Benign Gynaecology (See Cancer Care for Gynae Oncology) Flashcards
(116 cards)
What can present with a whirlpool sign on pelvic USS?
Ovarian torsion!
When would you see cervical excitation?
PID
Ectopic pregnancy
What is cervical excitation also known as?
Cervical motion tenderness or The chandelier sign
What is cervical excitaton?
Significant pain or manipulation of the cervix
How many times can you repeat a smear test if the sample is inadequate?
3 times!!
Refer for colposcopy after a third inadequate smear
Continuous dribbling incontinence after labour ?
especially in areas with limited obstetric services
Vesicovaginal fistula
Describe the screening routine for cervical cancer in the UK
First invitation aged 25
3 yearly smear tests 25-50
5 yearly smear tests 50-65
Differentials for lower abdo pain in a young woman?
GYNAE- Ectopic pregnancy PID Ovarian torsion Endometriosis
BOWEL-
Acute appendicitis
IBS / IBD
BLADDER-
UTI
What is dysmenorrheoa and list some differentials
Painful periods (+/- Nausea + Vomiting)
May be primary (pain without pathology) or secondary (pain with pathology)
Differentials:
- Fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Adenomyosis
- PID
- Pelvic adhesions
What is adenomyosis
Endometrial tissue which grows into the myometrium
What is oligomenorrhoea and list some differentials
Irregular periods (>35 days between periods)
Differentials:
- PCOS
- Contraceptives
- Prolactinoma
- Stress
- Extreme weight loss
- Thyroid disease
What is amenorrhoea and list some causes
Absence of menstruation in a woman of reproductive age
Primary: failure to start menstruating …
- Late puberty
- Structural defect (imperforate hymen, absent uterus, absent or short vagina)
- Genetic defect (Turner’s syndrome, androgen insensitivity syndrome)
- Anorexia nervosa / extreme stress (hypothalamus doesn’t produce GnRH)
Secondary: periods stop for > 6 months (not due to pregnancy)
- Stress
- Extreme exercise
- Hyperprolactinaemia
- PCOS
- Ovarian failure (premature menopause)
- Asherman’s syndrome (adhesions form in uterus)
- Sheehan’s syndrome (Pituitary Necrosis)
What is menorrhagia and list some causes
Heavy menstrual bleeding impacting a patient’s quality of life (>80 ml or menses lasting >7 days)
Causes:
- Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
- Fibroids
- Polyps
- Endometrial adenocarcinoma
- Coagulation disorder
- Infection
- IUD
What other symptoms might a patient with menorrhagia complain of?
Signs of anaemia
Tiredness, pallor, headache, SOB, tinnitus etc
What is dysfunctional uterine bleeding?
Heavy and irregular bleeding in the absence of a pelvic pathology - thought to be related to hormone dysfunction
Ix dysfunctional uterine bleeding
Bedside tests:
- Pregnancy test
- STI swabs (vulvovaginal, endocervical and high vaginal)
Bloods - FSH, LH, Oestrogen, Progesterone, testosterone, prolactin, TFTs, clotting, FBC)
Imaging - TV USS
Hysteroscopy +/- endometrial biopsy (rule out other causes of menorrhagia)
Mx of dysfunctional uterine bleeding / menorrhagia
Medical Mx:
- Mirena IUS (releases levonorgestrel locally to cause atrophy of endometrium)
- Tranexamic acid (anti-fibrinolytic)
- Mefenamic acid (NSAID: inhibits prostaglandins)
- COCP
- IM Progesterone
Surgery:
- Endometrial ablation
- Myomectomy (if family incomplete)
- Hysterectomy
What are the 3 types of oestrogen
Estradiol
Estrone
Estriol
Where are oestrogen and progesterone (& inhibin) secreted from?
Oestrogen & Inhibin released from granulosa cells (under influence of FSH)
Androgens released from theca cells (under influence of LH)
Progesterone is released from the corpus luteum (follicle which has leutinised after ovulation due to the LH surge)
What is endometriosis?
Presence of endometriotic tissue outside of the uterus (uterosacral ligaments, peritoneum, ovaries, bladder and rarely the colon)
How may endometriosis present
PAIN:
- Cyclical (endometrial tissue responds to menstrual cycle)
- Constant (adhesions secondary to chronic inflammation)
- Deep dyspareunia (uterosacral ligaments involved)
- Dysuria (bladder involvement)
- Dyschezia (pain on defecation)
Subfertility
Asymptomatic (many cases are now being detected due to development of laparoscopic surgery)
What will endometriosis feel like on a bimanual examination?
Fixed, retroverted uterus !
may also feel adenxal mass or tenderness
What is the gold standard investigation for endometriosis
Laparoscopy and biopsy!!
May also do:
- MRI pelvis to assess extent in severe disease
- Pelvic USS (may not visualise endometriomas though)
How is endometriosis treated?
Medical:
- NSAIDs (Mefenamic acid)
- COCP
- Mirena IUS
- GnRH analogues
- Danazol (synthetic modified testosterone )
Surgical:
- Laparoscopy for excision / ablation
- Hysterectomy (last resort)