Abnormal vaginal bleeding Flashcards
Causes of meorrhagia
Polyp Adenomyosis Leiyomyoma Malignancy Coagulopathy Ovary dysfunction Iatrogenic - IUD Endometrial - hyperplasia, endometriosis Endocrine - hypothyroidism Not classified - DUB
Classification of abnormal vaginal bleeding
Post menopausal Intermenstrual Post coital Menorrhagia Dysmenorrhea Oligomenorrhoea >35 days apart Polymenorrhoea <21 days apart Pregnancy related (ectopic, missed/incomplete/threatened miscarriage, gestational trophoblastic disease)
Management of menorrhagia
Conservative: regular paracetamol, hot water bottle Drugs: mefenamic acid, tranexamic acid Regulating menstrual cycle: 1st line - IUS 2nd line - tranexamic acid, COCP
MoA of mefanamic acid
NSAID: COX inhibitor so reduces prostaglandin synthesis which reduced bleeding
MoA of tranexamic acid
Prevents breakdown of fibrin
Symptoms of cervical polyps
Menorrhagia
Post coital bleeding
Intermenstrual bleeding
Symptoms and signs of endometriosis
Dysmenorrhea I.e cyclical pelvic pain Dyspareunia Menorrhagia and/or polymenorrhoea Infertility Pain on defecation Fixed retroverted uterus (adhesions)
Common causes of post coital bleeding
Chlamydia infection
Cervical ectropion
Investigation for abnormal vaginal bleeding
Depends on symptoms and age: Hb, Fe, ferritin TFTs Clotting Pregnancy test TVUS (?pregnancy or ?endometrial Ca) Speculum and pelvic examination Cervical smear Hysteroscopy Laparoscopy
Laparoscopic findings in endometriosis
Powder burn spots
Endometrioma (blood filled ovarian cyst)
Fixed retroverted uterus
Diagnosis of PCOS
2/3 of following criteria:
Oligomenorrhoea or anovulation
Excess androgen (clinical or blood test)
At least 12 follicles on ovaries on TVUS
Blood tests suggesting PCOS
High testosterone
Low SHBG (due to high circulating insulin)
High LH:FSH
Symptoms and signs of PCOS
Anovulation Oligomenorrhoea Unintentional weight gain Hirsutism Acanthosis nigricans Enlarged ovaries on pelvic examination
Pathophysiology of PCOS
Chronic high LH due to high GnRH causes increased androgens
Androgens converted peripherally to oestrogen
Oestrogen maintains high LH by +ve feedback and suppresses FSH
Low FSH means follicles don’t mature so from cysts
Long term risks of PCOS
Endometrial cancer risk as unopposed oestrogen from anovulation (no corpus luteum to produce progesterone)
Type 2 diabetes
Recurrent miscarriage