Care of a woman with gynaecological conditions Flashcards
What are the chief complaint symptoms?
- Pain ( lower abdomen ( cramps ) during menses )
- Vaginal bleeding :
- During or after intercourse
- In between menses - Vaginal discharge
- Unpleasant / unusual odour
- Unusual colour - Itchiness , burning, swelling, redness or soreness in the vaginal area
- Sore or lumps in the breasts or genital area
- Hot flashes and night sweats
What are the possible conditions?
- Dsymenorrheoa
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ( PID )
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Vagnitis
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Menopause
- Carcinoma
Present health problem
- Onset of the problem : Duration, frequency
- Aggravating and relieving factors
- Associated symptoms
- Treatment, self care, outcome
Menstrual history
menarche, lengths of cycles, length and amount of flow, cramp or pain,
bleeding between periods or after intercourse, bleeding after
menopause
What are the key points to ask?
• Use of Contraception (Type and duration)
• Medical history: chronic illnesses, reproductive health; use of medications
• Surgical history: any operation including removal of structures of the
reproductive system undertaken?
• Obstetric history: number of pregnancies, outcome of pregnancies
• Family history: any genetic disorders
• Personal history (e.g. Smoking)
• Sexual history
What does the physical examination consists of?
• Breast examination
• Pelvic examination: Assessment of external and
internal structures
• Using vaginal speculum: pap smear, high vaginal
swabs, cultures
• Bimanual palpation:
cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries.
What are the common diagnostic tests?
- Pregnancy test
- Swabs for culture
- Cervical smear
- Endometrial population
- Ultrasound pelvis
Pap smear
Direct sampling of tissues from the uterine cervix to detect nay malignant cells ( pre-invasive cancerous changes )
Culture and sensitivity
Culture is to detect any micro-organisms ( such as bacteria or a fungus ) that may cause an infection.
Sensitivity test is performed to find out what type of antibiotic could best to treat the infection
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) , Luteinizing hormone ( LH ), Estrogen, Progesterone levels
- to find out of there is inadequate or excessive hormone levels to exclude certain hormones related gynaecological conditions
Thyroid and adrenal function tests
- To exclude any related gynaecological conditions that may cause
Alpha- fetoprotein ( AFP )
- to exclude liver cancer or yolk sac ovarian tumour
Human-chorionic gonadotropin ( hCG )
- for pregnancy or hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma
What are the invasive/ surgical procedures?
- Breast biopsy
- Endometrial biopsy
- Cervical biopsy, Conization of the cervix
- Dilation and curettage ( D & C )
- Laparoscopy
- Culdoscopy
- Colposcopy
What is breast biopsy?
It is also called a lumpectomy, an open biopsy.
It is a surgical procedure in which all or part of a lump is removed and treated for malignancy
Biopsy followed by pathological ( microscopic ) analysis is the only definitive way to determine the breast cancer