PBL 1

Question 1

what is sexual behaviour?

Answer 1

the process by which we demonstrate and express sexuality

Question 2

is sexuality biological?

Answer 2

there is evidence to suggest a relationship between homosexuality and certain regions of the X chromosome but its not definite

Question 3

what are primary sex characteristics?

Answer 3

characteristics related to the reproductive system e.g. penis

Question 4

what are secondary sex characteristics?

Answer 4

those unrelated to the reproductive system e.g. breasts or facial hair

Question 5

what is oxytocin?

Answer 5

a hormone released during sexual intercourse when an orgasm is achieved

Question 6

what is the role of vasopressin?

Answer 6

to form male arousal

Question 7

what increases and decreases female motivation for sexual behaviour?

Answer 7

increases= oestrogen
decreases= progesterone

Question 8

what are sex steroid examples?

Answer 8

progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone

Question 9

what’s the role of sex steroids?

Answer 9

crucial for the proper development and function of the body; they regulate sexual differentiation, the secondary sex characteristics and the sexual behaviour patterns.

Question 10

what are steroids derived from?

Answer 10

acetate-> cholesterol….-> steroids

Question 11

where are steroids synthesised?

Answer 11

in the adrenal cortex, gonads and placenta (within the mitochondria and smooth ER)

Question 12

what are effects of oestrogen?

Answer 12

maintain body temp, helping against memory loss, regulating cholesterol production, stimulating ovary maturation and starting menstruation, helps maintain a lubricated and thick vaginal lining, stimulates breast development, prepares breast glands for future milk production, helps prepare the uterus to nourish a developing foetus and helps to preserve bone density.

Question 13

what are effects of progesterone?

Answer 13

reducing hot flushes and vaginal dryness, fights fatigue, improves mood and sleep, alleviates skin dryness, wrinkling and thinning, prevents loss of bone density and fights weight gain

Question 14

what are androgens?

Answer 14

hormones which play a role in male traits and reproductive activity. E.g. testosterone

Question 15

what is the function of androgens?

Answer 15

male sexual and reproductive function; the development of secondary characteristics and they affect bone + muscle development and metabolism.

Question 16

describe follicle maturation?

Answer 16

primordial follicle -> primary follicle -> secondary follicle -> (preantral) -> tertiary follicle -> preovulatory folllicle (antral)

Question 17

what is a primordial follicle?

Answer 17

an oocyte surrounded by a flat layer of granulosa cells, arrested in prophase of meiosis

Question 18

what is a primary follicle?

Answer 18

an oocyte surrounded by layers of granulosa cells, surrounded by layers of theca cells

Question 19

how long does it take for primordary follicle-> primary follicle?

Answer 19

70 days

Question 20

what is follicular trickle?

Answer 20

most preantral follicles are lost to atresia, but if it’s developing alongside the correct amounts of LH and FSH then folliculogenesis occurs

Question 21

describe a preovulatory follicle?

Answer 21

an oocyte surrounded by a cumulus oophories surrounded by an antrum, surrounded by granulosa cells and a layer of theca cells

Question 22

describe the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 22

The hypothalamus releases GnRH which stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete FSH and LH. LH acts on theca cells to produce androgens. FSH binds to granulosa cells which causes expression of androgen aromatase which changes androgens to oestrogen. Oestrogen at low concentrations, inhibits LH and FSH secretion from the anterior pituitary. Androgens stimulate the growth of follicles which causes production of AMH- this regulates the growth of neighbouring follicles. As follicles mature, oestrogen levels rise more and beyond the threshold, and stimulate the release of a large amount of LH. This triggers ovulation of the dominant follicle- releasing of the oocyte.

Question 23

what does AMH do?

Answer 23

regulates the growth of neighbouring follicles

Question 24

describe how androgens are converted to oestrogen?

Answer 24

LH acts on theca cells which causes production of androgens. FSH binds to granulosa cells causing them to produce androgen aromatase which turns androgens to oestrogen

Question 25

what do androgens do?

Answer 25

stimulates the growth of follicles

Question 26

what is a corpus luteum?

Answer 26

the preovulatory follicle that has lost the oocyte in ovulation

Question 27

describe what happens in the luteal phase of menstruation?

Answer 27

The follicle has now become a corpus luteum which secretes oestrogen, inhibin and progesterone as it slowly degrades. Inhibin prevents FSH being released as we don’t need any more follicle maturation. Progesterone inhibits the hypothalamus from producing GnRH which, in turn, inhibits LH and FSH release. Progestestone also stimulate endometrial growth to prepare the uterus for a fertilised egg to implant

Question 28

describe the luteal phase if there's no fertilised egg?

Answer 28

the corpus luteum degenerates to allow a new set of follicles to mature. Progesterone levels lower to stop the inhibition of GnRH and a new menstrual cycle can then occur.

Question 29

what does inhibin B do? where is it released from?

Answer 29

negative regulates FSH levels | Sertoli cells

Question 30

what is the uterine cycle?

Answer 30

the preparation and maintenance of the uterus lining to receive a fertilised egg

Question 31

what are the phases of the uterine cycle?

Answer 31

menstrual phase proliferative phase and the secretory phase

Question 32

what is the menstrual phase of the uterine cycle?

Answer 32

from day 1 of follicular phase, shedding of uterine lining=menses,

Question 33

what is the proliferative phase of the uterine cycle?

Answer 33

oestrogen levels low but rising and endometrium begins to regrow to prep for a possible pregnancy

Question 34

what is the secretory phase of the uterine cycle?

Answer 34

begins on day of ovulation and is charcterised by significant levels of progesterone and oestrogen, blood supply to endometrial tissues is remodelled

Question 35

what does the length of the follicular phase depend on?

Answer 35

the velocity of growth of the ovarian follicles

Question 36

what does the length of the luteal phase depend on?

Answer 36

the life span of the corpus luteum

Question 37

when is the early follicular phase?

Answer 37

the first day of the cycle and ends when oestradiol begins to increase. It is characterised by increasing LH and FSH and constant low levels of oestradiol.

Question 38

when is the late follicular phase?

Answer 38

the increase in oestradiol and ends at its preovulatory peak. It is characterised by increasing oestradiol and decreasing FSH and LH levels.

Question 39

describe the action of the combined pill?

Answer 39

prevents ovaries from releasing an egg each month, thickens mucus in the neck o the womb, thins the lining of the womb

Question 40

describe the action of the progesterone only pill?

Answer 40

thickens the mucus in the cervix to stop the sperm reaching the egg

Question 41

describe the action of the morning after pill?

Answer 41

works by delaying the increase in the hormone which starts ovulation (progesterone)

Question 42

describe anti androgens?

Answer 42

prevent androgens from mediating their effects by binding to androgen receptors and/or suppressing androgen production. Can be used for treatment of prostate cancer, enlarged prostate, scalp hair loss, overly high sex drive etc…

Question 43

describe the action of testosterone replacement therapy preparations?

Answer 43

- it returns serum testosterone levels to within a physiological range and can improve hypogonadal symptoms.

Question 44

how often does the average adult engage in sex a year?

Answer 44

54 times- varies a lot

Question 45

what is a normal, healthy sex drive?

Answer 45

whatever the person is comfortable with

Question 46

what could be some causes of lower sex drive?

Answer 46

menopause, culture, religion, mental health, age, obesity, chronic conditions, pregnancy, relationship satisfaction, medication, chemotherapy, female hormonal contraception, antidepressants

Question 47

how can you increase sex drive?

Answer 47

sex therapy, increase sleep, aphrodisiac, exercise and testosterone therapy

Question 48

what are some important things to remember when in a consultation with someone with a low sex drive?

Answer 48

could be embarrassing there's a lack of language to describe sensations and body parts assumptions about gender and another' persons experience of sex assumptions about what is normal and where penetration is (own bias) cultural norms must be madeaware of is it safe? STIs? law? violence? payment? consent?

Question 49

describe oogenesis?

Answer 49

before birth, the diploid oogonium undergoes mitotic devision to produce a primary oocyte- arrested in prophase. some get out of meiotic arrest and continue the first meiosis to produce a secondary oocyte and a first polar body. second meiotic cell division then occurs when a sperm fuses with an egg to produce a mature ovum and another polar body