ovulatory phase
- Luteal phase
Which hormones increase during the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle?
FSH –> oestrogen –> GnRH –> LH
What is the corpus luteum on TV ultrasound evidence of?
Ovulation
What does the corpus luteum degenerate into?
corpus albicans
What causes dysmenorrhea (pain during menstrual period)?
Drop in progesterone
When does implantation begin?
6-7 days after ovulation (day 21 of menstrual cycle)
What are the 3 types of female infertility?
- Egg problems
- Transport problems
- Implantation problems
What causes problems with eggs (anovulation)?
- Hypothalamic dysfunction
- Pituitary dysfunction
- Thyroid dysfunction/ovarian failure/ PCOS
(may be hypog hypog)
What is the most common cause of ovulatory dysfunction?
PCOS
Why are obese women more likely to be infertile?
Endogenous oestrogen (produced from fat) causes an ovulation Weight loss can restore ovulation
How can gonadotrophin-deficient patients be treated?
Given hMG to induce ovulation
What drugs can be given to treat anovulation?
Clomiphene citrate
Letrozole
How is menopause defined?
One year of amenorrhea
Which hormones characterise menopause?
High FSH
Low oestradiol
What is climacteric/peri menopause?
Time around the last menstrual period (irregular periods, vasomotor symptoms etc)
What are the symptoms of menopause?
Anovulatory cycles Menstrual irregularities Menorrhagia (heavy periods) Physical changes, e.g. night sweats Psychological changes (lack of oestrogen)
What is the average age of menopause in the UK?
52 years
What are the long term consequences of menopause?
Osteoporosis
CV disease
Vaginal dryness/atrophy
Alzheimer’s
How is menopause treated?
Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) - given oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone or non-hormonal measures
What are the risks of hormone replacement therapy?
VTE
breast cancer
endometrial cancer
CVD
How is premature ovarian insufficiency diagnosed?
4 months of amenorrhoea
FSH over 30 on 2 occasions
age < 40
What is the cause of premature ovarian insufficiency? (POI)
Inadequate oogenesis
Follicle depletion/dysfunction
What are the implications for women with POI?
higher risk of CV disease/bone disease/infertility and depression
How is POI treated?
Hormone replacement therapy
Fertility treatment
Psychological support