Repro Flashcards
what does oestrogen do?
promote uterine tube secretions, motility and ciliary function
facilitate movement of oocyte through tube
what does oestrogen act on?
anterior pituitary to secrete LH and FSH
what is the primary hormone responsible for triggering ovulation?
LH surge triggers ovulation
what is shed of the endometrium during menstruation?
functional layer shed as is hormone sensitive
basal layer - stem cell layer from which new function layer develops- not lost during menstruation
what is the normal duration of the mensural cycle?
21-35 days
14 day luteal phase and a follicular phase of variable duration - between 7 to 21 days in length
what are the two cell layers of the ovary that are hormonally sensitive and what is the result of hormone stimulation of these layers?
granulosa cells- FSH- oestrogens
theca cells- LH- androgens
conversion of theca androgens by granulose cell aromatase
what is the primary hormone responsible for follicular growth during the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle?
FSH
from the ant pituitary promotes growth, development and steroidogenesis in the ovary
boy with low levels of GnRH and normal levels of LH and FSH
underlying defect?
constitutional delay
- hyPOgonadatrophic hypogonadism
- gonad not receiving the stimulus to produce testosterone from the hypothalamus and ant pituitary
- normal puberty will eventually occur
boy with high levels of GnRH, LH and FSH
underling defect?
gonadal defect
- hypERgonadatophic HYPOgonadism
- despite production of GnRH and LH and FSH the gonad is not responding by producing testosterone
- no (-) feedback and therefore GnRH, FSH and LH become elevated
by what age should the earliest sign of puberty normally be observed In boys and girls?
boys- 14 y/o
girls- 13 y/o
what is the first sign of puberty in boys?
testicular enlargement
- driven in response to trophic stimulation of the seminiferous tubules by FSH
what is the first sign of puberty in girls?
thelarche - breast bud development
which hormone stimulates endometrial proliferation? at which point of the cycle does this occur?
oestrogen- proliferative phase
- build back up following menstruation
- progesterone then prepares the already proliferated endometrium for potential blastocyst implantation during the secretory phase
hormones during a menstrual cycle?
- LH surge
- progesterone levels rise steeply as the corpus luteum is formed and as a result FSH and LH are suppressed due to (-) feedback mechanisms
in the mid follicular phase of the menstrual cycle what is responsible for the specific suppression of FSH release?
rising inhibit levels
- rising oestrogen levels reach a conc whereby they have a (+) feedback on HPO axis
- only LH rises as follicular inhibit levels also rise and have specific (-) feedback on FSH at ant pituitary
- prevents recruitment of follicles to allow a dominant follicle to be selected
- progesterone levels only start increasing at ovulation at the start of luteal phase
the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system allows which two structures to communicate?
hypothalamus and ant pituitary
in males- leydig cells are primary site of action for which hormone
LH
to produce testosterone
true or false
variation in the duration of the luteal phase accounts for the varying duration of a woman’s menstrual cycle
false
point at which ovulation occurs can vary
happens at the end of follicular phase - this phase can vary in terms of duration
- once ovulation has occurred- luteal phase is always typically 14 days long- life span of corpus luteum
15 y/o with no periods, cyclical pelvic pain and not sexually active. secondary sexual characteristics are present and LH, FSH, testosterone and oestrogen are all within normal range. what is the most likely cause of this patient’s primary amenorrhea?
outflow tract obstruction - eg imperforate hymen
what is least likely to cause menorrhagia?
endometriosis
think of PALM COEIN
- fibroids common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding - ask about excessive bleeding to rule out coagulation disorders
26y/o with previous normal menstrual cycles with no period for 3 months. what investigation should be carried out first in this patient?
hCG
- pregnancy most common cause for secondary amenorrhea with a patient with no history
periods occur between 18-21 days, lasting for about two days. how can this pattern be described?
frequent and regular
- frequent= cycle occurs less than every 24 days
each cycle is within 3 days of the other- normal limit of variation/ regularity= regular
identify the terms for:
- heavy menstural bleeding
- absence of periods
- infrequent periods
- painful periods
- irregular periods
- menorrhagia
- amenorrhea
- oligomenorrhea
- dysmenorrhea
- metrorrhagia
endometriosis
presence of endometrium in abnormal locations
can occur anywhere in the body
51 y/o complains of amenorrhea of 12 months duration and hot flushes, irritability and poor sleep. what is the most likely underlying cause for this woman’s symptoms ?
ovarian failure = menopause
what is the most effective management option for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause in a patient who has not had a hysterectomy
hormone replacement therapy with oestrogen and progesterone
- don’t I’ve unopposed oestrogen with an intact uterus due to the risk of unopposed oestrogen theory to the endometrium which can lead to endometrial cancer
- topical oestrogen therapy can be useful for localised symptoms of menopause eg vaginal dryness
in evaluation of the menopause in a woman, what are the findings for FSH level, oestradiol level and vaginal pH
elevated FSH
decreased oestradiol
vaginal pH > 4.5
depleted supply of ovarian follicles which decreases the production of oestradiol - reduces (-) feedback on the ant pituitary
this increases FSH in attempt to stimulate ovarian function
vaginal pH is maintained below 4.5 by dominance of growth by vaginal Lactobacilli which metabolises glycogen produced under the influence of oestrogen. when oestrogen levels decline, so does glycogen production leading to increase in vaginal pH
at the start of menopause, are FSH and LH levels low or high?
high
- no follicles to develop so no oestrogen to (-) feedback on ant pituitary.
- ant pituitary increases FSH production in order to promote follicular development
8 months of secondary amenorrhoea. pregnancy test (-), TSH and prolactin levels normal. FSH elevated above normal limits.
undergoing premature ovarian failure - pathological as under the age of 40.
the patient is therefore at an increased risk of osteoporosis
is endometrial cancer a risk associated with taking combined oestrogen and progesterone HRT?
no- only risk if oestrogen only HRT
from where does the artery suppling blood to the ovary arise?
aortic arch- inf to SMA, sup to IMA
- reflects site at development
- venous and lymph drainage follow the same course- lymph nodes are paraaortic not pelvic or inguinal
into which lymph nodes do the lymphatics of the body of the uterus drain?
internal iliac
into which lymph nodes does the ovary drain?
para-aortic
into which lymph nodes does the lower 1/3 of the vagina drain?
superficial inguinal nodes
to which structure is the lateral fornix of the vagina most closely related?
ureter
at which junction is the internal os of the cervix located?
body and cervix of uterus
in which part of the Fallopian tube do ectopic pregnancies most commonly occur?
ampulla
where is the most common site for fluid collection in females
- rectouterine pouch (pouch of Douglas) lowest point of the peritoneal cavity in females
which ligament transmits blood vessels to the ovary?
suspensory ligament of the ovary
what is the normal position of the uterus?
anteverted and ante flexed
where does the gubernaculum connect to in males?
connect developing testis to developing scrotum- creates the ‘pull’ to guide the testis caudal through the abdomen to enter the scrotum by the end of gestation
structural anomaly of a urethral opening posteriorly along the ventral surface of the shaft of penis
failure of urogenital folds to fuse
- fusion of these folds and labioscrotal folds is under the influence of testis derived androgens
- Wollfian duct develops into the vas deferent and the ureteric bud induces development of the definitive kidney and the ureter