Womens health

Main hormones responsible for the changes that occur during puberty

Females- Estradiol and progesterone

Males- Testosterone

5 physical changes for females

Hips widen, breasts grow, pubic hair, taller, sweaty

5 physical changes for males

Voice drops, gains weight, gets taller, pubic hair, sweaty

5 emotional and social changes that occur for both males and females

• Separates from family

• Becomes closer to friends

• Gets more anxious

• Gets more emotional

• Gets more embarrassed

PMS

• A group of symptoms that occur in women, typically between ovulation and a period.

• Mood swings, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability and depression.

Sanitary items that females have available for them to use when they have their period

• Pads

• Tampons

• Period undies

• Menstrual cups

Menstruation

A normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman's monthly cycle. Every month, your body prepares for pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus, or womb, sheds its lining.

Stage 1: Menstruation

• Commonly known as ‘period’

• Uterine lining sheds and exits out through the vagina

• Average length lasts between 3-5 days; can last up to 7

Hormones: Estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest.

Stage 2: Follicular Phase

• The dominant follicle in your ovaries matures an egg

• This follicles prepared the egg to be released at the next stage

• The lining of the uterus thickens in preparation for pregnancy

• Occurs from the beginning of your period until ovulation

Hormones: Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen increases

Stage 3: Ovulation

• The mature egg is released from the ovaries, through the fallopian tubes towards your uterus.

• Lasts for 16-32 hours

• Occurs around day 16

• Once the mature egg is released, it will survive for 24 hours in the uterus.

Hormones: Dramatic increase in luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen decreases right after ovulation.

Stage 4: Luteal

• Lining thickens further in preparation for pregnancy

• Occurs after ovulation, and ends at the start of menstruation.

• If the egg is fertilised, it implants on the lining and the increase of progesterone maintains the thickness of the lining

• If pregnancy does not occur, the egg dies, progesterone levels drop and the uterus lining sheds which is the beginning of menstruation

Hormones that control menstruation: FSH and LH

Released in the pituitary gland, which is a part of the brain

Hormones that control menstruation: Oestrogen

• Development of the female secondary sexual characteristics

• prepare the release of the ovum and the uterine lining thickens.

Hormones that control menstruation: Progesterone

Primarily responsible for preparing the uterus lining for a potential pregnancy

Follicle Stimulating Hormone’s (FSH) role in the menstrual cycle

• The pituitary gland releases the FSH hormone. 

• FSH is secreted into the blood stream and enters the ovaries where the follicle then produces an ovum (egg).

• The follicle then releases oestrogen to prepare the release of the ovum and the uterine lining thickens.

Luteinizing Hormone’s (LH) role in the menstrual cycle

• After about 2 weeks the production of FSH stops and LH is produced. 

• LH is then transported through the blood stream to the ovaries to stimulate ovulation in the follicle.

Progesterone’s role in the menstrual cycle

• If the ovum is not fertilized the the ovum degenerates and menstruation begins.

• If the ovum is fertilized it embeds to the uterine wall and the overall hormone levels rise. 

• The remains of the follicle are then transported to the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine gland, where progesterone is secreted.

PCOS Key facts:

• PCOS affects about %10 of women

• Women with PCOS have partially formed follicles on the ovaries, each of which contains an egg.

• These rarely grow to maturity or produce eggs that can be fertilised.

• About 85% of women with PCOS have insulin resistance, which means the body blocks glucose from going into cells. 

• By age 40, 40% of women with PCOS will develop pre-diabetes or diabetes. 

• Fatty liver affects 15% to 55% of women with PCOS and can be improved by diet changes.

PCOS symptoms:

• Irregular or no periods

• Excessive hair (hirsutism) on the face or body

• Hair loss (alopecia)

• Skin conditions such as acne and skin tags

• Weight problems

• Reduced fertility

• Stress, anxiety and depression

Female reproductve system

Cultural issues that impact women surrounding periods

It can be seen as

• taboo

• unclean

• embarrassing

In some cultures there are

• prohibitions on attending religious ceremonies

• visiting religious spaces

• handling food

• sleeping in the home.