Introduction:
Hormones play a crucial role in the development or maturation of various organs. Reproductive hormones are important for the growth and development of primary and secondary sexual organs. Adolescent age is considered the most important phase of biological life. This is the junction between childhood and adulthood. As a result, various glands start secreting hormones during this time. These hormones, including sex hormones responsible for developing sexual organs in adolescents. Endocrinology is related to the study of hormones and hormone-producing glands. As hormones are necessary for adolescent development, endocrinology study is important for adolescent growth.
What Is Adolescent Gynecology?
Adolescence or puberty is the biological phase of life when a boy or a girl sexually mature. For most girls, puberty starts between eight to fourteen years of age. The appearance of primary and secondary sexual characteristic features characterizes this. Primary sexual characteristics include the development of sexual organs, the onset of the menstrual cycle, and the release of the egg. The secondary sexual characteristics include the development of breasts, the appearance of hair in different parts of the body, and changes in the voice. Different hormones play a pivotal role in the development of these sexual characteristics.
What Is the Role of Endocrinology?
Various hormones play an important role in gynecological development. These are:
1. Estrogen: The ovary secretes estrogen; apart from this, the adrenal gland (a gland situated over the kidney) and fat cells produce this hormone. The role of estrogen is:
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It helps in the maturation and growth of the ovary and uterus.
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It brings about the development of labia major and labia minora (skin around the vaginal opening) of the vagina and is responsible for whitish discharge from the vagina.
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This hormone's action influences the development of the breast and the milk gland's ductal system.
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This hormone maintains the thickness of the lining of the epithelium of the uterus.
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Estrogen helps in ovulation (release of the egg).
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This hormone regulates the menstrual cycle.
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It causes fat deposition and hair growth in various body parts, like the pubic region and armpit.
2. Progesterone: This is known as the pregnancy hormone of women. It is produced from the corpus luteum (a group of cells formed inside the ovaries during the menstrual cycle), adrenal gland (a gland on the kidney), and placenta.
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This hormone helps capillary growth during the menstrual cycle and increases vascularization and blood flow.
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Progesterone is responsible for mucosal thickening in the cervix region, which provides immunity and maintains immune cells' function in the genital tract.
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It helps transition the endometrium (inner epithelial lining of the uterus) from the proliferative phase to the secretory phase.
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This hormone helps in the implantation of the ovum.
3. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): It is secreted from the pituitary gland (a small gland located underneath the brain) in response to the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. The role of this hormone is:
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This hormone stimulates granulosa cells in the ovarian follicles and helps synthesize estrogen.
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During the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, this hormone stimulates the maturation of ovarian follicles.
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Maintain the level of estrogen by a feedback mechanism.
4. Luteinizing Hormone (LH): The anterior pituitary secretes this hormone through the influence of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The functions of this hormone are:
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It stimulates the release of estrogen and progesterone from the ovary.
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Helps in the development of the corpus luteum.
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The action of this hormone regulates ovulation (release of the egg).
What Is the Staging of Development?
The action of the hormones and the appearance of the sexual characteristics can be classified into several stages:
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Thelarche: This is the first symptom of puberty characterized by the development of breasts. The action of estrogen and progesterone influences this.
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Pubarche: This phase is observed six months after the first phase. In this phase, the development of pubic hair takes place. After two years of the appearance of pubic hair, axillary hair will begin to grow.
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Menarche: This is the onset of the menstrual cycle. This phase is influenced by the action of the Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH). This phase appears fifteen to three years after the thelarche.
What Are the Disorders Affecting Both Endocrine and Gynecological System?
Irregularities in the functioning of the hormones lead to various disorders. These are:
1. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: This common gynecological problem affects almost s four to six percent of the female population. The clinical features of this condition are:
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Oligoovulation - Irregular and infrequent menstrual cycle.
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Hirsutism - Excessive growth of hair in unwanted areas of the female body, like under the nose and the cheeks.
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Acne - Presence of acne over the forehead and center of the face.
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Alopecia - Thinning of the hair and hair loss.
The cause of such a condition is unknown, but it is associated with increased testosterone hormone (male sex hormone) in the blood. Also, the level of FSH in the blood is decreased, and the level of LH is elevated.
2. Amenorrhea: Amenorrhea is a condition characterized by the absence of a menstrual cycle. This can be of two types:
A. Primary Amenorrhea:The absence of any menstrual function is known as Primary amenorrhea. Several factors cause this:
a. Hormone Secretion: Excessive secretion of hormones like cortisol, prolactin, and testosterone hormone.
b. Pituitary Deficiency: Pituitary deficiency is caused by a tumor or infraction of the pituitary gland. As a result, the level of FSH and LH is decreased in the blood.
c. Ovarian Defects: Ovarian defects are responsible for the inadequate production of estrogen and progesterone. This is caused by:
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Defects in ovarian differentiation are caused by diseases like Turner syndrome (one X chromosome is missing).
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Difficulty in the biosynthesis of estrogen caused by steroid metabolism defects.
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Nutritional deficiency is also responsible for this, which causes delayed maturation of glands and ovaries.
B. Secondary Amenorrhea: This is characterized by the absence of a six-month menstrual cycle in a patient who previously had a history of the normal menstrual cycle. The causative factors for these conditions are:
a. Hypothalamic Dysfunction: Dysfunction of the hypothalamus caused by stress or drug is responsible for this. Also, conditions like craniopharyngioma (rare benign tumor of the brain) and tuberculous granuloma in the hypothalamus are associated with this.
b. Pituitary Causes: Tumors involving the pituitary gland are responsible for damaging pituitary cells damaged by anoxia, thrombosis, or hemorrhage.
3. Precocious Puberty: This condition is characterized by the early onset of puberty and the menstrual cycle. The secondary sexual characteristics appear before the age of eight in such cases. In most cases, it is associated with a mutation of the MKRN3 gene. It is also associated with radiation therapy and the presence of tumors.
Conclusion:
The secretion of hormones is necessary for the gynecological development of girls. These hormones are also responsible for the appearance of secondary sexual features. Any problem regarding the secretion of hormones or hormonal imbalance will cause gynecological disorders. Knowledge of the hormones will help identify gynecological problems in adolescents.
