Exam 4: Unit 10 Female Reproductive System Ch 35

What is estrogen?

Menstrual cycle regulation hormone

What is progesterone?

Pregnancy maintenance

What are androgens and what are they responsible for?

Reproductive organ development and sexual libido

What hormone is responsible for the onset of puberty and sex drive and released by the hypothalamus to stimulate the pituitary gland?

GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone)

What is the term used when the onset of puberty is too early- and what is that age for females?

Precocious, before 8 for girls

What does “amenorrhea” mean?

Lack of menstruation

What are some of the issues that might cause a women to experience amenorrhea?

Estrogen deficiency, anovulation (PCOS), stress, reproductive tract obstruction, extreme athletic training, severe eating disorders

What happens during menopause?

Estrogen deficiency and period stops

Define the term “dysmenorrhea”

Painful menstruation

What is the difference between primary and secondary dysmenorrhea?

Primary is associated with increase in prostaglandin release and Secondary is related to pelvic diseases

In primary dysmenorrhea- what is the primary cause of the pain?

Increased myometrial contractions, constricted endometrial blood vessels, increased nerve hypersensitivity

Which syndrome has more severe symptoms, PMS or PMDD? 

PMDD

What is PMS and PMDD?

Cyclic recurrence of distressing physical, psychologic, or behavioral changes

What is PCOS?

Cysts grown in ovaries. High levels of estrogen, testosterone, and LH, low FSH

What are the most common risk factors for PCOS?

Genetic predisposition and obesity

What clinical manifestations are associated with PCOS?

Amenorrhea, elevated androgens → acne and hirsutism (male pattern dark coarse hair growth), obesity and insulin resistance

What are some uterine disorders that can cause abnormal uterine bleeding?

Uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, endometrial cancer, polyps

Define PID

Pelvic inflammatory disease caused by infection

What are the most common pathogens associated with PID?

Gonorrhea and chlamydia

What are some signs and symptoms of PID?

Pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, abnormal bleeding, dyspareunia, increased body temperature, bleeding and spotting after sex

What complications are associated with PID?

Scarring, damaged fallopian tubes, infertility, ectopic pregnancy

What is the most common pathogen responsible for the vaginitis and what predisposes a patient to developing vaginitis with this pathogen? 

Yeast (candidiasis)-fungal, most common cause is using antibiotics for something else

What structure(s) is infected with bartholinitis?

The duct from the vaginal opening to the Bartholin glands

What factors are associated with the organs of the female reproductive system prolapsing thru the vagina?

Aging, obesity, hysterectomy

Are benign ovarian cysts cancerous?

No

What causes the ovarian cyst to form?

Caused by normal hormonal fluctuations during reproductive years when a follicle does not rupture

What type of pain might a patient with an ovarian cyst experience?

Uni-lateral

What type of bleeding may be experienced by women with fibroids or polyps?

Abnormal uterine bleeding

Why might a patient with uterine fibroids have dysuria?

Can grown to be large and put pressure on urinary structures

Define endometriosis

Presence of functioning endometrial tissue or implants outside the uterus

What are some common symptoms of endometriosis?

Pelvic and abdominal pain, dyschezia (poop pain), dyspareunia (sex pain)

Why might a patient with endometriosis suffer from increased pain during menstruation?

The extra tissue responds to menstrual hormones

Are there any known causes for the development of endometriosis?

No

Where is the cervix located?

Between the vagina and the uterus

What is the most common cause of cervical cancer and what happens to the cervix because of this cause?

HPV, changes in epithelium of the cervix

What are some risk factors associated with the development of cervical cancer?

Multiple sexual partners, sex at a young age, immunosuppression, oral contraceptives, use of nicotine

What factors are responsible for early detection and treatment for cervical cancer?

PAP smear, HPV testing, HPV vaccine

What pathogen causes cervical cancer?

HPV

What type of pathogen causes Herpes?

Virus

What symptoms does HPV cause?

Warts and cervical cancer

How might HPV be prevented?

Vaccine

What other female reproductive organ cancers might be caused by HPV?

Vaginal, vulvar, and endometrial

Why might ovarian cancers progress to later stages of metastasis before they are detected?

There is so much space because a baby is large

What are some factors that increase the risk for developing ovarian cancer?

increased age, post-menopausal, genetic mutations like BRCA, fam history of ovarian, uterine, breast or colon cancer

Define mastitis and what is a common issue that causes it?

Infection of the breast that typically occurs from a blocked milk duct and bacterial infection

Define galactorrhea

Persistent secretion of milky fluid from breasts when not lactating

What is the most common cause of galactorrhea?

Excessive amounts of prolactin caused by pituitary tumors, hypothyroidism, and some medications

What is fibrocystic breast disease and is it cancerous?

A spectrum of noncancerous breast changes

What is the most common cancer, specifically in women?

Breast cancer

What are the modifiable risk factors associated with the development of breast cancer?

Hormone therapy, overweight, radiation exposure, smoking, reproductive history, alcohol consumption

What are the non-modifiable risk factors associated with the development of breast cancer?

Genetic changes, family history, radiation exposure, dense breasts, previous breast cancer diagnosis

In what part of the breast does cancer most likely develop?

Ductal/lobular epithelium

What stage of breast cancer is determined by lymph node involvement?

Stage 3

What changes indicate that there may be a cancerous tumor in the breast?

Painless lump, palpable auxillary nodes, dimpling of skin in the breast, bone pain once metastasizes

is generalized breast tenderness with menstruation common with breast cancer?

Yes and it is normal

What factors relate to the decrease in cancer deaths?

Increased screening measures

What are the names of the gene mutations that may.indicate a higher risk for ovarian cancer and breast cancer?

BRCA 1 & BRCA 2