Gynae Flashcards
What are some causes of HMB?
PALM COIEIN
PALM: Structural causes
- Polyp
- Adenymyosis
- Leimyosis (fibroid)
- Malignancy + hyperplasia
COEIN
- Coagulatopathy
- Ovulatory dysfunction
- Endometrial
- Iatrogenic
- Not yet classifed
What are some of the causes of HMB/ AUB?
- Pathology: Fibroids, Adenomyosis / endometriosis, IUCD, PID, Polyps
- Medical disorders: Hypothyroidism, Liver disease
- Abnormal clotting: von Willebrand’s, thrombocytopenia, platelet disorders, coagulation disorders, leukaemia.
- Other: Cancer/hyperplasia
How can HMB be managed?
- Medical
- Symptomatic: tranexamic acid, mefanamic acid
- Fibroids: GnRH analogues e.g. goserelin, ulipristal acetate
- Hormonal: POP, LARC: mirena IUS, implant, depo provera, COCP
- Surgical
- Polyps: hysterocopic removal of polyps (myosure), myomectomy, uterine a. embolisation, endometrial ablation, hysterectomy
- short term control: norethisterone, GnRH analogues
What are some of the causes of 1o +2o amenorrhoea?
Primary: delayed puberty, obstructive issues: imperforate hymen, transverse septum, Müllerian a genesis (no uterus), Turner syndrome (gonadal dysgenesis), PCOS (less common in primary)
Secondary: Prolactinoma, Thyroid disease Cushing’s, Eating disorder, Exercise induced, Asherman Syndrome, Sheehan Syndrome
- Physiological: prepubertal, pregnancy, menopause
-
Cryptomenorrhea:
- Haematocolpos: vagina is pooled with menstrual blood due to multiple factors
- Haematometra: retention of blood in the uterus. Causes: imperforate hymen or transverse vaginal septum
- Uterine, ovarian failure, hypothalmic
What ix are used for 1o + 2o amenorrhea?
+ USS FOR PCOS
How do tranexemic acid + mefanamic acid work?
Tranexamic Acid: Antifibrinolytic
- Inhibit plasminogen activation (inhibit tPA, and uPA), thus reduce fibrinoysis
- Reduces MBL by 50%
- Side effects: Nausea, dizziness, tinnitus, rash, abdominal cramp
- Low incidence of thrombotic disorders
Mefanamic: NSAID
- Inhibit the production of PG and inhibit the binding of PGE2 to its receptor
- Reduces MBL by 20-44.5%
- Side effects: gastrointestinal (50%) usually mild. Dizziness and headaches 20%, deranged liver function, asthma, renal disease.
How would u clinically examine/ investigate someone with HMB?
- Examination: abdominal palpation, speculum and bimanual examination
- Assess for: pallor, palpable uterus/ pelvic mass
- Smooth or irregular uterus (fibroids)
- Tender uterus/ cervical excitation – adenomyosis/ endometriosis
- Inflamed cervix/ cervical polyp/ tumour
- Vag tumour
- Ix: FBC, coagulation disorders (vWB)
- Hysteroscopy may be needed + biopsy (endometrial - >45 and failure of treatment)
- Imaging: pelvic US, If a woman declines transvaginal US, consider transabdominal ultrasound or MRI
- Other not routine: TFTs (hypothyroidism); hormones (PCOS)
What is 1o + 2o amenorrhoea?
- Primary: No menarche by age 16
- Secondary: absent period for 3/12 cycles if cycles previously regular. Absent periods for at least 6/12 if previously had oligomenrrhoa
What is oligomenorrhea + some of its causes?
What are the features of male vs female anovulation in terms of history, examination, investigations and mx?
What is PCOS?
- Heterogenous endocrine disorder with unknown aetiology
- Familial clustering
What are the features and sx of PCOS?
- Features: hyperandrogenism: acne, hirsutism, obesity, chronic pelvic pain, depression, oligo/amenorrhoea
-
On examination: hirtuism, acne, acne, acanthosis nigricans (darkened skin, which occurs secondary to insulin resistance), male pattern hair-loss, obesity and/or hypertension.
- Multiple ovarian follicles on USS (12 or more in one or both ovaries)
- Increased ovarian volume > 10cm3
How is PCOS diagnosed (criteria)?
Diagnosis: Rotterdam criteria:two out of three features must be present
- Clinical or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism
- Oligo amenorrhoea
- USS features of polycystic ovaries
What are the Ix for PCOS?
- Ix: sex binding globulin (↓), total testosterone (↑), free androgen Index (FAI), FSH (normal), LH (↑), TFT prolactin, progesterone (↓),
- Other: glucose tolerance test
- Imaging: USS - peripheral ovarian follicles and ovarian volume >10cm
How is PCOS managed?
- Conservative: weight loss, encourage healthy lifestyle; assess mental wellbeing and refer appropriately, fertility assessment and referrals
- Medical – depends on needs
- Wants regular periods: COCP + Cyclical progestogens (dydrogesterone)
- Obesity: orlistat - (pancreatic lipase inhibitor)
-
Infertility: reduce BMI, folic acid, baseline fertility assessment and referral to fertility services, possible ovarian induction
- 1st line: Clomifene +/- metformin – controversial – SE: increased risk of multiple pregnancies, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and ovarian cancer (so it is limited to use in 6 cycles).
- Laparoscopic ovarian drilling: if BMI normal
-
Acne and Hirsutism: COCP
- Anti-androgen medication such as cyproterone, spironolactone or finasteride.
- Eflornithine is a topical cream that can also be used to help reduce the growth rate of facial hair.
- Treatment for acne - retinoids, antibiotics etc as per dermatology
What are the complications of PCOS?
- Metabolic disorders – impaired glucose tolerance and T2DM, CVS, obstructive sleep apnoea
- Gynae: infertility, recurrent miscarriage, pregnancy complications (pre eclampsia and gestational diabetes
- Endometrial cancer
- Psychological disorders: anxiety + depression
What is the definition of oligomenorrhoea and its causes?
- Infrequent periods
-
Cycle > 35 days but <6 months in length
- Causes: constitutional, anovolution: PCOS, thyroid disease, prolactinoma,
What is the definition of secondary and primary amenorrhoea and its causes?
-
Primary: No menarche by age 16
- Causes: delayed puberty, obstructive issues: imperforate hymen, transverse septum, Müllerian a genesis (no uterus), Turner syndrome (gonadal dysgenesis), PCOS (less common in primary)
-
Secondary: absent period for 3/12 cycles if cycles previously regular.
- Absent periods for at least 6/12 if previously had oligomenrrhoa
- Causes: Prolactinoma, Thyroid disease Cushing’s, Eating disorder, Exercise induced, Asherman Syndrome, Sheehan Syndrome
Causes
- Physiological: prepubertal, pregnancy, menopause
-
Cryptomenorrhea: menstruation occurs but is not visible due to obstruction of the outflow tract.
- Haematocolpos: vagina is pooled with menstrual blood due to multiple factors
- Haematometra: retention of blood in the uterus. Causes: imperforate hymen or transverse vaginal septum
- Uterine, ovarian failure, hypothalmic
What is chronic pelvic pain?
- Intermittent or constant pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis (sx and not a diagnosis)
- At least 6 months in duration
- Not occurring exclusively with menstruation or intercourse and not associated with pregnancy
What are some of the cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain
- Causes: PID, adenomyosis, endometriosis, adhesions (residual ovary syndrome and trapped ovarian syndrome), IBS, interstitial cystitis
What is the pathophysiology of chronic pelvic pain?
- Acute pain - resolve when tissue heals
-
Chronic pain - additional factors contribute hence pain persist longer
- Local factors at the site of pain - chemokines and TNF ⍺ affect peripheral nerves
- Central nervous system response - persistent pain lead to changes within the central nervous system which eventually magnify the original signal.
- Visceral hyperalgesia - Alteration in visceral sensation and function
-
Pelvic pain can be multifactorial
- IBS or endometriosis, adenomyosis MSK, PID, Interstitial cystitis, adhesions (intraabdo), social and psychological factors
What investigations are important for chronic pelvic pain?
- History and examination
- Bloods, CA125; STI screening: Chlamydia trachomatis and gonorrhoea, should be taken if there is any suspicion of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
- Imaging: TVS, MRI. Gold standard: Diagnostic laparoscopy
What is endometriosis?
- Presence of endometrial glands and stroma like lesions outside of the uterus
- Predominantly found in the pelvis: can occur in the ovaries, pouch of Douglas, uterosacral ligaments, pelvic peritoneum, bladder, umbilicus and lungs.
- Peritoneal lesions, superficial implants or cysts (chocolate cysts) on the ovary, or deep infiltrating
- Responds to cyclical hormonal changes and bleeds at menstruation
What are some of the RFs for endometriosis?
- Early menarche
- FH of endometriosis
- Short menstrual cycles
- Long duration of menstrual bleeding
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Defects in the uterus or fallopian tubes
How does endometriosis present?
- Painful periods (dysmenorrhea),
- Painful intercourse (dyspareunia),
- Painful defecation (dyschezia) and
- Painful urination (dysuria)
- HMB
- Lower abdominal pain persistent
- IMB and PCB
- Epistaxes , rectal bleeding
- Little correlation between symptom severity and disease severity
What are some of the clinical fx found on examination for endometriosis?
- NAD
- Thickened uterosacral ligaments
- Adnexal masses
- Fixed retroverted uterus
- Uterine/ovarian enlargement
- Forniceal tenderness
- Uterine tenderness
- Speculum: may show visible lesions in vagina or cervix (rare)