Sex Differences

chromosomal sex

gonadal sex

ENVIRONMENT
hormonal sex

morphological sex

differences in physiology and behavior

Reproduction
Hormonal control of reproductive processes
Female reproductive function
Fertility Pregnancy, parturition, and lactation (?)

Male reproductive function

Development
Sex determination and differentiation
Chromosomal-gonadal-hormonal-morphological

Behavioral Endocrinology
Aggression Pair Bonding

Female Reproduction: fertility

Anatomy
Ovarian cycle

Hormonal Control
HPG axis

Contraceptives Pathophysiology

Female Reproduction: fertility

Anatomy
Ovarian cycle

Hormonal Control
HPG axis

Contraceptives Pathophysiology

Primordial follicle

primary follicle secondary follicle preantral follicle

graafian follicle ovulation Corpus luteum formation

Secondary follicle

Pre-antral follicle Graafian Follicle

Pause until fertilization

time

28 days

Follicular Phase

Luteal Phase

Female Reproduction: fertility

Anatomy
Ovarian cycle

Hormonal Control
HPG axis

Contraceptives Pathophysiology

Hormonal Control of the menstrual cycle

GnRH

LH
1. 2. 3. 4. Androgen Synthesis (thecal cells) Moves primary oocyte out of meiosis I Luteinization of follicular cells Ovulation

FSH
1. 2. 3. Follicular development Conversion of androgens to estrogens (granulosa cells) Induce Inhibin secretion from granulosa cells

Steroidogenesis: follicular phase

LH thecal cell
T FSH

granulosa cell
TE2 ?
inhibin

E2

T E2

LH

FSH

HPG axis

HPG axis

Steroidogenesis: late follicular, early luteal phase

LH

Corpus luteum formation Luteinize: Change function, start producing progesterone

P4
+E2

HPG axis

Menstrual Cycle

Female Reproduction: fertility

Anatomy
Ovarian cycle

Hormonal Control
HPG axis

Contraceptives Pathophysiology

The Pill
Carl Djurassi
Invented the first oral contraceptive in 1951 FDA approved in 1957

Two types
Combination of estrogens and progestins Progestins only (depo proverashot)

Actions: Benefits Risks

Female Reproduction: fertility

Anatomy
Ovarian cycle

Hormonal Control
HPG axis

Contraceptives Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology
Amenorrhealack of menstrual cycle
Primary amenorrhea Secondary amenorrhea
Pregnancy Menopause
Premature menopause

Strenuous exercise Anorexia Nervosa

Premenstrual Syndrome Endometriosis Excessive Androgen Production

Can be due to ovarian or adrenal problem

Infertilityand treatment

Causes of infertility

Ovary stimulation

Normal ovary with graafian follicle

Hyperstimulated ovary

Hormonal Control of Follicle Stimulation

month before stimulation
Lupron The pill Gonal-F embryo transfer egg retrieval hCG: starts ovulation Synthetic FSH stimulates follicles Lupron shuts down your own LH and FSH secretion (suppresses your own hormones) Pill suppresses ovulation

stimulation month
Pregnancy test

Multi-cell stage
8-cell stage embryos
bean 1

bean 2 bean 1?

bean 2?

% live births per transfer

60 50 % success 40 30 20 10 own eggs donor eggs

0
25 30 35 age 40 45 50

Note: these women are all pre-menopausal

Types of IVF
Use your own eggs collected that cycle Use frozen embryos collected from you previously Use fresh eggs or embryos from 3% donor
13% 75%

8%

Use frozen embryos from donor

1%

Gestational carrier

Female Reproduction: fertility

Anatomy
Ovarian cycle

Hormonal Control
HPG axis

Contraceptives Pathophysiology