Puberty, Menstrual Cycle, Menopause Flashcards
What is Puberty?
Transition from childhood to sexual maturity
What are signs that you are going through puberty?
Hips broaden
Breasts develop
Pubic & axillary hair
Menarche
Define Menarche
What age does menarche occur?
Onset of menstruation
Age 8-16 (avg is 12.5)
? Average menstruation cycle length total?
Around 38 days but 28-29 days when they aren’t on their actual period.
but it can vary per woman
? Average period amount
What contraceptive method can influence amount?
1-2 ounces
25-80 mL
Varies per woman.
The pill can affect how heavy your flow is.
What health condition can heavier or irregular menses (bleeding, periods) lead to?
Anemia!
One young girl lives in Alaska. Another lives in Southern America.
Which girl will more than likely have their menarche first?
What does menarche mean again?
The girl living in South America. A warmer climate correlates with an earlier menarche.
Menarche means onset of menstruation
A pregnant mother complains of feeling constipated and having to use the restroom frequently.
Should she be too concerned? Why or why not?
Constipation and frequent urination are normal in pregnancy.
This has to do with the uterus growing and putting pressure on the bladder and bowel.
Name 3 layers of the uterine corpus (uterus).
Perimetrium
Myometrium
Endometrium
What is the perimetrium?
Perimetrium is the outer layer.
What is the myometrium?
Myometrium is the middle, muscular layer,
What is the endometrium?
What happens to this layer during menstruation?
Endometrium is the inner, mucus layer.
We shed this layer off.
What is the physical structure of the uterus like?
Why is it this way?
It’s made of fibers that run in different directions and inner lace with each other.
The overlapping fibers help to prevent PPH or post partum hemorrhage.
Is the uterus a stagnant organ?
No, it is very mobile in the abdominal cavity. It is not fixed.
Three different sections to the Follopain tubes
Isthmus
Ampulla
Fimbria
Which section of the Fallopian tubes is closest to the uterus?
What site is it?
The isthmus is the closest to the uterus.
Site of tubal ligation.
What section of the Fallopian Tubes is the distal or outer portion?
What site?
The ampulla is the outer portion.
Site of fertilization
What is the very edge of the Fallopian Tube called?
What does it resemble?
Edge is the Fimbria.
Resembles fingerlike projections.
What if the Fimbria part of the fallopian tube has adhesions?
What does adhesion mean?
The adhesions could stop the egg from being caught and therefore the egg would fall to the peritoneal cavity and thus no chance of conception.
Adhesion could be an obstruction or even scarring from inflammation or infection.
What function keeps the ovum/egg moving while in the fallopian tube (to get to the uterus)?
Ciliary movement from cilia hairs that creates a current for the egg to be transported by.
The ovary releases the ovum.
Then the ciliary movement moves it through the tube.
Where do the ovum and sperm unite for conception?
The outer third (ampulla , I think but need to double check)
Name of the fallopian tube fluid that provides nourishment?
Serous fluid
Good & Bad of the ovaries lacking a peritoneal cavity?
Good is that it allows for ovulation
Bad is it allows for spread of cancer to be easier
Where are follicles stored and developed?
How many follicles are we born with?
What does hyper-ovulator mean?
Ovaries.
We are born with all our follicles at birth. One by one, once we go through puberty, we begin to release one egg at a time.
Hyper-ovulator means that you release more than one egg at a time. End up with twins. (Can have hysterectomy to fix)
Which two hormones are secreted by ovaries?
Estrogen & Progesterone
What is the nickname for Estrogen?
“Femaleness hormone” meaning it helps the follicle to mature for ovulation.
Female sex characteristics; puberty
Growth hormone in pregnancy : breasts increase in size, uterine growth, blood vol increase
Nickname of progesterone?
What is your progesterone levels are low?
Why?
Is it treatable?
“Pregnancy hormone” or released after the ovulation which keeps you pregnant.
Low progesterone is tied to increased risk of miscarriage - so it is keeping you pregnant.
It is supposed to calm the uterus - and so without it, you can contract yourself into a miscarriage. Also can calm the CNS.
Can be treated with replacement therapy usually around 16-36 weeks IM. Comes in many forms though; pill, vaginal, IM, etc
What are some issues that can arise because the progesterone calms the entire CNS?
Sedate feeling, sleepy
Constipation
UTI
Etc
Because it calms and halts things.
Main 3 parts of the ovarian cycle
Follicular
Ovulation/Graafian
Luteal
What occurs in the follicular phase?
Variance
Follicle/egg/ovum matures before releasing
Yes, this part of the cycle is what gives you the variance in your cycle.
What happens in ovulation/Graafian?
Ovum/egg is released by the ovary = ovulation
Graafian follicle or house of the egg remains within the ovary.
What occurs in the Luteal phase of the Ovarian cycle?
This is the post-ovulation phase where progesterone takes over because it is released from the Graafian follicle house.
Because progesterone is now in the picture, estrogen levels decrease.
And then the luteal phase ends completing the ovarian cycle. After you have your period, the cycle begins all over again. (Bc you have to ovulate in order to bleed)
Name the Menstrual Cycle hormones
FSH Estrogen LH Progesterone Prostoglandin E Prostoglandin F
Where is FSH released?
What does FSH do?
Pituitary
The FSH release stimulates ovary to release estrogen for the follicle to begin maturing
What does LH peak do?
It triggers ovulation and the release of progesterone = to keep uterus quiet
- How does this trigger ovulation?
- Well FH triggers release of estrogen which is just the female hormone.
- But when it’s time to ovulate, the progesterone has to come in and so LH is responsible for it.
Recap of hormones
FSH from pituitary causes release of estrogen so that the follicle matures.
Once matured, LH peak occurs so ovulation occurs. And the Graafian house causes the release of progesterone.
Yep
Pg E purpose
Good for?
Relaxes the uterus
Vasodilator relaxer to lower BP
Good for onset of labor
Pg F does what?
Good for?
Vasoconstrictor
Increases contraction of uterus and arteries
Good for use of hemorrhage
Menstrual phase
Begins on the first day of period
Lasts 3-5 days on average
Proliferative phase
You stop bleeding. Build up and proliferation of the lining to prepare for next period.
Secretory Phase
What happens to the lining in the secretory phase?
At this point, ovulation has occurred by now due to LH. The Graafian house was left behind, and so progesterone is now released.
This is where the lining becomes extremely thick and vascular.
{At this point your body is still anticipating conception.}