Topic 1: Reproduction (10 marks total)Considering Aquagirl and her current circumstances, describe the role of oestrogen and explain whether you expect her oestrogen levels to be different...

Case Study of Aquagirl
Introduction:
This is a case study of Aquagirl who is a 16-year-old female athlete. She is training for her first national competition after switching from synchronised swimming to free diving. She consumes a ketogenic diet and has been practising freediving while feeling weak, tired, and short of breath. In addition, she has been taking Voltaren, in the form of a tablet and a topical gel, to ease muscle aches after workouts. This essay will examine the physiological aspects of Aquagirl's reproductive, respiratory, digestive, and metabolic systems as well as the pharmacological implications of Voltaren. It will help to gain a thorough understanding of the variables affecting Aquagirl's performance and health by delving into these areas.
Reproduction
Oestrogen is essential for the female reproductive system. Ovaries are the main site of oestrogen production. Smaller amounts are also made in the adrenal glands and adipose tissue. The growth and maintenance of secondary sexual features unique to women, such as the development of the breasts, the widening of the hips, and the distribution of body fat, are mediated by the hormone oestrogen (Mena et al., 2019).
The level of activity and vigorous exercise regimen that Aquagirl engages in may affect her reproductive physiology. By influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis, regular exercise can affect the homeostatic regulation of female reproductive physiology. Exercise-induced amenorrhea is a condition where irregular or absent periods occur as a result of disruptions in the normal menstrual cycle caused by intense exercise. Changes in the menstrual cycle's hormone production and release are responsible for this disruption (Bala et al., 2020).
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is released by the hypothalamus, and this hormone triggers the anterior pituitary gland to produce follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The development and release of eggs as well as the production of oestrogen and progesterone are then controlled by FSH and LH acting on the ovaries. The release of GnRH from the hypothalamus can be inhibited by vigorous exercise, which lowers FSH and LH levels. Lower oestrogen levels may result from this. Due to Aquagirl's high level of physical activity and rigorous training, her oestrogen levels may be lower than the normal range (Mena et al., 2019).
Respiratory system
The physiological processes connected to diving and breath holding can be used to explain the variations in arterial blood gas measurements that Aquagirl experienced during a training dive. The changes in arterial blood gases that occur during a dive are influenced by several factors. First off, as Aquagirl goes underwater, the chest is compressed by the increased hydrostatic pressure, which reduces the volume of the lungs. As a result, gas exchange is compromised, and alveolar ventilation declines. Hypoxemia results from a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) in the arterial blood (Bağıran et al., 2019).
Additionally, a buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood is caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) production while exercising and breath holding. This results in respiratory acidosis and a drop in pH by raising the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) in the arterial...