stress and fertility Flashcards
What is infertility?
either one or both: 12 months trying no pregnancy, inability to carry to term
What are gonads?
a sex gland where gametes are produced: ovary/testis produce egg/sperm
What is the HPG axis?
Hypothalamus - releases GRH, to the Anterior Pituitary - releasing LH and FSH that goes to the gonads
What happens when LH is too high or too low?
too high: premature menopause / testicular failure
too low: failure of gonadal function (eggs/sperm wont be produced)
What happens when FSH is too high or too low?
too high: premature menopause / testicular failure
too low: failure of gonodal function
Why is LH important in men and women?
Women: helps trigger ovulation
Men: production of testosterone and afffects creation of sperm
Why is FSH important in men and women?
Women: growth and recruitement of ovum, promotes pregnancy continuation
Men: stimulates maturation of tubules and creation of sperm
How does stress suppress reproduction?
increase in cortisol increases the RFRP expression whihc decreases reproductive function
How does prenatal stress affect rats?
prenatal stress affects the fertility of the rat inside the womb. Stress in the womb: defectous computer. Stress later on in life: a functional computer and spilling coffee on it.
What is the correlation between stress levels and possibility of infertility?
proportional. The more stress you are the more probable you are to be infertile.
Do women have less stress in the months they actually concieve?
self reports: show that the most stressful months they did not concieve, and least stressful months they did. But hormone assay show no, however the stress was collected at night, which doesnt equal the stress experienced during the day
How does age and social position affect fertility?
Age didnt really affect, the higher the social position, or SES, the less effect of stress on fertility
Is sperm quality affected by major stressful events?
two or more stress life events are associated with decreassed sperm concentration, decrease in shape of sperm and motile sperm.
Can you recover from stress and sperm defect?
if you stop the stress you can bounce back
What are some potential predictors of distress?
gender role identity and infertility, career role salience and infertility, social pressure for motherhood and infertility
