Genito-urinary med Flashcards
CONTRACEPTION
What are certain cancers you need to be aware of in relation to the contraceptives you need to avoid?
- Breast cancer = avoid any hormonal contraception > IUD or barrier methods
- Cervical or endometrial cancer = avoid IUS
CONTRACEPTION
When is contraception needed after birth?
What natural method might be trialled?
What contraceptives can be used at any time?
- Fertility not considered to return until 21d after birth
- Lactational amenorrhoea very effective for up to 6m after birth but must be fully breastfeeding + amenorrhoeic
- POP + implant safe
COCP
What is the COCP?
How can it be taken?
- Pill containing supraphysiological level of oestrogen AND progesterone (of varying types).
- 21d on then 7d off (withdrawal bleed), tricycle or B2B packs
COCP
What are the benefits of using the COCP?
- Very effective
- Improves acne
- Decreased risk of endometrial, ovarian + colorectal cancer
COCP
What are some risks of using the COCP?
- Small risk of heart attacks + strokes
- Small risk of blood clots
- Increased risk of breast + cervical cancer
COCP
What are some side effects with the COCP?
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Breast tenderness
- Abnormal bleeding
COCP
What are the UKMEC4 criteria for the COCP?
- Active breast cancer
- Migraine with aura
- Hx of VTE, stroke or IHD
- > 35 smoking >15/d
- Antiphospholipid syndrome + SLE
- Breastfeeding <6w postpartum
COCP
What are the important starting instructions for the COCP?
Rules for switching from POP to COCP?
- Start within first 5 days of cycle = immediate protection.
- Start after day 5 = extra contraception for first 7d.
- Can switch from traditional POP at any time but 7d extra contraception unless desogestrel then no additional
COCP
What is classified as a missed pill for the COCP?
What are the missed pill rules for…
i) 1 pill?
ii) 2 pills?
- Taken >24h late
i) Take missed pill and normal, even if 2 pills > continue
ii) Take missed pill and normal, even if 2 pills > 7d extra protection
COCP
If someone has missed 2 pills and had unprotected sexual intercourse, what action is required?
- Day 1–7 packet = emergency contraception
- Day 8–14 packet = no action
- Day 15–21 = next pack B2B (skip pill-free period)
POP
What is the POP?
What is the only UKMEC4 contraindication?
- Pill containing only progesterone, taken continuously
- Active breast cancer
POP
What different types of POP are there and what are their mechanisms?
- Traditional POP (norgeston) = thickens cervical mucus
- Desogestrel POP (Cerazette) = inhibits ovulation and thickens cervical mucus
POP
What are the benefits of the POP?
What are the risks/side effects of the POP?
- Very effective, role in menorrhagia Mx
- Irregular vaginal bleeding #1 in first 3m, acne, headaches, ovarian cysts
POP
What are the important starting instructions for the POP?
Rules for switching from COCP to POP?
- Start within first 5 days of cycle = immediate protection
- Start after day 5 = extra contraception for 48h
- Best time is days 22–28 (hormone-free period) as no extra protection, if not 48h
POP
What is classified as a missed pill for the POP?
What are the missed pill rules for POP?
What are the rules about UPSI?
- > 3h in traditional POP, >12h late for desogestrel POP
- Take pill ASAP, continue with next pill as usual and extra contraception for 48h
- UPSI since missing pill or within 48h restarting = emergency contraception
PROGESTERONE INJECTION
What is the progesterone only injection, how often is it given and what is the mechanism?
What is the only UKMEC4 contraindication?
- Depo-Provera = depot medroxyprogesterone acetate every 12w to inhibit ovulation
- Active breast cancer
PROGESTERONE INJECTION
What are some adverse effects of the progesterone injection?
- Irregular bleeding
- Weight gain
- Osteoporosis (stopped before 50 due to this risk)
- Can take 12m for fertility to return after stopping injections
PROGESTERONE INJECTION
What are the important starting instructions for the progesterone injection?
- Day 1–5 = immediate protection.
- Beyond day 5 = extra contraception for 7d
PROGESTERONE IMPLANT
What is the progesterone implant and the ages it’s used for?
What is the mechanism of action?
What is the only UKMEC4 contraindication?
- Nexplanon used in UK, 68mg of etonogestrel, licensed 18–40y/o.
- Inhibits ovulation + thickens cervical mucus
- Active breast cancer
PROGESTERONE IMPLANT
What are the important starting instructions for the progesterone implant?
How long do they last for?
- Day 1–5 = immediate protection.
- Beyond day 5 = 7d contraception.
- Lasts 3y then needs replacing.
PROGESTERONE IMPLANT
What are the benefits of the progesterone implant?
- Effective
- Can improve menorrhagia
- Don’t have to remember taking a pill
PROGESTERONE IMPLANT
What are the drawbacks of the progesterone implant?
- Irregular bleeding
- Pain on insertion
PROGESTERONE IMPLANT
What are the risks with the progesterone implant?
- Can be bent/fractured or impalpable/deeply implanted needing extra contraception until located (USS/XR), may need specialist removal.
- Very rarely can enter vessels + migrate through body to lungs.
PROGESTERONE IMPLANT
What is the UKMEC4 criteria for the progesterone implant?
- Active breast cancer.
COILS
What are the 2 types of coils?
What are the contraindications to insertion?
- Copper IUD or levonorgestrel intrauterine system (IUS)
- PID, immunosuppression, unexplained bleeding, uterine cavity distortion (fibroids), UKMEC3 48h–4w after birth (before or after is okay)
COILS
What is the copper coil licensed for?
What is the mechanism of action?
Is extra contraception required?
- 5–10y after insertion device dependent, emergency contraception as well as long-term
- Inhibits implantation
- No it’s effective immediately
COILS
What are the benefits of the copper IUD?
What are the drawbacks?
- Reliable, no hormones so safe in cancer
- Pain on insertion, irregular bleeding
COILS
What is the IUS licensed for?
What is the mechanism of action?
Is extra contraception required?
- Main type Mirena effective for 5y for contraception, 4y for HRT
- Thickens cervical mucus + inhibits implantation
- No if inserted up to day 7 if not yes
COILS
What are the benefits of the IUS?
What are the drawbacks?
- Treats menorrhagia, reliable, can improve dysmenorrhoea
- Pain on insertion, irregular bleeding
COILS
What must you do prior to and after insertion of a coil?
What happens if there’s an infection?
What should you advise patients before removal?
- Screen for STIs prior and at 3–6w check threads visible
- Treat with coil in place
- Abstain from sex or use extra contraception for 7d before coil removed
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
What 3 types of contraception can be used as emergency contraception?
- Copper IUD
- PO Ulipristal acetate (ellaOne)
- PO levonorgestrel (levonelle)
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
What is the time frame after UPSI that you can use the various emergency contraceptives and their relative effectiveness?
- Levonorgestrel = <72h, 84% + decreases with time
- Ulipristal acetate = <120h, in between the two
- Copper IUD = <120h or up to 5d after likely ovulation date, 99%
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
What is the mechanism of action of the various emergency contraceptives?
- Levonorgestrel = stops ovulation + inhibits implantation
- Ulipristal acetate = inhibits ovulation
- Copper IUD = inhibits implantation + fertilisation
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
What is important cautions should be remembered for the various emergency contraceptives?
- Levonorgestrel = 1.5mg single dose, 3mg if BMI >26 or >70kg
- Ulipristal acetate = avoid in severe asthma and avoid breastfeeding for 1w after use
- Copper IUD = keep in until at least next period
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
Can the various emergency contraceptives be used more than once in the same cycle?
- Yes for levonorgestrel and ulipristal
- Copper IUD N/A
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
In terms of long-term contraception after the use of emergency contraception, what is the information to tell patients?
- Levonorgestrel = hormonal contraception starts immediately after
- Ulipristal acetate = wait 5d before starting contraception
- Copper IUD = offers long term contraception
STERILISATION
What is female sterilisation?
How effective is it?
- Tubal occlusion by laparoscopy under GA
- Less effective than male sterilisation
STERILISATION
What is male sterilisation?
What are the benefits?
What follow up is required?
- Vasectomy performed under LA = vas deferens ligated + excised
- Relatively quick, less invasive + more effective
- Contraception until semen analysis at 16w + 20w
INFERTILITY
What is primary and secondary infertility?
What is the epidemiology?
- Primary = no pregnancy after at least 1 year of regular intercourse
- Secondary = couples who have been pregnant ≥1 before but now cannot
- Very common, 1 in 6 of whom most will conceive after 2y
INFERTILITY
When would you consider referring to a specialist before 1 year?
- Female >35y
- Previous STI
- Abnormal examination
- Previous pelvic or uro-genital surgery
INFERTILITY
What are some causes of female infertility?
- Ovulatory = PCOS, age, hyperprolactinaemia, Turner’s syndrome
- Tubal/uterine/cervical = PID, Asherman’s, endometriosis, fibroids
INFERTILITY
What are some causes of male infertility?
- Testicular = cryptorchidism, testicular cancer, Klinefelter’s, mumps
- Post-testicular = retrograde ejaculation, CF
- Azoospermia = steroid abuse, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
INFERTILITY
What are some risk factors of infertility?
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol/drugs
- Occupational risks
INFERTILITY
What are some first line investigations for infertility?
- STI screens (particularly chlamydia).
- Ovulatory tests (mid-luteal progesterone levels)
- Semen analysis (>15million/ml)
- FSH (high in testicular/premature ovarian failure), LH
- TFTs + prolactin if clinical suspicion
INFERTILITY
When do you perform mid-luteal progesterone levels?
What results would you expect?
- 7d before end of cycle (usually day 21)
- <16 = anovulation, 16–30 repeat, >30 is ovular
INFERTILITY
What are the ovarian reserve tests?
- Pelvic USS, CF screen, Karyotyping
- Tubal patency = hysterosalpinogram if no risk factors, laparoscopy + dye test gold standard in high risk
INFERTILITY
What pre-conception advice would you give to couples?
To females?
To males?
- Intercourse 2–3 a week, regular smear tests
- Healthy BMI, smoking + drinking advice
- F = take 0.4mg folic acid (or 5mg if high risk).
- M = looser underwear, avoid extreme heat near genitals, zinc
INFERTILITY
How would you manage anovulation?
- Weight loss
- Clomifene days 2–6 to inhibit oestrogen > more GnRH > more FSH/LH
- GnRH if clomifene resistant
INFERTILITY
How would you manage tubal disease?
- Tubal surgery e.g., catheterization or cannulation
INFERTILITY
How do you manage male infertility?
- Depends on abnormality
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI), IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), donor insemination if no sperm
- Surgical sperm retrieval if obstructive azoospermia (epididymal obstruction)
- Gonadotropins if hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
INFERTILITY
How does IVF work?
- Suppression of natural menstrual cycle with GnRH agonist
- Ovarian stimulation + oocyte collection
- Insemination then embryo culture + transfer
INFERTILITY
What is a key complication of IVD and what is the pathophysiology?
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
- Occurs after iatrogenic induction of ovulation (HCG) due to mass maturation of follicles becoming corpus luteum + so lots of vascular endothelial growth factors > increased vascular permeability
INFERTILITY
What are the various severities of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?
- Abdo pain + vomiting = mild
- N+V + USS showing ascites = moderate
- Ascites, oliguria = severe
- Anuria, VTE, ARDS = critical