Endometriosis and Chronic pelvic pain Flashcards
When does endometriosis tend to regress?
During pregnancy and after menopause (it is oestrogen dependent)
Is endometriosis more common in parous or nulliparous women?
Nulliparous
What is the probable cause of endometriosis?
Probably the result of retrograde menstruation
Where in particular is endometrial tissue found within the pelvis?
In the uterosacral ligaments and on or behind the ovaries. (the pelvic organs and the peritoneum are most commonly affected)
Which age of women commonly have endometriosis?
Women of reproductive age
What is the appearance of endometriosis in surgery?
varies from small black lesions to large endometriotic cysts (endometriomas). Can appear as superficial ‘powder-burn’ or ‘gunshot’ lesions, nodules or small cysts containing old haemorrhage.
What are the clinical features of endometriosis?
Severe dysmenorrhea, deep dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, ovulation pain, cyclical or perimenstrual symptoms, such as bowel or bladder, with or without abnormal pain or bleeding. Infertility, chronic fatigue, dyschezia (pain on defecation)
Which 2 other conditions have considerable overlap with endometriosis?
IBS and PID
When is endometriosis most likely detected on examination?
During menstruation
What is found on examination of a patient with endometriosis?
Pelvic tenderness, fixed retroverted uterus, tender uterosacral ligaments
What is a chocolate cyst? (classic of endometriosis)
It is accumulated altered blood which is dark brown, can also be an endometrioma in the ovaries
What may be felt on examination of advanced cases of endometriosis?
A rectovaginal nodule of endometriosis may be apparent- i.e. deep infiltrating nodules are palpated on the uterosacral ligaments or in the pouch of douglas and/or visible lesions are seen in the vagina/on cervix
What is the gold standard investigation for endometriosis?
Visual inspection on laparoscopy
Regarding histology, how is endometriosis diagnosed.
Positive histology confirms but negative does not exclue. Histology can exclude rare instances of malignancy in cases of ovarian endometrioma and in deeply infiltrating disease.
Is TVS useful in endometriosis?
This has limited value in diagnosis but is a useful tool to make and exclude the diagnosis of an ovarian endometrioma.
What is the treatment for endometriosis?
Counselling plus analgesia (NSAIDS) and hormonal suppression of ovarian function for 6 months reduces endometriosis-associated pain (oestrogen and progesterone protect against bone mineral density loss)
You can also give progestogens or the COCP to treat endometriosis.
What is the surgery for endometriosis?
Ablation of endometriotic lesions. A radical treatment would be a hysterectomy.
What are the five classes of steroid hormones?
Progestogens, androgens, estrogens, glucocorticoids and mineralcorticoids.
What is the clinical definition of chronic pelvic pain?
Intermittent or constant pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis of at least 6 months duration. It does not occur exclusively with menstruation or intercourse and not associated with pregnancy.
What can chronic pelvic pain typically present as?
Migraine or lower back pain
What should you not forget to ask about chronic pelvic pain?
Musculoskeletal issues- effect on movement or posture
What examination could be carried our for chronic pelvic pain?
Samples to screen for infection (chlamydia, gonnorhoea) if any suspicion of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)