Women reproductive cycle

For reasons that are not entirely clear, insomnia is also more common in women than men. There are particular times when a woman is especially vulnerable to insomnia, including pregnancy, the transition into menopause, and the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle. This, of course, suggests that it is changes in the female reproductive system that somehow alter sleep. Depression and anxiety are also more common in women at these times, and insomnia is a common symptom of these psychiatric illnesses. 

A loss of primary oocytes will irreversibly affect a woman s fecundity, but this is difficult to measure directly. Reproductive dysfunction can be studied by the evaluation of irregularities of menstrual cycles and onset of menarche and menopause. However, menstrual cyclicity and onset of menopause and menarche are affected by many parameters, such as age, genetics, nutritional status, stress, exercise, certain drugs and the use of contraceptives that alter endocrine feedback. The length of the menstrual cycle, particularly the follicular phase (before ovulation), can vary between individuals and may make it difficult to measure significant effects in groups of women (Burch et al., 1967 Treloar et al., 1967). 

Characteristics of the human menstrual cycle throughout reproductive life have been well described. A woman is born with approximately two million primordial follicles in her ovaries. During a normal reproductive life span, she ovulates less than 500 times. The vast majority of follicles undergo atresia. 

In theory, a knowledge of the woman s menstrual cycle might allow a couple to restrict intercourse to periods where fertilization would not occur. In practice, the method is unreliable. The time of ovulation can vary from month to month. The ovum must be fertilized within 12-24 h after ovulation. However, sperm can remain viable in the female reproductive tract for 5-7 days and possibly more. Other more reliable methods must be considered.39 It is important to remember that almost all drugs have side effects, which may be minor in most persons, but may be major in some. Thus, any method that is used must have minimal side effects. Doctors select among the different methods to achieve the best one for any given individual. 

A woman s reproductive life cycle spans nearly four decades. During this time her hormonal status and ability to reproduce vary considerably. The need for hormonal intervention during this time period varies from person to person and, typically, requires highly individualized medication regimens. The remainder of this chapter will focus on hormonal and selected nonhormonal therapies for the treatment and/or management of contraception, endometriosis, infertility, menopause, and breast cancer. 

Reproductive system A 34-year-old woman became hot and sweaty and had facial flushing and erythema at the end of an infusion of vancomycin 1 g over 60 minutes. A few minutes later she developed severe lower abdominal cramps and vaginal bleeding, confirmed to be uterine her last menstrual cycle had been 2 weeks before [58 ]. Histamine increases myometrial contractions through Hi receptor-mediated activation of uterine mast cells, and this was a probable mechanism. 

Reproductive system Of 170 kidney transplant patients, nine (six men and three women) were taking sirolimus [134 ]. One woman developed amenorrhea after transplantation her menstrual cycles restarted after withdrawal of sirolimus. Six married patients (four men and two women), who... 

It helps a woman prepare for pregnancy, by supporting the reproductive organs, keeping the eggs healthy in the ovaries, and instigating the monthly ovulation and menstrual cycle. 

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