Reproductive Aging Flashcards
how many follicles are females born with
1 million down to 300,000 by puberty
what does each follicle contain
1 egg
what is ovulation
every cycle, one mature egg is released from the growing follicle
what occurs after menarche
ovulation and approaching menopause
what is ovulation regulated by
Lh and FSH hormones
where do the regulated hormones get released from
the pituitary gland
what does LH and FSH promote
follicle growth and preparation for ovulation
what are the functions of estrogen and progesterone
ovulation mainly by estrogen via FSH and LH surge and prepare the uterus for implantation of a fertilized egg
what occurs when there is no fertilization during ovulation
estrogen and progesterone levels fall and thickened layer of uterus is sloughed off while LH and FSH levels rise and cycle begins again
what important roles does Estrogen have a part in
bone strength and structure, joint health, muscle mass/strength/power, cardiovascular health, brain health and cognitive function, and metabolic regulation
what hormone is responsible for joint laxity in women
estrogen
what occurs to follicle numbers with aging
number and quality decline progressively
what are the signs of approaching menopause
variable estrogen and progesterone, increasing LH and FSH, and a decline in anabolic hormones alongside with the decrease in both growth hormone and IGF-1
what are characteristics of menopause onset
follicular numbers decline to a critical low, FSH and LH levels are high and estrogen levels are low
what is the average age range of menopause onset
50-52
what is the STRAW model
divides the adult female life into three broad phases that include 7 stages
what are the 3 phases in STRAW
reproductive years, transition years, and post-menopause years
what are the 7 stages of the STRAW model
- reproductive early, peak, late
- transition early and late menopausal transition
- post-menopausal early and late
at what age do women enter menopausal transition (MT)
46
what are the signs of MT
increased FSH, decline in estrogen and progesterone levels, variable cycle length by at least 7 days, amenorrhea of >60 days
when does menopause onset begin
at the final menstrual period
what is the average age of menopause onset
50-52 years old
what is the hallmark of menopause
decreased estrogen
how much does the uterus shrink 15-20 post-menopause
70%
what are some physiological changes associated with menopause
atrophy of urogenital tissues, decline in proportion of lean body mass with increase in fat mass, changes to hair/nails/skin, and loss of protective effect to musculoskeletal and cardiometabolic health
during later perimenopause there’s a sudden rise in what rate
increased fat mass
when does accelerated bone loss occur
just prior to FMP and continues for the first 2-3 years after
what are ways to prevent bone loss during menopause
Ca2+ and vitamin D intake, weight-bearing and resistance exercise, and hormone replacement therapy
what changes occur to muscle mass during menopause
an increase in intermuscular fat and type 1 fibers, decrease in type 2 fibers and estrogen receptors due to muscle protein synthesis/muscle protein breakdown
what changes occur to muscle strength during menopause
decrease in motor units, type 2 fibers, calcium release, and ability to recruit all motor unit
what are symptoms during peri/post menopause
hot flashes/night sweats, mental health, sleep disturbance, cognitive performance, sexual function, and joint stiffness and pain
what are the health risks due to menopause
cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, low bone mineral density and low muscle mass and strength
what are some physical activity benefits for women in post menopause
improved sleep and mood, prevention of unhealth weight gain, maintenance of bone mineral density and muscle mass/strength/power, and CVD and T2D prevention
what does estrogen promote
anabolic response of muscle cells to exercise for muscle growth
what type of exercise prescription is best for females post menopause
resistance exercise to maintain/minimize decline in muscle mass, weight-bearing activities and resistance training to minimize bone loss, aerobic activity to maintain CV fitness, and flexibility and balance
what are the androgenic effects of testosterone
development and maintenance of sex organs, sperm development, arousal, secondary sex characteristics
what are the anabolic effects of testosterone
build muscle mass and strength, bone density and strength
what occurs reproductively due to aging in men
fertility declines slightly, decreased testosterone levels, decreased size and weight of testes, prostate gland enlarges, and increased risk of erectile dysfunction
what is the physiology of ‘Andropause”
progressive testosterone declines from 30-40 years onward, sperm production mostly conserved but quality decline
what are symptoms of andropause
low energy, depression or sadness, erectile dysfunction, infertility, increased body fat, etc.
when does testosterone levels peak
peaks in 30s and then declines 0.3-1% per year
why does testosterone decrease with age
due to decrease in number of Leydig cells of the testes
what is low testosterone linked to increase risk of
hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, type 2 diabetes, etc.
what is late onset hypogonadism
a syndrome that is characterized by low testosterone and accompanying signs and/or symptoms
what is the trajectory of age-related decline in testosterone affected by
obesity, medications, smoking, alcohol, stress, diet, and genetics
what does decreased BMI result in
an increase in testosterone
what are the effects of exercise on testosterone levels in men
lower likelihood of having low testosterone
what are exercise recommendations for males and testosterone decline
aerobic exercise and resistance training
what is physical function
being able to perform activities of daily living
how do you preserve physical function
maintain quality of life, prevent loss of independence, and need to better understance the factors that contribute to poor physical function amoung older adults
what is the decline in cardiovascular fitness due to
limitation on O2 delivery and uptake
what does decline in lung function lead to
impaired ventilation
what was the study’s objective in Gina’s Journal club demo
to describe associations between factors within different physiological system and self-reported physical function in older adults and determine if the associations differe in men vs women
