Menstrual Cycle

Question 1

what is primary amenorrhoea

Answer 1

the failure to establish menstruation by 16 years old

Question 2

what is secondary amenorrhoea

Answer 2

stopping of a previously normal menstruation for over 6 months

Question 3

what is oligomenorrhoea

Answer 3

infrequent menstruation

Question 4

what is menorrhagia

Answer 4

excessive menstrual loss

Question 5

how to fibroids cause menorrhagia

Answer 5

by increasing the surface area

Question 6

what are common causes for menorrhagia

Answer 6

fibroids, polyps, endometrial cancer, bleeding disorders

Question 7

what is dysmenorrhoea

Answer 7

pain during menstruation

Question 8

what is endometriosis

Answer 8

growth of plaques made of endometrium growing outside of the uterus

Question 9

what can you give to treat endometriosis

Answer 9

GnRH against - this will desensitise the GnRH receptors to switch off the HPG axis and so oestrogen won’t be produced to help the plaques grow

Question 10

why are GnRH agonists not good for long term treatment

Answer 10

the lack of oestrogen produced can cause osteoporosis

Question 11

what are the 2 layers which make up the endometrium

Answer 11

1. functional layer

2. basal layer

Question 12

what is the functional layer of the endometrium

Answer 12

the hormone responsive layer which grows and sheds if fertilisation doesn’t occur

Question 13

what is the basal layer of the endometrium

Answer 13

the cells that grow to give the functional layer

Question 14

true or false: low levels of oestrogen cause a positive feedback response

Answer 14

false

Question 15

true or false: high levels of oestrogen cause a positive feedback response

Answer 15

true

Question 16

is there a positive or negative feedback mechanism in the presence of oestrogen and progesterone

Answer 16

negative

Question 17

how can progesterone be used in a contraceptive pill

Answer 17

thickens the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering

Question 18

at the start of the cycle, what does a rise in FSH cause

Answer 18

follicular development

Question 19

what cells does the FSH bind to

Answer 19

granulose cells

Question 20

what will the follicle begin secreting when it has matured

Answer 20

oestrogen and inhibin

Question 21

after an initial increase in FSH, what causes the FSH levels to fall

Answer 21

the inhibin produced by the mature follicle

Question 22

what causes the LH surge

Answer 22

high levels of oestrogen produced from the follicle cause a positive feedback response, causing a large increase in LH

Question 23

what does the LH surge allow to happen

Answer 23

ovulation

for the follicle to finish meiosis 1 and start meiosis 2

Question 24

what is left in the ovary after ovulation

Answer 24

corpus luteum

Question 25

what hormones does the corpus lutuem produce

Answer 25

oestrogen and progesteorne and inhibin

Question 26

why do the LH and FSH levels decrease after ovulation

Answer 26

the oestrogen and progesterone released by the corpus luteum cause a negative feedback response
inhibin also prevents FSH production

Question 27

what happens if fertilisation occurs

Answer 27

HCG is produced which has the same effect as LH

Question 28

where is HCG produced from

Answer 28

syncytiotrophoblast

Question 29

what do FSH and LH do

Answer 29

cause follicular development and ovulation as well as the release of oestrogen

Question 30

what happens to the initial levels of LH and FSH in menopause

Answer 30

they increase