General Obstetrics Flashcards
define infertility?
unable to conceive after 1 year of unprotected sex
how frequent should couples have sex in order to conceive?
sexual intercourse every 48 hrs up to and beyond ovulation
how does clomiphene work in infertility?
Competitively antagonises oestrogen receptors in the hypothalamus. This interferes with normal negative feedback mechanisms and increases the release of pituitary gonadotrophins, especially LH, inducing ovulation.
what are some female causes of infertility?
Hypothalamic causes: Increasing age Stress Low weight Kallman's syndrome
Pituitary issues:
Prolactinoma
Thyroid issues
Iatrogenic:
Radiation
Genetic:
Turner syndrome/Fragile X syndrome
Autoimmune causes
Lupus/RA etc
Diagnosis of exclusion
Idiopathic/PCOS
Anatomical causes: PID Adhesions Mullerian abnormalities Sexual differentiation issues Endometriosis Fibroids
what are main male mechanisms for infertility?
azoospermia/oligospermia (not enough sperm)
problems with sperm motility/morphology
anti-sperm antibodies
sexual dysfunction
what are the screening tests available in the first trimester of pregnancy, and what do they screen for?
screen for down’s syndrome trisomy 21
the combined first trimester screening test includes
- bHCG
- PAPP-A
- Nuchal translucency test (ultrasound)
- Maternal age
what other chromosomal abnormalities can the first trimester screening test screen for?
trisomy 18
trisomy 13
XO (turner’s syndrome)
what are the two tests we can offer a pregnant woman that will definitively diagnose chromosomal abnormalities during pregnancy (if you already have a high suspicion of abnormality)?
aminocentesis
CVS sampling
–> invasive tests so you must have a high index of suspicion before performing
when is the first screening test performed during pregnancy?
at 11 weeks gestation
define preterm baby?
infant born before 37 weeks gestation
how do we calculate corrected age for preterm babies? how long should we use this corrected age until?
corrected age= actual age- no of weeks premature
use corrected age until 2 yrs old
at what gestation age do we deem a baby ‘viable’?
> 24 weeks gestation= viable and can be born preterm
what are the general risks of preterm rupture of membranes?
increased risk of preterm labour, chorioamioniitis, and uterine cord prolapse
how might we diagnose preterm rupture of membranes?
vaginal speculum examination- fluid in the posterior fornix is suggestive
analyse the fluid looking for alkaline pH, presence of fetal squamous cells and diagnostic phospholipids
administer oral pyridium tablet to mother–> if urine instead of liquour, then it will turn the urine orange
define shoulder dystocia?
shoulder dystocia refers to the difficulty in delivering the fetal shoulders after the fetal head has been delivered
define caesarean section?
delivery of the contents of the uterus (>20 weeks gestation) via abdominal incision aka laparotomy
what is the standard type of c-section performed nowadays?
lower uterine segment caesarean section
–> transverse incision