Women's health Flashcards
Ovarian cycle
Provide an environment for fertilisation
- Follicular phase
- Luteal phase
Uterine cycle
Receives fertilised oocyte and allows implantation
Proliferation phase - prior to ovulation
Secretory phase - after ovulation
Female HPG axis
- Pulsatile GnRH released from the hypothalamus
- Stimulates the anterior pituitary to release FSH and LH
- FSH stimulates granulocytes and theca interna and externa cells to proliferate
- FSH causes granulosa cells of the follicles to release oestrogen and inhubin and causes follicles to mature.
LH causes theca interna cells to release androgens which are aromatised to oestrogen under the influence of FSH.
- Oestrogen at low concentrations has a negative feedback on the hypothalamus. As follicles develop, oestrogen concentration increases and exerts a positive feedback
- Once the dominant follicle has been selected, inhibin causes negative feedback on the anterior pituitary so follicles stop maturing
- Oestrogen exerts a positive feedback on the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary and granulosa cells so oestrogen and inhibin are still produced.
- Once, LH conc is more than FSH, ovulation occurs
Male HPG axis
- Hypothalamus releases GnRH in pulsating manner as there is no ovarian hormone production and no negative feedback
- Stimulates the anterior pituitary to release FSH and LH
- FSH stimulates the sertolli cells to produce sperm and LH stimulates the Leydig cells to produce testosterone
Which phase of the ovarian cycle can be varied?
Follicular phase
Ovulation
Mature oocyte is extruded through the ovarian capsule into the peritoneal cavity where it is picked up by fimbrae and transported to the fallopian tube
Meiosis I is completed and Meiosis II starts
Endometrium
Stratum functionalis layer: Sheds during menstruation
Stratum basalis: contains stem cells and allows regrow the at the start of the cycle
Proliferates in response to oestrogen - thick and fat
Becomes more glandular and secretory in response to oestrogen and progesterone
Prevents blastocyst from implanting too far via the decidual reaction
Proliferation phase
Create a good environment for fertilisation
The functional layer proliferates and thickens
Simple straight glands coil
Secretory phase
Progesterone causes coiled glands to become secretory
Blood supply is established - spiral arteries
Oestrogen in the proliferative phase
Proliferation of the myometrium and endometrium
Increases fallopian tube motility
Thin, alkaline cervical mucous is produced
Normal menstrual cycle
21 - 35 days
Variation due to variation in follicular phase
Progesterone in the secretory phase
Create environment viable for pregnancy
Decreases myometrium motility
Further thickening of the endometrium
Thick, acid cervical mucus
Increased body temperature
Primary amenorrhoea
Absence of menstruation
Never had a period by the age of 16
Secondary amenorrhoea
Started periods but the periods have stopped for more than 6 months
Causes:
- pregnancy
- weight loss
- menopause
- birth control
- hypothyroidism
- hyperprolactinaemia
Oligomenorrhoea
Reduced menstruation
Cycle length is more than 35 days
Menorrhagia
Heavy menstrual bleeding
More than 80ml
Causes:
- benign or malignant growth in the endometrium
- clotting disorders
- anticoagulation therapy
- normal
Presentation:
- fatigue
- pallor
Ix:
Bloods - FBC
(anaemia)
Dysmenorrhea
Painful periods
Causes:
- endometriosis
Polycystic ovarian syndrome summary
Cause: idiopathic
Risks: COCP and obesity
Pathophysiology: Elevated LH causing hyperandrogenism
Presentation: Raised insulin resistance - T2DM Secondary amenorrhoea Infertility Hirsutism Obesity
Ix: USS and blood test
Treatment: remove uterus
How long should menses last
7 - 9 days
Endometriosis cks
Pathophysiology: Endometrial tissue that occurs outside the uterine cavity (Oestrogen dependent)
Presentation:
- early menarche
- menorrhagia
- dysmenorrhea
- AUB
- infertility
- dyspareunia
Management of dysmenorrhea
NSAIDs
COCP
Intrauterine device
GnRH analogues
Surgery - hysterectomy
Menopause
No menstruation periods for 12 consecutive months and no other biological or physiological cause identified
Due to loss of ovarian follicular activity
Ovaries can no longer produce follicles - oestrogen decreases
Early menopause
Menopause occurring before 45