Week 8 Lecture Content (Sex & Gender II) Flashcards
Detail the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis and explain its role in Developmental Mechanisms
Be specific with brain regions, hormones, and downstream effects. How/where do kisspeptin and oxytocin fit into the HPG axis?
Lecture 24 on activational mechanisms, and the role of kisspeptin and oxytocin
- HPG axis suppression during childhood; circhoral (hourly) rhythm of GnRH secretion initiates puberty.
- Puberty triggers GnRH release from hypothalamus, leading to LH & FSH release from the anterior pituitary.
- LH & FSH stimulate gonads to produce sex hormones (testosterone, oestrogen) and gametes (sperm, eggs), enabling sexual maturation and secondary sex characteristic development.
- Kisspeptin acts as a permissive factor for puberty initiation. It stimulates GnRH-producing neurons and modulates HPG axis function.
- Oxytocin promotes pair bonding and sexual behaviours through modulation of the HPG axis and limbic system.
Detail the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis and explain its role in Activational Mechanisms
Be specific with brain regions, hormones, and downstream effects. How/where do kisspeptin and oxytocin fit into the HPG axis?
Lecture 24 on activational mechanisms, and the role of kisspeptin and oxytocin
In adulthood, HPG axis activation facilitates reproductive readiness:
- Secondary sex characteristics develop to attract mates.
- Libido activation encourages sexual behaviour.
- Pair bonding promotes successful reproduction and care of offspring.
Oxytocin also aids in pair bonding by increasing feelings of trust and attachment in intimate relationships.
Puberty triggers ____ release from hypothalamus, leading to ___ & ___ release from the anterior pituitary.
GnRH, LH & FSH
Puberty triggers GnRH release from ___________, leading to LH & FSH release from the __________ _________.
hypothalamus, anterior pituitary
___ & ___ stimulate gonads to produce sex hormones (testosterone, oestrogen) and gametes (sperm, eggs), enabling sexual maturation and secondary sex characteristic development.
LH & FSH
LH & FSH stimulate _______ to produce sex hormones (testosterone, oestrogen) and _______ (sperm, eggs), enabling sexual maturation and secondary sex characteristic development.
gonads, gametes
_______ acts as a permissive factor for puberty initiation. It stimulates _____-producing neurons and modulates HPG axis function.
Kisspeptin, GnRH
________ promotes pair bonding and sexual behaviours through modulation of the HPG axis and limbic system.
Oxytocin
In adulthood, HPG axis activation facilitates reproductive readiness:
- _________ _____ ________ develop to attract mates.
- Libido activation encourages sexual behaviour.
- _____ ________ promotes successful reproduction and care of offspring.
Secondary sex characteristics, Pair bonding
_______ also aids in pair bonding by increasing feelings of trust and attachment in intimate relationships.
Oxytocin
Explain the main stages of gender transitioning, including the phases of hormone therapy.
Lecture 22 notes on gender transitioning
Stage 1: Life experience & psychological assessment
- 2+ years of living in the preferred gender identity without hormone or surgical interventions.
- Psychological evaluations and behavioural changes (pronouns, dressing, etc.) improve mental well-being.
Stage 2: Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT)
- Involves oestrogen-based (E-GAHT) or testosterone-based (T-GAHT) hormone therapy.
- Requires diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria and involves careful monitoring.
- Hormone initiation is slow and requires long-term follow-up with adjustments over time.
Stage 3: Surgical intervention
- Available only after 1+ year of continuous GAHT.
- Can include gonad removal, genital alterations, and breast augmentation.
Stage 4: Long-term follow-up
- Lifelong hormone therapy and psychological support required.
Explain Stage 1 of gender transitioning
Stage 1: Life experience & psychological assessment
- 2+ years of living in the preferred gender identity without hormone or surgical interventions.
- Psychological evaluations and behavioural changes (pronouns, dressing, etc.) improve mental well-being.
Explain Stage 2 of gender transitioning
Stage 2: Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT)
- Involves oestrogen-based (E-GAHT) or testosterone-based (T-GAHT) hormone therapy.
- Requires diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria and involves careful monitoring.
- Hormone initiation is slow and requires long-term follow-up with adjustments over time.
Explain Stage 3 of gender transitioning
Stage 3: Surgical intervention
- Available only after 1+ year of continuous GAHT.
- Can include gonad removal, genital alterations, and breast augmentation.
Explain Stage 4 of gender transitioning
Stage 4: Long-term follow-up
- Lifelong hormone therapy and psychological support required.
Stage 1 of gender transitioning:
_____ _________ & __________ __________
- __ years of living in the preferred gender identity without ______ or _______ interventions.
- ________ _________ and behavioural changes (pronouns, dressing, etc.) improve mental well-being.
Stage 1 of gender transitioning:
Life experience & psychological assessment
- 2+ years of living in the preferred gender identity without hormone or surgical interventions.
- Psychological evaluations and behavioural changes (pronouns, dressing, etc.) improve mental well-being.
Stage 2 of gender transitioning:
_______ _______ _______ _______
- Involves ________-based or ________-based hormone therapy.
- Requires diagnosis of ______ ______ and involves careful monitoring.
- Hormone initiation is slow and requires long-term follow-up with adjustments over time.
Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT)
oestrogen-based (E-GAHT) or testosterone-(T-GAHT)
Gender Dysphoria
Stage 3 of gender transitioning:
_________ ________
- Available only after ___ year of continuous GAHT.
- Can include _____ removal, _____ alterations, and _______ augmentation.
Stage 3 of gender transitioning:
Surgical intervention
- Available only after 1+ year of continuous GAHT.
- Can include gonad removal, genital alterations, and breast augmentation.
Stage 4 of gender transitioning:
__________ _________
- ________ hormone therapy and psychological support required.
Stage 4 of gender transitioning:
Long-term follow-up
- Lifelong hormone therapy and psychological support required.
What are ‘puberty blockers’ and why/when would they be used? Why do they work?
Puberty blockers:
- GnRH analogs that suppress the HPG axis, halting the release of LH/FSH and preventing the production of testosterone/oestrogen.
- Used to delay puberty, especially in transgender youth, to give them time to explore gender identity without developing secondary sex characteristics.
Be able to describe histrelin’s (Supprelin’s™) mechanism of action, mode of action, and route of administration.
Histrelin (Supprelin™):
- Mechanism: Continuous activation of GnRH receptors leads to their desensitisation, thus stopping the HPG cascade.
- Mode: Administered via subcutaneous implant (usually in the upper arm), releasing over 12 months.
- Effects: Blocks development of unwanted features like breast growth or voice deepening.
Puberty blockers are _____ analogs that suppress the HPG axis, halting the release of ___/____ and preventing the production of testosterone/oestrogen.
GnRH, LH/FSH
Puberty blockers are GnRH analogs that suppress the ____ ____, halting the release of LH/FSH and preventing the production of _________/_________.
HPG axis, testosterone/oestrogen
Histrelin (Supprelin™) enables continuous activation of _____ receptors, leading to their desensitisation, thus stopping the ____ cascade.
GnRH, HPG