Menstruation and Related Problems Flashcards
Menarche typically occurs within 2-3 years after _____
thelarache (breast budding)
The average age of menarche is
12-13 years old
Menstruation is a normal physiologic process that results in: (2 items)
1- a cyclically recurring maturation
2- slough renewal of the endometrium
Menarche occurs ____ months earlier in African American girls
5.5
What can lead to an earlier onset of puberty (5 items)?
1- Higher body mass index 2- environmental factors 3- socioeconomic factors 4- nutrition 5- access to preventative health care
Under complex regulation by the _______, _______, and the _______, cyclic changes induce developmental of a dominant follicle that results in ovulation and corpus luteum formation.
hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries
What is the frequency of the normal menstrual cycle?
24-38 days
The ovarian cycle is further divided into (2 phases)
1- Follicular phase
2- Luteal phase
What is the average amount of blood loss that takes place during menstruation?
5-80mls
What is the average length of the mensural cycle?
4.5-8 days
Describe the Follicular phase
1- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is released by the hypothalamus
2- GnRH stimulates the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary gland
3- FSH and LH stimulates a number of follicles to begin developing. The follicles produce estrogen, therefore there will be increases in estrogen levels
4- One of the follicles will become the dominant follicle, producing the most estrogen, and the remaining follicles will undergo atresia
5- Estrogen levels will reach their peak 24 hours before ovulation
6- LH will then surge, and ovulation will occur within 24-36 hours
What phase does the start of ovulation indicate?
Luteal phase
During the luteal phase, there is a shift from ______ dominance, to ________ dominance
estrogen; progesterone
What days does the follicular phase take place in?
days 1-14
What days does the luteal phase take place in?
days 15-28
Describe the Luteal phase
1- The follicle ruptures causing the corpus luteum to develop
2- The corpus luteum produces large amounts of progesterone
3- Progesterone suppresses further follicular growth and causes secretory changes in the endometrium
4- If the woman does not become pregnant, the corpus luteum will deteriorate 9-11 days after ovulation
5- The deterioration of the corpus luteum results in a sharp decline in progesterone and estrogen and triggers menstruation
_______ causes an elevation in basal body temperature, therefore daily measurement of basal body temperature usually can determine whether ovulation has occurred
Progesterone
What are the phases of the uterine cycle?
1- proliferate phase
2- secretory phase
What phase of the ovarian cycle does the proliferate phase correspond with?
Follicular
What takes place during the proliferate phase?
Estrogen stimulates the endometrium to thicken and form progesterone receptors to increase blood flow to the endometrium
What phase of the ovarian cycle does the secretory phase correspond with?
Luteal phase
What takes place during the luteal phase?
progesterone causes the endometrium to differentiate and secrete proteins that are important in supporting implantation of the embryo if fertilization of the egg occurs
What does decrease of estrogen and progesterone result in?
Sloughing of the endometrium and a restart of the menstrual cycle
Absence of menses for at least three usual cycle lengths
amenorrhea
Infrequently occurring menses at intervals greater than 38 days
Oligomenorrhea
Menses at intervals of 21-24 days or fewer
polymenorrhea
Regular bleeding in less than normal amount
hypomenorrhea
Bleeding excessive in duration and flow that is greater than 80ml/cycle greater than 7 days, or irregular, heavy bleeding (2 names)
Menorrhagia, Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB)
Bleeding at any time between otherwise normal menses or light bleeding occurring irregular
Intermenstrual bleeding (IMB)
Irregular, heavy bleeding
Menometrorrhagia
Light bleeding, occurring irregular
Metrorrhagia