Reproductive Aging

Question 1

Characteristics associated with menopause

Answer 1

-Ovaries undergo a dramatic decline, resulting in their complete loss of function.

-Ovarian hormone levels drop, affecting
steroid-responsive tissues

Some evidence suggests that oral contraceptives (which
inhibit ovulation) tend to delay menopause

Question 2

Perimenopause

Answer 2

First indication of perimenopause = change in menstrual cycles ,hot flashes, sleep
irregularities, mood changes, vaginal
dryness

Question 3

first endocrine changes occur during

perimenopause when…

Answer 3

ovaries stop producing anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin-B.

reduction in estradiol levels

FSH levels remain high

Question 4

What do AMH and inhin declines reflect

Answer 4

AMH levels reflect the entrance of resting
follicles. reproductive life but begins to
decline several years before menopause.

• Inhibin-B suppresses the release of FSH
from the anterior pituitary

Question 5

f FSH during
perimenopause may contribute to the
irregularity of menstrual cycling. Why?

Answer 5

Higher FSH levels increase the rate of follicular maturation, shortening the follicular phase and speeding
up cycles.

Question 6

Symptoms of Menopause cause

Answer 6

The cause (either directly or indirectly) is the change in circulating hormones, especially
the drop in circulating estrogen

Question 7

What causes LH & FSH levels to rise in menopause ?

Answer 7

After a woman’s cycles have ended, the ovaries cease to respond to FSH and LH. depletion of ovarian follicles results in a decrease in the production of estradiol to very low levels. Low E means little to no negative feedback

Question 8

What causes voice deepening

Answer 8

The sex hormones are no longer bound, leaving increase in androgens in plasma. Androgens w. no E = voice, hair, camel toe

Question 9

Hot Flashes cause

Answer 9

ympathetic nervous system is activated, causing dilation of blood vessels in
the skin, which results in increased blood flow/ sweat to the skin.

Question 10

What Drives Menopause

Answer 10

• The reduction in the number of oocytes
drives menopause (Decreased E)

Question 11

Determining Fertility

Answer 11

account the length and regularity of menstrual cycles and the circulating levels of FSH

Inhibin-B levels can be measured in the
follicular phase

AMH levels can be measured at any time
of the menstrual cycle

number of early antral follicles can be visualized by transvaginal ultrasound during
the early follicular stage

Question 12

• Signs of andropause

Answer 12

Erections take longer to achieve
Requires more active stimulation to enable intercourse 
Decreased libido
Fatigue 
Depression 
Cognitive decline

decline
in testosterone levels

Question 13

males also include reductions in:

Answer 13

DHEA 
Growth hormone
Insulin-like growth factor-1 
Melatonin
leydig cells that produce T 
Reduced inhibin production by Sertoli cells
results in higher FSH levels

Question 14

Andropause causes

Answer 14

lowered testosterone= decrease in the ability of the testis to respond to pituitary gonadotropins