menstruation physiology

Question 1

when is the follicular phase?

Answer 1

first 14 days

Question 2

how does the follicular phase start?

Answer 2

menstruation of previous cycle

Question 3

how long does follicular phase usually last ?

Answer 3

14 days

Question 4

hormonal changes that occur in follicular phase?

Answer 4

initial fall in oestrogen and prog triggering menstruation
steady increase in FSH and LH
steady increase in the amount of oestrogen

Question 5

increase in FSH and LH stimulates?

Answer 5

completion of the first meiotic division to form the secondary follicle

Question 6

what essentially happens during the follicular phase?

Answer 6

the follicles are stimulated to grow. One of the follicles becomes dominant and is released by the ovum.

Question 7

when does the luteal phase begin?

Answer 7

when the ovum is released

Question 8

there is a surge in two hormones at ovulation. what are they?

Answer 8

LH and FSH

Question 9

surge in what stimulates ovulation?

Answer 9

LH

Question 10

when does ovulation actually occur?

Answer 10

12-36 hours after LH surge

Question 11

how long is the luteal phase?

Answer 11

14 days

Question 12

levels of LH, FSH and oestrogen in luteal phase?

Answer 12

decrease

Question 13

what is there an increase in production of in luteal phase ?

Answer 13

progesterone

Question 14

how does progesterone act to maintain the endometrium and prepare it for implantation?

Answer 14

increased glandular secretion and vascularity

Question 15

what is progesterone produced by?

Answer 15

the corpus luteum

Question 16

what is the corpus luteum?

Answer 16

left over follicle (without the egg)

Question 17

what happens to the corpus luteum if fertilisation doesn’t occur?

Answer 17

the corpus lute begins to degenerate and the amount of progesterone produced goes down

Question 18

what stimulates the corpus lutuem to continue producing progesterone?

Answer 18

the embryo produces HCG which stimulates the maintenance of the corpus luteum and therefore maintenance of a viable endometrium

Question 19

what triggers ovulation?

Answer 19

LH surge

Question 20

is responsible for growth of endometrium and secondary sexual characteristics

Answer 20

oestrogen

Question 21

stimulates switch from negative to positive feedback and the LH surge?

Answer 21

oestrogen peak

Question 22

a normal cycle is said to last ?

Answer 22

21-35 days

Question 23

the hormone of pregnancy as it acts to maintain the endometrium and levels peak after ovulation

Answer 23

progesterone

Question 24

eventually, what takes over in the production of progesterone?

Answer 24

placenta

Question 25

what is the corpus leteum called when its being stimulated by HCG to produce progesterone?

Answer 25

corpus luteum graviditatis

Question 26

what is maximum blood loss in menstruation/

Answer 26

<80mls

Question 27

where is GnRH released from?

Answer 27

the hypothalamus

Question 28

where does GnRH act on?

Answer 28

the pituitary

Question 29

what does the pituitary release in response to GnRH ?

Answer 29

LH and FSH

Question 30

what does LH and FSH stimulate the ovaries to produce?

Answer 30

estrogen and progesterone

Question 31

why do you get a surge in LH in pregnancy?

Answer 31

oestrogen goes down, which usually exerts negative feedback on the pituitary

Question 32

what would levels of LH and FSH be like in ovarian failure?

Answer 32

high levels of FSH and LH trying to stimulate the ovaries to produce more oestrogen and progesterone

Question 33

when are high levels of FHS and LH seen?

Answer 33

in ovarian failure @ early or normal menopause

Question 34

what is hypogonadotrophic?

Answer 34

Low FSH and LH, indicating a problem with the hypothalamic axis
eg pituitary tumour

Question 35

what tests would you do to assess hypogonadsism?

Answer 35

Check oestrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH