Reproductive Hormones Flashcards
What is an oestrogen?
Any oestrogenic agent
What are the 3 major oestrogens in humans?
When is each most abundant?
- Oestradiol - pre-menopausal women
- Oestrone - post-menopausal women
- Oestriol - pregnancy (produced by placenta)
Give 3 formulations of oral oestrogens
- Oestradiol - natural
- Oestrone + equilin
- Synthetic oestrogens e.g. ethinylestrodiol
What is a progestogen?
Can you give an example?
Any progestational agent
Progesterone
What are progestins?
Give 5 examples
Synthetic progestogens
- Levonorgestrel
- Desogestrel
- Norethisterone
- Medroxyprogesterone - “Provera”
- Dydrogesterone
Outline the drugs used in HRT
Why is this so?
HRT = oestradiol + progestin (usually medroxyprogesterone)
Progesterone must be given alongside oestrogen to prevent endometrial cancer
What is oestrogen replacement therapy? When is it used?
Oestrogen only
Used in women without a uterus - i.e. post-hysterectomy
What types of hormone are used in the combined oral contraceptive pill?
- Oestradiol/synthetic oestrogen
- Progestin
Outline the 3 different regimens used with the COCP
- Monophasic - same dose of oestrogen + progestin every day for 21 days, then 7 day break
- Triphasic - 7 days of O+P, 7 days of O, 7 days of P, 7 day break - mimics natural cycle best
- Every day - monophasic, but instead of stopping completely for 7 days, you take placebos for 7 days - easier for patients to remember
What is the mechanism of action of the COCP?
- Oestrogen inhibits ovulation via negative feedback on anterior pituitary
- Progestogen causes cervical mucus to thicken and alters endometrium so implantation cannot occur
Give some secondary effects of oestrogen, aside from reproductive
- Anabolic
- Sodium and water retention
- Raises HDLs
- Decreases bone resorption
- Impairs glucose tolerance
- Increases blood coagulability
Give some 5 ADRs of the COCP
- Breast tenderness
- Water retention/weight gain
- Mood swings
- Increased risk of VTE
- Impaired glucose tolerance
Give some DDIs associated with the COCP
Metabolised by CYP450, so affected by inducers primarily -
- Antiepileptics e.g. Carbemazepine
- Rifampicin
- St John’s wort
What should you monitor while a woman is on the COCP?
- BP
- BMI
What is the mechanism of action of the POPs?
- Thickens cervical mucus and induces changes in endometrium such that implantation cannot occur
- MAY inhibit ovulation, but not its major action