Ovulation disorders Flashcards
Recall the female HPG axis
What are ovulatory disorders associated with ?
Ovulatory disorders associated with oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea
Define what oligomenorrhoea is
menses at intervals > 35 days (infrequent periods)
What can amenorrhoea be subdivided into ?
Primary & secondary amenorrhoea
Define primary amenorrhoea
Failure to start menstruating
Define secondary amenorrhoea ?
Absence of menstruation for > 6months, other than that caused by pregnancy
For women who are concerned about their fertility what should be asked about their menstrual cycle and what advice should be given?
- They should be asked about the frequency and regularity of their menstrual cycles
- Women with regular menstrual cycles should be informed they are likely to be ovulating
- Women with irregular menstrual cycles are likey to be anovulatory
For women with regular menstrual cycles who are undergoing assessment for infertility how should ovulation be confimed?
Confirm by midluteal (D21 of a 28 day cycle) serum progesterone (>30 nmol/L) X 2 samples
For women with irregular menstrual cycles being assessed for infertility, what should be done to assess ovulation ?
- Women with prolonged irregular menstrual cycles - measure serum progesterone. Depending upon the timing of menstrual periods, this test may need to be conducted later in the cycle (for example day 28 of a 35-day cycle) and repeated weekly thereafter until the next menstrual cycle starts.
- Women with irregular menstrual cycles should be offered a blood test to measure serum gonadotrophins (FSH & LH)
What is the WHO classification of ovulatory dysfunction ?
- Group I – hypothalamic pituitary failure
- Group II – hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction
- Group III – ovarian failure
Other causes- Hyperprolactinaemia
What is Class I hypothalamic pituitary failure ?
- It is essentially where there is failure to secrete GnRH ==> failure to secrete FSH and LH ==> hypogonadism
- Called hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
What are the biochem results which indicate hypogonadotrophic gonadism ?
- Low levels FSH / LH
- Oestrogen deficiency - Negative progesterone challenge test (this tests to see if there is normal oestrogen levels - withdrawl bleeding within 10 days of progesterone challenge diagnoses anovulatory cycle)
- Normal prolactin
What does hypothalamic pituitary failure result in ?
Amenorrohea
What are the main causes of hypogonadotrophic gonadism (hypothalamic pituitary failure) ?
- Stress
- Excessive exercise
- Anorexia / low BMI
- Hypothyroidism
- Brain / pituitary tumours
- Head trauma
- Kallman’s syndrome
- Drugs (steroids, opiates)
What should be done prior to ferility treatment for someone with hypothalamic pituitary failure (Hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism)?
- Stabilise weight (BMI >18.5)
- Life style modification: smoking, alcohol
- Folic acid 400 mcg daily
- Check prescribed drugs
- Check patinet is Rubella immune
- Check there is normal semen analysis & Patent fallopian tubes
What specific fertility treatment should be given to women with hypothalamic pituitary failure (hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism)
Pulsatile GnRH or Gonadotrophin (FSH+LH) daily injections (2nd option has higher multiple preg rates)
Both need US monitoring of response
What is biochem features of hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction ?
- Normal gonadotrophins/excess LH
- Normal oestrogen levels
What is the result of hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction ?
Oligomenorrohea/amenorrhoea
What is the most common hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction disease ?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome