OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY CLIN MED
EXAM | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE,
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep
,average menstrual cycle length 24-32 days
HPG axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad) Hypothalamus releases GnRH
pituitary releases LH, and FSH
ovaries release estrogen and progesterone
first day of menstrual cycle first day of bleeding
phases of ovarian cycle follicular phase
luteal phase
Goal of follicular phase To produce an ovum for fertilization
FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) where it binds and function binds to granulosa cells
stimulates follicle growth
stimulates inhibin secretion
LH (luteinizing hormone) where it binds and function binds theca cells
stimulates production and secretion of androgens
moderate levels of estrogen inhibits release of GnRH, FSH, and LH
estrogen throughout follicular phase become high enough to initiate positive feedback on HPG axis
increased GnRH secretion -> huge LH surge
ovulation follicle ruptures in response to LH surge
mature oocyte brought to fallopian tube by fimbria
viable for fertilization for 24 hours
,follicle during luteal phase ruptured follicle fills with blood and forms corpus hemorrhagicum
granulosa and theca cells proliferate in follicle
lipid rich luteal cells fill follicle, forming corpus luteum
corpus luteum secretes estrogen and progesterone
reverts back to a negative feedback on HPG axis
function of corpus luteum and inhibin stall the next cycle in anticipation of fertilization
what occurs in the luteal phase is no fertilization occurs corpus luteum regresses spontaneously to corpus albicans
significant fall in hormones
what occurs if fertilization occurs? syncytiotrophoblast of embryo produces hCG
hCG maintains corpus luteum -> produces hormones for preg
uterine cycle The cycle that prepares the uterus for the growth of an embryo.
phases of uterine cycle menstrual, proliferative, secretory
what leads to menstruation? degeneration of corpus luteum leads to endometrial ischemia
endometrium sloughs off
When do LH and FSH peak? right before ovulation
when does estrogen peak right before ovulation
, when does progesterone peak luteal phase
what hormone is primarily responsible for the development of estrogen
the proliferative endometrium?
normal menstruation contains primarily arterial blood
can contain tissue debris, prostaglandins and large amounts of fibrinolysin
Progesterone effect on endometrium Decreases estrogen-driven endometrial proliferation; also leads to secretory changes in
endometrial cells preparing the uterus for pregnancy
estrogen effect on endometrium endometrial proliferation
anovulatory cycle no ovulation, no luteal phase, no progesterone, still "bleed"
estrogen continues to cause growth
bleeding usually occurs <28 days from LMP
amenorrhea absence of menstruation
primary amenorrhea Absence of menses by age 14 with absence of development of secondary sexual
characteristics
or
absence of menses by 3 years post-secondary sex characteristics
warning signs in primary amenorrhea neurologic symptoms - could be hypothalamic-pituitary lesion
pelvic pain - could be outflow obstruciton
EXAM | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE,
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep
,average menstrual cycle length 24-32 days
HPG axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad) Hypothalamus releases GnRH
pituitary releases LH, and FSH
ovaries release estrogen and progesterone
first day of menstrual cycle first day of bleeding
phases of ovarian cycle follicular phase
luteal phase
Goal of follicular phase To produce an ovum for fertilization
FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) where it binds and function binds to granulosa cells
stimulates follicle growth
stimulates inhibin secretion
LH (luteinizing hormone) where it binds and function binds theca cells
stimulates production and secretion of androgens
moderate levels of estrogen inhibits release of GnRH, FSH, and LH
estrogen throughout follicular phase become high enough to initiate positive feedback on HPG axis
increased GnRH secretion -> huge LH surge
ovulation follicle ruptures in response to LH surge
mature oocyte brought to fallopian tube by fimbria
viable for fertilization for 24 hours
,follicle during luteal phase ruptured follicle fills with blood and forms corpus hemorrhagicum
granulosa and theca cells proliferate in follicle
lipid rich luteal cells fill follicle, forming corpus luteum
corpus luteum secretes estrogen and progesterone
reverts back to a negative feedback on HPG axis
function of corpus luteum and inhibin stall the next cycle in anticipation of fertilization
what occurs in the luteal phase is no fertilization occurs corpus luteum regresses spontaneously to corpus albicans
significant fall in hormones
what occurs if fertilization occurs? syncytiotrophoblast of embryo produces hCG
hCG maintains corpus luteum -> produces hormones for preg
uterine cycle The cycle that prepares the uterus for the growth of an embryo.
phases of uterine cycle menstrual, proliferative, secretory
what leads to menstruation? degeneration of corpus luteum leads to endometrial ischemia
endometrium sloughs off
When do LH and FSH peak? right before ovulation
when does estrogen peak right before ovulation
, when does progesterone peak luteal phase
what hormone is primarily responsible for the development of estrogen
the proliferative endometrium?
normal menstruation contains primarily arterial blood
can contain tissue debris, prostaglandins and large amounts of fibrinolysin
Progesterone effect on endometrium Decreases estrogen-driven endometrial proliferation; also leads to secretory changes in
endometrial cells preparing the uterus for pregnancy
estrogen effect on endometrium endometrial proliferation
anovulatory cycle no ovulation, no luteal phase, no progesterone, still "bleed"
estrogen continues to cause growth
bleeding usually occurs <28 days from LMP
amenorrhea absence of menstruation
primary amenorrhea Absence of menses by age 14 with absence of development of secondary sexual
characteristics
or
absence of menses by 3 years post-secondary sex characteristics
warning signs in primary amenorrhea neurologic symptoms - could be hypothalamic-pituitary lesion
pelvic pain - could be outflow obstruciton
