1.03 - Pelvic Pain Flashcards
Give some causes of pelvic pain in women.
- urinary tract infection (UTI)
- dysmenorrhoea
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- ovarian cysts
- endometriosis
- pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- ectopic pregnancy
- appendicitis
- Mittelschmerz
- pelvic adhesions
- ovarian torsion
What is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
Inflammation and infection of the organs of the pelvis, caused by infection ascending through the cervix.
What are the affected organs of PID?
a) endometritis
b) salpingitis
c) oophoritis
d) parametritis
e) peritonitis
a) endometrium
b) fallopian tubes
c) ovaries
d) parametrium
e) peritoneal membrane
What are the causes of PID?
Common sexually transmitted pelvic infections:
- Neisseria gonorrhoea (severe)
- Chlamydia trachomatis
Can be caused by non-sexually transmitted infections, such as:
- Gardnerella vaginalis
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Escherichia coli
What are the risk factors for PID?
- no barrier contraception
- multiple sexual partners
- younger age
- existing STIs
- previous PID
- IUD
Presentation of PID.
- pelvic pain
- abnormal vaginal discharge
- abnormal bleeding (intermenstrual / postcoital)
- dyspareunia
- fever
- dysuria
OE of PID.
- pelvic tenderness
- cervical motion tenderness
- inflamed cervix
- purulent discharge
Patient’s may have fever and other signs of sepsis.
How should PID be investigated?
- NAAT (gonorrhoea and chlamydia)
- HIV test
- Syphilis test
- HVS (bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, trichomoniasis)
Exclusion tests:
- pregnancy test to exclude ectopic pregnancy
- microscope to look for pus cells (absence excludes PID)
Possible complications of PID.
- sepsis
- abscess
- infertility
- chronic pelvic pain
- ectopic pregnancy
- Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome
What is Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome?
Inflammation and infection of the liver capsule, leading to adhesions between the liver and the peritoneum.
Results in right upper quadrant pain, that can be referred to the shoulder tip if there is diaphragmatic irritation.
Laparoscopy can be used to visualise and treat the adhesions by adhesiolysis.
How should PID be managed?
Specific abx regimes:
a) gonorrhoea
b) chlamydia / Mycoplasma genitalium
c) Gardnerella vaginalis
Refer to GUM specialist service for management and contact tracing.
Empirical abx started, before swab results to avoid delay and complications.
a) IM Ceftriaxone (1g)
b) 100mg Doxycyline BD (2/52)
c) 400mg Metronidazole BD (2/52)
Note in severe cases (sepsis or pregnancy), consider hospital referral for IV abx.
What are the functional ovarian cysts?
Benign cysts commonly presenting in premenopausal women, caused by hormonal fluctuations of menopause.
Follicular cysts - developing follicle fails to rupture and release the egg, causing the cyst to remain for a few cycles.
Corpus luteum cysts - when the corpus luteum fails to break down, but instead fills with fluid. They are often seen in early pregnancy.
How can follicular cysts and corpus luteum cysts be differentiated on ultrasound?
Follicular cysts typically have thin walls and are empty.
Corpus luteum cysts fill with fluid.
Name some pathological ovarian cysts.
- cystadenoma
- endometrioma
- dermoid cyst
- sex cord-stromal tumour
Presentation of ovarian cysts.
- incidental USS finding (asymptomatic)
- pelvic pain
- bloating
- fullness in the abdomen
- palpable pelvic mass
Ovarian cysts may present with acute pelvic pain if there is ovarian torsion, haemorrhage or rupture of the cyst.
What features of an ovarian cyst would suggest malignancy?
- abdominal bloating
- reduced appetite
- early satiety
- weight loss
- urinary symptoms
- pain
- ascites
- lymphadenopathy
What are some risk factors for ovarian malignancy?
- age
- postmenopause
- increased number of ovulations
- obesity
- HRT
- smoking
- BRCA1 / BRCA2
*breastfeeding is protective
What factors will reduce the number of ovulations?
- late menarche
- early menopause
- any pregnancies
- use of COCP