Reproductive System Flashcards
(373 cards)
Average age of menarche
Between 12 and 13
Nature of the menstrual cycle around menarche time
typically irregular, with anovulatory cycles, for the first 6 months to 1 year
2 phases of menstrual cycle
Follicular and luteal
Source of follicle stimulating hormone
pituitary gland
Ovarian follicle produces this hormone
estrogen
Effect of estrogen on uterus
Proliferation of uterine lining
Timing of lutenizing hormone spike
mid-cycle, around day 14
Action of lutenizing hormone on ovary
Release of ovum from follicle
The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle begins _____________
after release of the ovum, some time after day 14
After release of ovum, remnants of the follicle become the ________ and secrete _______
Corpus luteum, secrete progesterone
Action of progesterone on uterus during a natural menstrual cycle
maintains uterine lining in preparation for implantation of fertilized ovum
If fertilization occurs, the trophoblast synthesizes __________. This maintains _________
hCG, corpus luteum
If there is no fertilization, what does the corpus luteum do?
it degenerates, and progesterone levels start to drop
If progesterone levels drop, what happens to the endometrium?
It is sloughed off
As estrogen and progesterone drop near the end of the menstrual cycle, what hormone starts to increase?
FSH
As FSH rises near the end of the menstrual cycle, what happens in the ovary?
development of primary ovarian follicles, the start of a new follicular phase
This is a diagnosis of exclusion, when pathologic menorrhagia or metrorrhagia are ruled out.
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
One likely cause of dysfunctional uterine bleeding
anovulation via disruption of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, causing continuous estrogen stimulation of the endometrium that overgrows and sloughs off at irregular times in varying amounts
Common times to find dysfunctional uterine bleeding
near menarche and menopause
This is the gold standard way to determine if ovulation is occurring in the setting of dysfunctional uterine bleeding
Endometrial sampling
Definitive surgery, used in refractory cases of dysfunctional uterine bleeding
hysterectomy
First procedural treatment of choice in dysfunctional uterine bleeding (that has not responded to medical therapy)
Dilation and curettage
First line treatment for dysfunctional uterine bleeding (stable, non-hemorrhaging)
Oral contraceptives
Medical treatment for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, if bleeding is excessive
conjugated estrogens