Female reproductive system Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are the external genital organs?
- labia majora
- labia minora
- hymen
- clitoris
- opening of urethra
- opening of vagina
- perineum
- anus
What are the internal genital organs?
- fallopian tube
- ovary
- uterus
- vagina
- endometrium
- cervix
What are the menstural cycle hormones?
- gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)
- follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
- estrogen
- luteinizing hormone (LH)
- progesterone
function of GnRH
the most important hormone for reproduction produced by the hypothalamus released in a rythmic fashion every 1-2 hours.
stimulates the pit gland to produce FSH and LH
Function of FSH
responsible for starting follicle development and causing estrogen levels to rise
function of LH
aids in egg maturation and provides the hormonal trigger to cause ovulation and the release of egg from the ovary
Function of progesterone
stimulates the endometrium to become receptive to a fertilized embryo.
if no embryo implants, progesterone decreases causing the shedding of the endometrium leading to bleeding (period)
Phase 1 of menstaural cycle: follicular phase
- at the beginning of the cycle, levels of FSH rise causing stimulation of a few ovarian follicles
- the folls compete and the first foll to mature (graafian foll) begins to produce large amounts of estrogen
- increasing amounts of estrogen results in endometrial thickening and thinning of cervical muscous to allow passage of sperm
Phase 2 of menstraul cycle: ovulatory phase
- when the level of estrogen is sufficently high it produces a sudden release of LH
- the LH peak troggers the final maturation of the egg and ovulation occurs approx 10-12 hours after LH reaches peak
- the cells in the foll that are left behind after ovulaion undergo a transformation and become the corpus luteum
Phase 3 of menstraul cycle: luteal phase
-under the influence of progesterone the uterus begins to create highly vascularized bed in preperation for a fertilized egg
- if a preg occurs the corpus luteum produces progesterone until approx 10 weeks gestaion
- if no embryo implants the circulating levels of hormone decline with the degeneration of the corpus and the shedding of the uterus lining leading to period
Common infections and conditions which can affecct the internal and external genitalia
- vaginal thrush (candida)
- bacerial vaginosis (BV)
- chlamydia
- gonorrhoea
- mycoplasma genitalium
- trochomonisais vaginalis (TV)
- herpes simplex virus (HSV)
- human palilloma virus (HPV)
- lichen sclerosis
- psoriasis and vulvar dermatitis
- vulval/vaginal atrophy
What symptoms can occur throught the mens cycle
- mood changes
- appetite change
- bloating
- skin change
- altered libido
- breast tenderness/swelling
- vaginal discharge change
- headaches
- lower back pain
- abdominal and pelvic pain
Health promotion for women
- cervical screening programme
- HPV vaccination
- access to free contraception
- increased access to free sanitary products
- increased breast awareness campaign (coppa feel)
- breast screening
- access to over the counter contraception
- increasing menopause service and awareness
