gynae and obs Flashcards
what happens to the ovaries during follicular phase and luteal phase?
Follicular
A number of follicles develop.
One follicle will become dominant around the mid-follicular phase
Luteal phase
Corpus luteum
what happens to the endometrium during follicular phase and luteal phase?
Follicular phase
Proliferation of endometrium
Luteal phase
Endometrium changes to secretory lining under influence of progesterone
what happens to LH and FSH during the follicular phase?
A rise in FSH results in the development of follicles which in turn secrete oestradiol
When the egg has matured; it secretes enough oestradiol to trigger the acute release of LH. This in turn leads to ovulation.
(LH surge leads to ovulation)
what happens to progesterone and oestradiol during the luteal phase?
Progesterone secreted by corpus luteum rises through the luteal phase.
If fertilisation does not occur the corpus luteum will demise and progesterone levels fall
Oestradiol levels also rise again during the luteal phase
what happens to cervical mucus during follicular phase?
Following menstruation the mucus is thick and forms a plug across the external os
Just prior to ovulation the mucus becomes clear, acellular, low viscosity. It also becomes ‘stretchy’ - a quality termed spinnbarkeit
what happens to the cervical mucus during luteal phase?
Under the influence of progesterone it becomes thick, scant, and tacky
what happens to basal body temperature during follicular phase?
Falls prior to ovulation due to the influence of oestradiol
what happens to basal body temperature during luteal phase?
Rises following ovulation in response to higher progesterone levels
what is primary amenorrhoea vs secondary?
Amenorrhoea may be divided into primary (failure to start menses by the age of 16 years) or secondary (cessation of established, regular menstruation for 6 months or longer).
what are the causes of primary amenorrhoea?
- Turner’s syndrome
- Testicular feminisation
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Congenital malformations of the genital tract
what are the causes of secondary amenorrhoea?
- Hypothalamic amenorrhoea (e.g. Stress, excessive exercise)
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Hyperprolactinaemia
- Premature ovarian failure
- Thyrotoxicosis (but hypothyroidism can also cause)
what investigations are used for amenorrhoea?
• Exclude pregnancy with urinary or serum bHCG
• Gonadotrophins: low levels indicate a hypothalamic cause where as raised levels suggest
an ovarian problem (e.g. Premature ovarian failure)
• Prolactin
• Androgen levels: raised levels may be seen in PCOS
• Oestradiol
• Thyroid function tests
what happens to blood pressure in normal pregnancy?
in normal pregnancy:
• Blood pressure usually falls in the first trimester (particularly the diastolic), and continues to fall until 20-24 weeks
• After this time the blood pressure usually ↑ to pre-pregnancy levels by term
what is hypertension in pregnancy defined as?
Hypertension in pregnancy in usually defined as:
• Systolic > 140 mmHg or diastolic > 90 mmHg
• Or an ↑ above booking readings of > 30 mmHg systolic or > 15 mmHg diastolic
what 3 groups should hypertensive pregnant ladies be divided into?
- Pre-existing hypertension
- Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH, gestational hypertension)
- Pre-eclampsia
what is pre-existing hypertension?
A history of hypertension before pregnancy or an elevated blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg before 20 weeks gestation
No proteinuria, no edema
Occurs in 3-5% of pregnancies and is more common in older women
what is pregnancy induced hypertension?
Hypertension (as defined above) occurring in the second half of pregnancy (i.e. after 20 weeks)
No proteinuria, no edema
Occurs in around 5-7% of pregnancies
Resolves following birth (typically after 1 month). Women with PIH are at ↑ risk of future pre-eclampsia or HTN later in life
what is pre-eclampsia?
Pregnancy-induced hypertension in association with proteinuria (> 0.3g / 24 hours)
Edema may occur but is now less commonly used as a criteria
Occurs in around 5% of pregnancies
is a condition seen after 20 weeks gestation characterized by pregnancy-induced hypertension in association with proteinuria (> 0.3g / 24 hours). Edema used to be third element of the classic triad but is now often not included in the definition as it is not specifi
what complications can pre-eclampsia lead to?
- Fetal: prematurity, intrauterine growth retardation
- Eclampsia
- Hemorrhage: placental abruption, intra-abdominal, intra-cerebral
- Cardiac failure
- Multi-organ failure
long list of risk factors for pre-eclampsia: list a few
- > 40 years old
- Nulliparity (or new partner)
- Multiple pregnancy
- Body mass index > 30 kg/m^2
- Diabetes mellitus
- Pregnancy interval of more than 10 years
- Family history of pre-eclampsia
- Previous history of pre-eclampsia
- Pre-existing vascular disease such as hypertension or renal disease
describe the management of pre-eclampsia
a woman at moderate or high risk of pre-eclampsia should take aspirin 75mg daily from 12 weeks gestation until the birth
consensus guidelines recommend treating blood pressure > 160/110 mmHg although many clinicians have a lower threshold
oral labetalol is now first-line following the 2010 NICE guidelines. Nifedipine (e.g. if asthmatic) and hydralazine may also be used
delivery of the baby is the most important and definitive management step. The timing depends on the individual clinical scenario