Sex Hormones :females

Question 1

What are the female sex hormones?

Answer 1

Oestrogens and progesterones

Question 2

What happens when there are high amounts of oestrogen?

Answer 2

This will cause the shut down of the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, this will stop the production of LH and FSH thus this is called the negative feedback loop

Question 3

Why does progesterone levels increase after ovulation?

Answer 3

This helps to prevent any other eggs from being released.

Question 4

How do you suppress the LH and FSH levels to stop ovulation?

Answer 4

Keep the progesterone and oestrogen levels higher.

Question 5

How is there testosterone in a females body and what happens to it?

Answer 5

The testosterone in a females body, is converted into androgens which are then converted into female sex hormones the oestrogens via aromatase

Question 6

What is the enzyme that converts the testosterones into the oestrogens and how does it work?

Answer 6

Aromatase
It works by getting rid of the carbon 19 methyl and integer conversion to estrogen a

Question 7

What is the most potent form of estrogens?

Answer 7

Estradiol in adult females

Question 8

What is the main functions of the oestrogens?

Answer 8

-promotes normal growth in female generals
-involved in regulation of menstrual cycle

Question 9

How can estradiol. Be converted to estrogen?

Answer 9

Via 17 alpha HSD

Question 10

Why do we not give estradiol orally?

Answer 10

This is because when adminstrated orally it is conjunated in the intestine to glucronide and sulfate esters and metabolised by the liver, thus giving it a low oral bioavailability

It’s activity is reduced by the protein binding and biochemical oxidation to estrone

Question 11

What is the half life of estradiol?

Answer 11

20 minutes

Question 12

What are the 2 different types of estrogen receptors?

Answer 12

ERalpha- highly expressed in the uterus, ovarian cdekls, breast and liver

ERbeta- highly expressed in the prostate epithelium, testes, ovarian, bone marrow and Brain

Same function just different function

Question 13

What are the 3 different domains?

Answer 13

Activating function domain

DNA binding domain

Ligand binding domain

Question 14

What is the most potent progesterone?

Answer 14

Progestogen

Question 15

Where is progesterone secreted by ?

Answer 15

The corpus legumes 30mg per day in reproductive aged women and by the placenta at pregnancy

Question 16

Progesterone has a _______ bioavailability and is ______ metabolised in the liver regardless of the route of administration and has a half life of _________

Answer 16

1. Low
2. Rapidly

3.5-10 Minutes

Question 17

What is the main functions of progesterones?

Answer 17

1. Works with estrogens

2.activates the progesterone receptor (same as how androgen and estrogen activate their receptors)

3. Estrogens induce PR in uterus ,vagina, hypothalamus and anterior pituitary

4.key role in ovulation -regulates blood vessels formation to the endometrium

5.regulates uterine thickness and prohibits muscle contractions

6.increased levels during pregnancy regulates any further egg release.

Question 18

What are some synthetic progesterones?

Answer 18

Norethindrone
Levonorgestrel
Desogestrel
Drospirenone

Question 19

What is the function of progestin?

Answer 19

Specifically prevents mid cycle LH surge and blocks ovulation

Question 20

What is the main function of emergency contraception?

Answer 20

It activates the Progestrone receptor which in turn impacts the LH surge as well as the FSH surge.

Question 21

How does levonorgestrel not undergo a first pass metabolism?

Answer 21

This is due to the addition of the ethyl group at position 17

Question 22

Desogestrel is a ____________ thus meaning it must be broken down before it can become activated giving it ______________ properties

Answer 22

1. Prodrug
2. Longer lasting

Question 23

How does desogestrel work?

Answer 23

This works by activating Progesterone receptor and has a very weak andrengenic effects