GYN part 1 Flashcards
Gynecological exams maybe necessary for the following
Assess a specific problem: Pelvic pain Vaginal bleeding Vaginal d/c Routine gyn evaluations: Yearly for women sexually active or after 18 yo (21 yo for pap tests)
Things to keep in mind when performing gynecological examinations
Pt Issues:
Possible past history of sexual abuse, rape
Previous bad experiences with gynecological exams
Modesty and shame issues
Fear due to a sense of helplessness
Fear of disease or pregnancy
Denial
Poor body awareness
Sexual orientation – language usage very important
The physician’s own issues in this context need to be looked at:
Fear of causing pain
Personal space issues
Respect for the patient
Uninhibited patients
Support role when doing the exam
Confidentiality
Teenagers and their special needs
Mental or sexual (due to sexual abuse), including
contraception – pt consent as young as 10 yo
Vaccines – age 15 yo if a pt wants a vaccine without
parents knowledge (HPV is the big one)
Identify primary complaint and get details (concurrent sxs)
Pelvic pain
AbN vaginal bleeding
Vaginal d/c
Menstrual history (exceedingly important to get this info)
Age at menarche
Number of days of menses
Length and regularity of interval between cycles
Last menstrual period (LMP)
Menstrual period - first day of period to last day of before new cycle
Previous menstrual periods (PMP)
Color and volume of flow
Symptoms with menses
Cramps, loose stools
Anovulation: may present with vaginal bleeding that is painless, scant, dark, abnormally brief or prolonged, and occurs at irregular intervals
Normal Menses: Blood is medium to dark red Flow lasts 5 (+/- 2) days 21-35 days in between menses Average blood loss = 30mL (range 13-80mL) Most bleeding is on second day Saturated pad or tampon absorbs 5-15mL Cramping is common the day before and 1st day of menses
Sexual activity and History
Frequency:
Number of sexual partners
Participation in unsafe sex
Effects of sexual activity (pleasure, orgasm,
dyspareunia)
Orientation
Types of sexual activity – vaginal, anal, oral, sex toys,
etc.
Possibility of pregnancy, along with attitudes and contraception (use of):
Symptoms of pregnancy
Morning sickness, breast tenderness, delayed menses
Contraception
History (why d/c certain types)
What she is currently using
Length of time used
History of pregnancy and outcomes
Review of past illnesses, surgeries or hospitalizations
Psychological status: depression, anxiety, drugs
List medications, including OTC & supplements
ROS
GI symptoms
Urinary symptoms
Breast problems
Endocrine status
Bleeding history – clotting issues, anemia
Symptoms of pelvic pain - location, duration, character, quality, triggering and relieving factors
Abnormal vaginal bleeding - quantity, duration, relation to cycle
Cardiac status
Screen for Domestic Violence
Questionnaires and interview look for: Inconsistent explanations for injuries Delay in seeking treatment for injuries Unusual somatic complaints Psychiatric sx. Frequent ER visits Head and neck injuries Having given birth to low birth weight infants
Family history of disease (family member/age of diagnosis)
CVD DM Osteoporosis Breast CA Other CA Endometriosis PCOS Infertility
Gynecological examination
Start by letting the patient know what to expect – what exams will be performed and give her permission to let you know at any point if she experiences pain.
Have the patient empty their bladder before the exam
Vitals, including height and weight, waist circumference (more important than BMI, predicts insulin resistance)
Heart, lung and lymph node examination (cervical)
Thyroid examination
Breast examination –complete CBE and check axillary and clavicular lymph nodes
Abdominal examination
Pelvic examination: external inspection, speculum exam & specimen collection, bimanual, and rectovaginal exam (in certain circumstances and at 40 yo annually)
External genital exam
Lymph nodes - inguinal
Hair (distribution, inspect for lesions, folliculitis, lice)
Clitoral size
Vulva and perineum (inspect for lesions, masses, swelling, excoriations, erythematous changes, AbN pigmentation)
Vestibule
AbN pigmentation
Discharges
Inflammation and patency of the introitus
Rectocele (posterior bulge when pt. bears down) - prolapse of wall between rectum and vagina
Cystocele (anterior bulge when pt. bears down) - tear of the tough fibrous wall btwn the vagina and bladder allowing the bladder to herniate into the vagina
Optional: palpation of bartholin glands (at 5 and 7 o’clock, secrete mucus to lubricate the vagina) & skene’s glands (just inferior to the urethra, part of the clitoris tissue)
Palpate pelvic floor with lubricated and gloved index finger ask pt to squeeze as if stopping flow of urine – assess strength
Speculum exam
Make sure to warm and lubricate speculum
Insert speculum with blades applying pressure downward (pulling speculum down toward the perineum), slowly moving it forward – follow the path of the vagina (keep blades away from the urethra as this causes pain)
Make sure the speculum is fully inserted before opening the blades and remember cervices are in all different positions!
Inspect for cervical changes, polyps, mucosal atrophy, tumors, cysts, masses, vaginal wall ruggae, bleeding or discharge (quantify & describe)
Normal Speculum Exam findings:
Cervix is pink, shiny with clear/white discharge, no masses or lesions
Vagina has appropriate ruggae for her age, no masses or lesions
This is when you can collect pH, wet preps, cultures, GC/CT, a pap smear to look at cellular health and for HPV DNA (if appropriate).
Remove the speculum taking care to not pinch the cervix and to allow the blades to close as you remove the speculum so as not to press against the urethra.
Bimanual exam
Insert lubricated middle and index finger of dominant hand with lubrication. Once you feel the cervix move it side to side to assess for cervical motion tenderness (CMT), also move it up & down to assess for uterine mobility (normally it should move some, it should not be fixed or move excessively), (if fixed = adhesions due to endometriosis, if excessively mobile = multiple births)
Move your fingers just superior to cervix while top hand is placed just above pubic symphysis and gently presses down to assess uterus.
Uterus: position, size, shape, consistency, mobility and tenderness
Normal findings on bimanual exam
Anteverted (most common position), anteflexed, retroflexed, retroverted
Normal size: 6cm x 4cm
Mobile, smooth and NT
Abnormal findings on bimanual exam and DDX
Irregularity in shape suggests uterine fibroids or tumor
Enlargement: pregnancy, adenomyosis, malignancy, or myomas
Softening (bogginess): pregnancy, malignancy, degenerating myoma, sarcoma, PID
Cervical motion tenderness (CMT): PID, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, adhesions
Adnexal structures (structures most closely related structurally and functionally to the uterus)
Normal ovary (reproductive age): 3 x 2 x 2 cm Normal ovary (menopausal): 1 x 0.7 x 0.5 cm Note size, shape, consistency, mobility and tenderness Palpate in lateral fornix with top hand gently pushing down, bring internal fingers up to meet the top hand to catch ovary bt them. It may cause her to have a slight bit of pain when palpating the ovary
Rectovaginal Exam
Insert index finger vaginally and middle finger rectally with lubrication
Assess septum, utero-sacral ligaments, uterus, cul-de-sac, adnexae, and cervix
Done in women > 40 y/o or in any age women with suspicion of endometriosis or CA
Testing (common tests done related to Gynecology)
Pregnancy tests
Urine βhCG: specific, highly sensitive, + within 1 wk of conception
Serum qualitative βhCG: more specific and sensitive than urine
Serum quantitative βhCG: used specifically with miscarriages, ectopic pregnancy
PAP smear
Cervical cells examined for signs of dysplasia or CA
Can add on HPV DNA to liquid Paps, can also add GC/CT
It may also detect uterine CA
Wet Prep
Microscopic exam of vaginal secretions to identify vaginal infections (trich, BV, yeast, etc)
Cervical Mucus Inspection
Used in cases of infertility – place mucus on slide, allow to dry, assess for degree of microscopic crystallization (Ferning) – reflects levels of circulating estrogens
Genital Culture Helps to identify bacteria and fungus DNA probes or Urine Aptima test For GC/CT pH of cervical secretions Normal 3.5-4.5
Other STI testing Herpes testing (viral PCR from lesion and serum IgG HSV 1 & 2) HIV blood testing RPR for syphilis – serum test Hepatitis B & C – serum tests
Imaging
Ultrasound most commonly used with suspicion of masses-transvaginal (TVUS) and abdominal are the most common
MRI/CT used less often
Surgical Procedures
Laparoscopy – used for exploration of dz process & tx at the same time
Endometrial Biopsy (EMB) (In office procedure for unexplained vaginal bleeding or thickened endometrium seen on TVUS)
Colposcopy (recommended for abnormal pap smears)
Vulvar Biopsy (performed to diagnose lesions of the vulvar epithelium)
Hysteroscopy (has a light and camera hooked to it so your doctor can see the lining (endometrium) on a video screen, can be used for removal of fibroids and polyps)
Pelvic mass
may be detected during a routine gyn exam
Pelvic mass: etiology
May originate from gyn organs – cx, uterus, adnexae
May originate from other pelvic organs – intestine, bladder, ureters, skeletal msl, or bone
Types of masses per age group:
In utero – adnexal cysts dt maternal hormones (rare)
Puberty – hematocolpos - accumulated menstrual blood forms vag mass dt obstruction – imperforate hymen or congenital malformations of uterus, cx, or vagina
Reproductive age women – pregnancy, myomas or fibroids (most common cause of mass), functional ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, benign teratomas, Hydrosalpinges, endometriomas.
Postmenopausal women – more likely to be cancerous.
Pelvic mass: Hx
General medical hx
Complete gyn hx –
including menstrual hx, pelvic pain, irregular bleeding
vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain suggest ectopic pregnancy
dysmenorrhea suggests endometriosis/adenomyosis and uterine fibroids
Pelvic mass: PE
Vitals
Thyroid
Abdominal
Complete gyn exam
Pelvic mass: Labs/Imaging
TVUS
CT/MRI – if TVUS does not clearly identify size, location & consistency of mass
Biopsy & tumor markers – mb needed if masses have characteristics of cancer
Pregnancy test – women of reproductive age
common causes of pelvic pain
Related to menses: dysmenorrhea endometriosis Mittelschmerz Unrelated to menses: PID Ruptured Ovarian Cyst Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy Acute degeneration of uterine fibroid Adnexal torsion Adhesions Uterine or ovarian CA Spontaneous abortion
dysmenorrhea
Sharp or cramping pain before or at onset of menses, often with h/a, N/D, constipation, or urinary frequency
endometriosis
Sharp or cramping pain always exacerbated by menses, often with dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, or painful defecation
May eventually cause pain unrelated to menses
In advanced stages, s/t uterine retroversion, tenderness, ↓ mobility.
S/t a fixed pelvic mass (possibly an endometrioma) or tender nodules noted during bimanual and rectovaginal exam
Mittelschmerz
ovulatory pain, mid-cycle
Sudden onset of severe, sharp pain, most intense at onset and abating over 1-2 d
Often accompanied by light, spotty vaginal bleeding
PID
Gradual onset of pelvic pain, mucopurulent cervical d/c
S/t fever, dysuria, dyspareunia
Typically, marked CMT & adnexal tenderness (fundal tenderness)
Rarely, an adnexal mass (abscess)
Not always STI related
Ruptured ovarian cyst
Sudden onset of pain (unrelated to menses), most severe at onset and often rapidly ↓ over a few hours
S/t with slight vaginal bleeding, N/V, and peritoneal signs
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
Sudden onset of localized, constant (not cramping) pain, often with vaginal bleeding and sometimes syncope or hemorrhagic shock
Closed cervical os
Sometimes acute abdominal distension or tender adnexal mass
Will be on the ground from severe severe pain