Female Reproductive Physiology Flashcards
Changes in hormone (LH/ FSH) status during/at:
- Onset of puberty
- Reproductive years
- Menopause
- Onset of puberty: gradual increase
- Cyclic release
- Sustained high levels
Female puberty is a transition from what to what?
When does it begin and when does it end?
Transition from non-cyclic, quiescent reproductive endocrine system to a state of cyclic reproductive function.
•Begins about 8-9 yrs and ends ~ 11-16 yrs
What causes the formation of primary/sec sex characteristics during puberty?
Increased E and androgens
–Pulsatile release of GnRH results in pulsatile LH and FSH release leading to an increase in estrogen and androgens from the ovary
–Menarche – beginning of menstrual cycles.
What are the secondary sex charactereistics?
Thelarche
Adrenarche
What is thelarche?
breast development
- first sign of puberty
- Due to the presence of estrogen
What is adrenarche?
increase in androgen secretion. This leads to pubic hair growth (androgens and DHEA)
What are the metabolic actions of estrogen during puberty?
–Protein: anabolic
–Lipids: anti-lipolytic (promotes fat storage)
–Stimulates epiphyseal closure
What is the last step pf female puberty? What is the effect of this?
maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis
–Decrease in the sensitivity of the gonadotrophs to feedback inhibition by estrogen
Enumarate major events of female puberty
- transition of reproductive endocrine(non-cyc& quiscent to cyclical)
- over a period of 3-7 yrs
- Primary sex charc
- Pulsatile LH/ FSH release
- Inc E. Androgens
- Menstrual cycles begins
- 2nd sex Charc: thelarche and adrenarche
- growth spur
- Maturation of HPO axis
Compare male/female growth spur during puberty
Occurs earlier in females because of earlier onset of GnRH release
What causes the maturation of the HPO axis?
Decrease in the sensitivity of the gonadotrophs to feedback inhibition by estrogen
The………………… is one germ cell completely surrounded by a cluster of endocrine cells.
ovarian follicle
Ovarian follicle functions:
–Maintains and nurtures the oocyte
–Matures the oocyte and releases it at the appropriate time
–Prepares the vagina and fallopian tubes to assist in fertilization
–Prepares the uterus to accept and implant a zygote
–Maintains hormonal support of the fetus until placenta takes over
