Week 2 pt 1 Flashcards
1) Define menstrual cycle
2) How long does it last?
1) Cyclic & predictable sequence of ovulation followed by menstrual bleeding (if pregnancy does not occur)
2) ~30 yrs of cycles (ages 15-45)
What are some reasons for interruptions in the menstrual cycle?
Pregnancy, lactation, illness, GYN & endocrine disorders, & exogenous factors (hormone-based contraceptives & some medications)
1) What is the duration of the menstrual cycle?
2) What is the duration of menstruation?
1) 28 days (+/- 7 days) from day 1 of one cycle to day 1 of next cycle
2) 3-7 days
List and describe the 3 phases of the menstrual cycle
1) Follicular (menstruation) phase (~14 days duration but can vary): Begins with onset of menses; ends with LH surge
2) Ovulation: Occurs within 30-36hrs of LH surge
-Mittelschmerz
3) Luteal phase (~14 days duration): Begins on day of LH surge; ends with the 1st day of menses
Which phase is more likely to vary, follicular or luteal?
Follicular
What regulates the cycle by interactions between hormones?
(GnRH, LH, FSH, & ovarian sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone)
Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis
What are the 2 sources of follicular androgens and estrogens?
Granulosa cells produce estrogens (estrone and estradiol)
Theca cells produce androgens (androstenedione and testosterone)
Define ovulation
progesterone-secreting ovarian cyst (corpus luteum)
1) How many follicles are at birth? What happens during childhood?
2) What happens during the follicular phase?
1) 1-2 million primordial follicles at birth; childhood follicular atresia (leaving ~300-500K follicles at menarche)
2) Preparation of egg for ovulation
Luteal phase:
1) What occurs?
2) What happens if fertilization doesn’t happen?
2) What if it does happen?
1) Corpus luteum produces estrogen and progesterone endometrium prepares for implantation
2) corpus luteum degenerates, progesterone levels fall, the endometrium is not maintained menstruation occurs.
3) hCG is produced by early embryo tissue to help support the endometrium then is produced by the placenta beginning at 8-10wks gestation
Describe the endometrial cycle
1) Proliferative and secretory phases
2) Entire endometrium expelled during menstruation (except basal layer)
3) Aided by prostaglandin-associated uterine contractions
Endometrial cycle:
1) What hormone changes happen in the follicular phase?
2) What hormonal shift happens during ovulation?
1) Rise in estrogen levels stimulates endometrial cell growth and healing
2) Shift from estrogen to progesterone
Menstrual cycle:
1) What converts from proliferative to secretory phase?
2) Withdrawal of _________________ (end of luteal phase) results in endometrial breakdown & sloughing
3) If no ovulation, endometrium continues to thicken, _______________ production continues, & it outgrows its blood supply and sloughing intermittently (abnormal uterine bleeding AUB
1) Progesterone
2) progesterone
3) estrogen
1) What type of process is puberty?
2) Define puberty
3) Is it a short or long process?
1) Puberty = endocrine process
2) Physical, emotional, and sexual transition from childhood to adulthood
3) Gradual process: well-defined events and milestones
Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis:
1) When does it begin functioning? When is it suppressed?
2) What is part of puberty is it involved in? Explain.
3) What hormones does it trigger?
1) Begins functioning as fetus; suppressed at a few weeks old (estrogen)
2) Initial endocrine changes associated with puberty
10-11yo: Androgens (DHEA, DHEA-S, androstenedione) rise leading to adrenarche
3) Axis reactivates during puberty triggering GnRH production (from hypothalamus) leading to pulses of LH and FSH
What are the 5 stages of sexual maturation?
1) Growth acceleration (often missed as the first step)
2) Thelarche (breast development)
3) Pubarche (pubic hair development)
4) Maximum growth rate
5) Menarche
1) Breast development & pubic hair quantified by what?
2) During which stage does not a lot happen?
1) Tanner Staging
2) Stages 1-2
1) There is _____________ puberty with mild (BMI 30-34.99)-to-moderate (BMI 35-39.99) obesity
2) Are there any ethnic differences?
1) earlier
2) Yes
Precocious Puberty:
1) Define this term
2) What are the 2 causes?
1) Onset of secondary sexual characteristics prior to age 6 in African-American girls & age 7 in Caucasian girls
2) a) GnRH-dependent sex hormone production = true (central) precocious puberty
b) GnRH-independent sex hormone production = precocious pseudopuberty (peripheral)
What should a workup for precocious puberty include? (tests)
LH
FSH
Estradiol
DHEA-S
17-hydroxyprogesterone (can indicate adrenal iss.)
TSH, FT4
Bone age
If central, MRI of brain and pituitary
If peripheral gonadal tumor, tumor markers (a-fetoprotein, hCG, CEA)
Describe GnRH-dependent (central) precocious puberty
1) More common than GnRH-independent
2) Early activation of HPG axis: Idiopathic cause most common
3) Early maturation
4) Elevated estrogen: Lead to short stature in adulthood
5) May promote psychosocial problems and should be addressed carefully
Describe GnRH independent (peripheral) precious puberty
1) Sex hormone production (androgens or estrogens) independent of HP stimulation
2) Exam may reveal a palpable pelvic mass further evaluation/imaging
1) What are the 2 main goals for precocious puberty Tx?
2) How do you Tx GnRH-dependent?
2) What abt GnRH-independent?
1) Arrest and diminish sexual maturation until normal pubertal age
Maximize adult height
2) GnRH agonist
3) Suppress gonadal steroidogenesis (based on cause)
Evaluation for primary amenorrhea considered in what 3 scenarios?
1) Menarche not reached by age 15 or
2) Menarche not reached within 3 years of thelarche or
3) Lack of thelarche by age 13