Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

Infertility Infertility is characterized by the condition in which even after trying to get pregnant through unprotected sex for more than one year, pregnancy does not happen. It may be due to a cause in the female or male, or even in both partners. Pregnancy occurs when the complex processes of ovulation and fertilization are completely successful. Female infertility may be caused by disorders of ovulation, abnormalities in the cervix or uterine, damage or blockage of the fallopian tube, endometriosis, primary ovarian insufficiency, pelvic adhesions, thyroid problems, certain medications, and cancer along with its treatment. Ovarian Cysts Ovarian cysts are characterized by the formation of sacs filled with fluid on or within the surface of an ovary. The ovaries are located on each side of the uterus and are formed and matured inside them, before they are released in monthly menstrual cycles. Generally, ovarian cysts do not cause any discomfort and may disappear within a few months without any treatment. Ovarian cysts can be two types: functional cysts and other types of ovarian cysts. Every month, follicles are responsible for producing estrogen and progesterone hormones. These are released at the time of ovulation and when these follicles keep on growing, it leads to functional cysts. Functional cysts can further be categorized as follicular cysts and corpus luteum cysts. The former is caused when the follicle is either not ruptured or releases the egg, which instead grows and becomes a cyst. The latter is caused when the ruptured follicle that releases large quantities of estrogen and progesterone escape the opening of the egg and an accumulation of fluid inside the follicle forms a cyst. In contrast, the nonfunctional ovarian cysts can be of three types: dermoid cysts (consists of hair, skin, or teeth tissues), cystadenomas (filled with watery liquid or mucous substances), and endometriomas (formed as a result of endometriosis). Signs and symptoms of ovarian cysts include a dull ache in the pelvis that aggravates before the beginning or end of the period, pelvic pain during intercourse, pain or pressure during bowel movements, nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, and an increased pressure on the bladder. 7.12 Male Reproductive System Hypogonadism Hypogonadism is a disorder among males in which the body is not able to produce an adequate amount of testosterone or sperm. Hypogonadism can be categorized in two ways: primary and secondary hypogonadism. Primary hypogonadism is caused when the issue lies with the testicles. Causes of primary hypogonadism include Klinefelter syndrome, undescended testicles, mumps orchitis, hemochromatosis, injury to the testicles, and treatment for cancer. In contrast, secondary hypogonadism is caused by a problem with the hypothalamus or pituitary glands. The hypothalamus is responsible for producing the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which signals the pituitary glands

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