Week 5 Flashcards
What does STRAW stand for? What is the definition of STRAW?
Does perimenopause last longer than menopausal?
What kind of symptoms do you get near menopause?
STRAW (STages of Reproductive Aging)
- Definition: lays out phases of menstrual lifespan (reproductive, menopausal transition, and post-menopause
- Perimenopause may last longer than menopausal transition (involves period before and after last menstrual period)
- Vasomotor symptoms are most likely to occur in late menopausal transition and early post-menopause
Define mepopause and give epidemiology.
Menopause
- Definition: the final menstrual period (FMP) confirmed after one year of no menstrual bleeding; permanent cessation of menses
- Epidemiology: 51 to 52 y/o
What is the physiology of menopause?
- Physiology:
- Follicular and oocyte depletion as a women ages due to gene regulated apoptosis and ovulation
- Decrease in estrogen → GnRH activation via feedback mechanism → constant release of LH and FSH → very high serum levels of LH/FSH (specific for menopause)
- Decline in fertility: fertility is near its end at age 42
- Granulosa cells of antral follicles produce AMH → can be used to determine the number of remaining follicles (declines in menopause)
What are the symptoms of menopause?
- Symptoms:
- Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats), vaginal atrophy, sleep disturbances, psych disturbances (moody attitude), decreased libido
- Hot flashes: narrowing of thermoregulatory zone of brain → body is tricked into thinking the woman is “hot” → hot flashes (dilation of peripheral vessels)
- Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats), vaginal atrophy, sleep disturbances, psych disturbances (moody attitude), decreased libido
What are the complications of menopause?
- Complications of menopause
- Decreased estrogen → increased LDL/total cholesterol → increased risk of CVD (number one cause of mortality in females age 50+)
- Estrogen has an impact on insulin and glucose metabolism
- Estrogen inhibits the activity of osteoclasts; therefore, in menopause, lack of estrogen is associated with osteoporosis
What are hormonal treatments of menopause?
- Hormonal tx of hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, and decreased libido: estrogen + progesterone (prevents endometrial hyperplasia)
- Estrogen promotes mucosal water retention, sebaceous gland secretion, and maintains blood flow, acidic pH, and elasticity of vagina
- Lifestyle changes: exercise, keep cool, avoid hot flash triggers (spicy and hot foods), R-E-L-A-X
- For decreased libido: testosterone can also be used
- Contraindications of estrogen replacement therapy: ER+ breast cancer, hx of DVT/PE
Define perimenopause and provide epidemiology.
Perimenopause
- Definition: transition phase from reproductive phase to post-menopausal phase; most symptomatic period in women’s life
- Begins with varied menstrual cycle that can last >7 days
- Characterized by unpredictable hormone concentrations
- Epidemiology: 34 to 54 y/o lasting 5-6 years (avg: 46 y/o)
What are non hormonal treatments of menopause?
- Nonhormonal prescriptions that act on CNS (directly on hypothalamus)
- Hot flashes: antidepressants (SSRI/SNRI), hypnotic meds, anticonvulsants (Gabapentin), Antihypertensive (clonidine), neuropathic pain drugs
- Vaginal atrophy: vaginal moisturizers (hydrophilic biofilms that cling to vaginal wall), sexual lubricants, estrogen
Define primary ovarian insufficiency and provide symptoms/presentation.
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (aka premature menopause)
- Definition: loss of ovarian function that occurs prior to age 40
- Follicles are still present, but no longer functional
- POI may not be permanent
- Presentation: infertility, menstrual dysfunction, symptoms of estrogen deficiency, sexual dysfunction
For primary ovarian insufficiency, provide etiology, risk factors, and treatment.
- Etiology: follicular dysfunction (90%), follicular depletion (10%)
- Risk factor: Fragile X carrier status, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal dysfunction
- Treatment: hormone replacement therapy to combat the risks of estrogen depletion
- No treatment to induce ovulation in infertile females with POI, but there is a small chance for spontaneous pregnancy (no chance with menopause)
What are the two regions near the pituitary gland? What do they contain?
- Regions
- Sellar region: region that includes the pituitary gland
- Parasellar region: regions that includes the optic chiasm and cranial nerves
- Lesions and tumors can affect both regions
What are two types of pituitary adenomas? How do each present and how can they be treated generally?
- Functioning vs non-functioning: functioning adenomas have hormonal secretions
- Non-functioning pituitary tumors:
- Present with compressive sx, hypopituitarism
- Tx: transsphenoidal hypophysectomy followed w/ radiation
- Non-functioning pituitary tumors:
What are the cellular subtypes of pituitary adenomas? What are complications associated with pituitary adenoma?
- Subtypes: PLH (prolactin hormone), ACTH, GTH, GH, and TSH
- Complications of pituitary adenoma:
- Hypopituitarism: typically hypersecretion of one hormone and hyposecretion of other hormones due to pituitary compression
- Pituitary apoplexy: hemorrhage of pituitary gland
What are two size subtypes of pituitary adenoma and what are they associated with?
- Size subtypes: Microadenoma (<1cm), macroadenoma (>1cm)
- Microprolactinoma: no compressive symptoms
- Macroprolactinoma: compressive symptoms (i.e. vision disturbances, facial drooping)
What are causes of hyperprolactinemia?
Divide between physiologic and pathologic
- Causes of hyperprolactinemia:
- Physiologic: pregnancy (estrogen increases prolactin levels), nipple stimulation, stress, exercise, chest trauma
- Pathologic: decreased dopamine response (due to masses or psych drugs), renal failure (decreased peripheral clearance of prolactin), hypothyroidism (TRH causes increase in prolactin)
What are clinical manifestations of hyperprolactinemia and provide mechanism
- Clinical manifestations
- Galactorrhea, amenorrhea, decreased libido, headache (compression)
- Increased prolactin → negative feedback on GnRH → decreased LH/FSH → decreased estrogen → infertility, sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis
How do you treat prolactinoma?
Provide side effects of drug! Provide a surgery too
- Treatment of prolactinoma:
- Dopamine agonist (first line treatment): bromocriptine, cabergoline
- SE of bromocriptine: N/V, postural hypotension on first dose
- Surgery: debulking procedure (if resistant to drugs), radiation therapy (if resistant to drugs/debulking)
- Dopamine agonist (first line treatment): bromocriptine, cabergoline
What two things can a growth hormone cell adenoma cause? Describe the clinical manifestations of each!
- Growth hormone cell adenoma
- Types
- Gigantism (child form):
- Clinical presentation: increased linear bone growth in children (epiphyses are not fused)
- Acromegaly (adult form):
- Clinical manifestations: enlarged bones of hands/feet/jaw, growth of visceral organs (large heart → failure) enlarged tongue
- Gigantism (child form):
- Types
How do you diagnose and treat growth hormone cell adenoma?
- Diagnosis: elevated GH (lack of negative feedback by oral glucose) and IGF-1 (insulin growth factor)
- Treatment: octeotride (somatostatin analog à inhibition of GH release), cabergoline (dopamine agonist), pegvisomant (GH receptor antagonist), surgical debulking, radiation treatment (for residual tumor post-surgery or failed drugs)
- Goal is to keep GH < 1.0 ng/mL
Define hyppituitarism and proivde diagnostic labs.
- Definition of hypopituitarism
- Occurs when >75% of pituitary parenchyma is lost
- Diagnostic labs of hypopituitarism:
- Free T4, testosterone (men), AM cortisol, GH following insulin-induced hypoglycemia, electrolytes
What is the etiology of hypopituitarism? Provide a few syndromes and a lot of other diseases.
- Etiology of hypopituitarism
- Vascular disorders: pituitary infarction, pituitary apoplexy, aneurysm, vasculitis
- Sheehan’s syndrome: in pregnancy, pituitary gland doubles in size, but blood supply does not increase → pituitary infarction
- Empty cell syndrome: congenital defect of sellar region
- Pathophysiology: herniation of arachnoid and CSF into sellar region → compression → destruction of pituitary gland → empty cell syndrome
- Physical agents: radiation, surgery, head trauma
- CNS insults: meningitis
- Inflammatory/granulomatous diseases: TB, sarcoidosis, histiocytosis, hemochromatosis, hypophysitis
- Idiopathic: GH deficiency, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
- Vascular disorders: pituitary infarction, pituitary apoplexy, aneurysm, vasculitis
What is the etiology, sx, and tx of central diabetes insipidus?
- Diabetes insipidus
- Central (ADH deficiency)
- Etiology: all causes of hypopituitarism
- Sx: polydipsia, polyuria, life-threatening dehydration
- Tx: desmopressin (ADH analog), water, treat underlying cause
- Central (ADH deficiency)
What is the etiology of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?
- Nephrogenic (ADH resistance)
- Etiology: familial, metabolic (low Ca, high K, lithium, osmotic diuresis, chronic renal disease
For the following conditions, provide urine volume, urine osmolarity, serum osmolarity, respose to dehydration, response to exogenous ADH:
- Central DI
- Nephrogenic DI
- Fluid overload
Define unintended pregnancy, how many in US are unintended, epidemiology.
What are the two most common contraceptives?
- Unintended pregnancy: defined as a pregnancy that is either unwanted, unplanned, or simply mistimed
- ~50% of pregnancies in the United States are unintended (more than other developed countries)
- Epidemiology: teenagers, unmarried women, black women, sexual minorities, low education/income
- Most common contraceptives: tubal ligation, oral contraceptive pill
What are some barriers to effective contraception?
- Barriers to effective contraception:
- Physical ability to use methods, religious contraindications, cost, accessibility, insurance coverage, medical contraindications
Provide the MOA of the two hormones involved in contraceptives?
- Progestin (prevents ovulation and fertilization)
- Suppresses LH surge, thickens cervical mucus, reduces ovum motility, thins endometrium
- Estrogen
- Suppresses FSH, potentiates progestin
Provide the following generally:
- half-life of each hormone
- where are they metabolized
- which two drugs do not have a rapid return to fertility?
- what is the effect on obese patients?
- What are general side effects of all?
- General pharmacokinetics/pharmacology
- Half-life: estrogen (long), progestin (short
- Metabolism: liver (P450s)
- Return to fertility: rapid except for depo (9-10 months) and Nexplanon (1-2 months)
- Effect in obese patients: Nexplanon and OCPs may be slightly less effective (others are equally effective)
- General side effects: all can cause spotting of blood except copper IUD (can cause heavy bleeding)