Gynecology - Menses, Reproduction, Infertility Flashcards
(160 cards)
Before any phenotypic change of puberty occurs, what happens?
adrenarche occurs with regeneration of the zona reticularis in the adrenal cortex and production of androgens
—> will stimulate the appearance of pubic hair.
The pubertal sequence includes
accelerated growth,
breast development (thelarche)
development of pubic and axillary hair (adrenarche/pubarche),
growth spurt
onset of menstruation (menarche).
Usually in this order
length of time from breast bud development to menstruation is typically
2.5 years.
Adrenarche
6-8 yo —> 13-15 yo
adrenal gland begins regeneration of the zona reticularis –> increased quantities of the androgens dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and androstenedione.
Gonadarche
starts ~ 8 yo
is independent of adrenarche
pulsatile GnRH secretion from the hypothalamus is increased —> pulsatile secretion of LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary.
Initially, these increases occur mostly during sleep and fail to lead to any phenotypic changes. As a girl enters early puberty, the LH and FSH pulsatility lasts throughout the day, eventually leading to stimulation of the ovary and subsequent estrogen release.
—> results in breast bud development and ability to ovulate
The increased rate of growth during puberty is due to
the direct effect of sex steroids on epiphyseal growth
due to the increased pituitary growth hormone secretion in response to sex steroids
What is first sign of puberty?
Thelarche (breast development)
response to increased estrogen
starts ~ 10 yo
Pubarche
Growth of pubic hair
~11 yo
Then start growing axillary hair
Usually follows thelarche
Response to increased androgens
Menarche
~12-13yo or 2.5 years after breast bud dev
inc estrogen –> endometrial prolif –> menses
adolescent menstrual cycle is usually irregular for the first 1 to 2 years after menarche, reflecting anovulatory cycles. - usually ~ 2 yrs before regular ovulatory cycles are achieved
- Failure to achieve a regular menstrual cycle after this point may represent a reproductive disorder
What can anovulation in ballet dancers or very intense exercisers be due to?
insufficient percentage of body fat that may result in hypothalamic anovulation and amenorrhea.
dec LH and GnRH —-> estrogen deficiency
Precocious puberty
Precocious puberty is defined as pubarche or thelarche before 7 years of age in Caucasian girls and before 6 years of age in African American girls.
Absent or incomplete breast development by the age of 12 years is defined as delayed puberty and also needs further workup.
How long do you have to fertilize when ovulation starts before ovum degenerates?
24 hrs
Perimenopause
- can begin 2 to 8 years prior to menopause
- irregular menstrual cycles and some of the symptoms that are associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings.
Dec follicular numbers —>
- dec inhibin B secretion from granulosa cells
- FSH rises
- progesterone low
Estradiol is preserved until late perimenopause when FSH and estradiol both fluctuate
Menopause
12 months of amenorrhea after the final menstrual period in the absence of any other pathological or physiological causes
Avg age ~51yo
Will have increase in both FSH and LH…just more FSH
FSH: LH ratio is > 1
Early menopause more common in women with a hx of
cigarette smoking, short menstrual cycles, nulliparity, type 1 diabetes, and family history of early menopause
Menopause characterstics
FSH > 40 IU/L is pneumonic!!!!
FSH will be elevated, estrogen decreased
Sx 2/2 decreased estrogen levels
Flushes, forgetful
Sweats at night, sad, skeletal changes, skin changes, sex dysfunction
HA, heart dz
Insomnia
Urinary sx, urogenital atrophy
Libido decreases
Dx menopause
H&P
FSH
- can be increased or decrease in perimenopausal period
- best in pts w/ combo of amenorrhea/oligomenorrhea + menopausal sx
How long to menopause sx usually last?
1-2 years
Recommendations + Contraindications for Hormone replacement therapy and estrogen replacement therapy
Recs:
- used only for tx of menopausal sx and at lowest effective dose for shortest time period
- use when there are no contraindications and:
- -vasomotor sx that are distressing (night sweats, hot flashes)
- -urogenital atrophy sx that are distressing (vaginal dryness)
Contra:
- chronic liver dz
- preggers
- breast, ovary, uterus cancer
- hx DVT, PE, CVA
- undx vaginal bbleeding
Non-hormonal tx for menopausal sx
Vasomotor sx
- clonidine
- SSRI (paroxetine)
- SNRI (venlafaxine)
- gabapentin
- SERs
Vaginal + urogenital atrophy
- lubricants
- moisturizers
- low dose vaginal estrogen
Osteoporosis
- Ca + vit D
- bisphosphanates
- calcitonin
- raloxifene, tamoxifen
- wt bearing exercise
- DEXA scan at 65 yo
Primary vs secondary amenorrhea
Primary amenorrhea
- is the absence of menarche (fi rst menses) by age 16 or no menstruation by 4 years after thelarche (the onset of breast development).
Secondary amenorrhea
- is the absence of menses for three menstrual cycles or a total of 6 months in women who have previously had normal menstruation.
Primary amenorrhea - categories
OUTFLOW TRACT ANOMALIES Normal - GnRH - LH/FSH - estrogen/progesterone
Imperforate hymen
Transverse vaginal septum
Mullerian agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser)
Testicular feminization
END ORGAN DISORDERS
Ovarian failure
- Savage syndrome - ovary fails to respond to FSH and LH
- Turner syndrome
Gonadal agenesis / Swyer syndrome 46 XY
17 a-hydroxylase deficiency
CENTRAL DISORDERS Hypothalamic disorders - Kallmann syndrome - Hand-Schuller-Christian disease - tumor/trauma/sarcoid/TB/irradiation - anorexia - stress - hyperprolactinemia - hypothyroid - rapid severe wt loss - constitutionally delayed puberty
Pituitary disorders
- rare
- usually 2/2 hypothalamic dysfunction
- TB/sarcoid/irradiation/damage from surgery/hemosiderosis
Imperforate hymen
primary amenorrhea
- no canalization of hymen across vaginal introitus
- pelvic pain from accumulation of menses in vaginal vault (hematocolpos)
- tx - surgery
Transverse vaginal septum
primary amenorrhea
- failure of mullerian derived upper vagina to fuse w/ urogenital sinus derived lower vagina
- found at midvagina
- p/w primary amenorrhea w/ cyclic pelvic pain
- PE = bulging septum with hematocolpos
vs imperforate hymen - transverse vaginal septum will have hymenal ring below septum
tx - resect septum
Mullerian agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser)
primary amenorrhea
Mullerian agenesis or dysgenesis
+ ovaries
- uterus, tubes, cervix
+/- cyclic pain
vs vaginal atresia - mullerian system is developed but distal vagina is composed of fibrosed tissue
tx - reconstructive surgery
Also look for anomalies in renal system
Can have children in surrogate using her ovaries