Parents were concerned about their 16-year-old son for the following reasons: he had no deepening of his voice, scanty pubic and axillary hair growth, absence of beard and mustache growth, small penis, poor muscular development, and psycho-social immaturity.
Laboratory evaluation indicated the following:
Serum testosterone
100 ng/dL
Sperm count 10 million/mL semen
The following tests were performed:
Clomiphene (a nonsteroidal, weak estrogen agonist that stimulates the release of gonadotropins) 100 mg/day for seven days: 0% increase in LH (50% is normal)
Gn-RH (100 µg I.V.): 0% increase in LH in twenty minutes (300% is normal)
HCG (5000 I.U., I.V.): 50% increase in plasma testosterone one to three days after injection
This person was subsequently treated with FSH at 25-75 U three times/week and HCG as described above. Sperm count and testosterone levels were both near normal after two months of treatment, and primary and secondary sex characteristics appeared.
Questions:
What is the endocrine disorder in this individual?
Is this a primary or secondary disorder? Why?
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Why is HCG used in the treatment?
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Why would both FSH and HCG be needed in the treatment?
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A 25-year-old woman stated that it had been six weeks since her last menses. Her pregnancy test was positive. By the sixth month of pregnancy, she felt irregular contractions of the uterus but no complications were present. After nine months, a healthy, 7 lb., 3 oz girl was delivered with no complications. Breast feeding was planned.
What hormonal component is the basis of pregnancy tests?
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Following the positive pregnancy test, what hormonal mechanism prevented spontaneous abortion of the implanted embryo?
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What prevented the uterus from initiating labor before the designated delivery time?
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Describe the positive feedback systems that occur during labor and delivery.
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What maintains milk production after birth?
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Is it possible to get pregnant during the time of breast feeding? Explain your answer.
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