Question
A 47-year-old woman comes to the physician because of fatigue, difficulty falling asleep, and night sweats for the past 6 months. Over the past year, her menstrual cycle has become irregular and her last menstrual period was 2 months ago. She quit smoking 2 years ago. Pelvic exam shows vulvovaginal atrophy. A pregnancy test is negative. Which of the following changes is most likely to occur in this patient’s condition?
| A. |
Increased LH
|
| B. |
Increased Estrogen
|
| C. |
Increased Inhibin
|
| D. |
Increased FSH
|
Show Answer
|
Correct Answer » D
Explanation
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|
This 47-year-old patient presents with irregular menses, night sweats, insomnia, and vulvovaginal atrophy, which are all signs and symptoms of menopause.
Hormonal Changes in Menopause
Loss of negative feedback on the pituitary leads to:
-
Increased FSH
-
Increased LH
Most Significant Change
-
FSH increases more than LH.
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Inhibin normally suppresses FSH.
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Decreased inhibin causes marked rise in FSH.
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FSH is the most sensitive marker of menopause.
Reason Why Other Options Are Incorrect
Increased LH
Increased Estrogen
Increased Inhibin
