Gynaecological disorders Flashcards
Define menorrhagia
Prolonged and increased menstrual flow
Define metrorrhagia
Regular intermenstrual bleeding
Define polymenorrhoea
Menses occurring at <21 day intervals
Define polymenorrhagia
Increased bleeding and frequent cycle
Define amenorrhoea
Primary = failure of menarche by age 16
Secondary = cessation of periods for >6 months in a patient who has previously menstruated
Define oligomenorrhoea
Menses at intervals >35 days / <9 times per year
What are some of the organic causes of menorrhagia?
Fibroids Polyps Pelvic inflammatory disease Malignancy e.t.c
What are some of the systemic causes of menorrhagia?
Endocrine disorders Liver disorders Renal disorders Disorders of haemostasis Drugs - anticoagulants
What is meant by ‘dysfunctional uterine bleeding’?
Menorrhagia in the absence of underlying pathology
Anovulatory DUB is more likely to occur in which patients?
Patients at the extremes of reproductive age and obese women
Ovulatory DUB is more likely to occur in patients of what age?
Women aged 35-35 years
What are some of the management options for DUB?
Medical therapy: Progestogens, COCP e.t.c
Progesterone releasing IUCD
Endometrial resection/ hysterectomy
Which micro-organisms are associated with causing endometriosis?
Neisseria
Chlamydia
TB
CMV
HSV
How do endometrial polyps present?
Usually ASYMPTOMATIC but may present with BLEEDING or DISCHARGE
Occurs around and after the menopause
What is adenomyosis and how does it present?
Endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium
Menorrhagia and dysmenorrhoea
What is leiomyoma and how does it present?
Benign tumour of smooth muscle (can be found at locations other than the uterus)
Menorrhagia, infertility, mass effect and pain
Endometrial thickness can be determines by vaginal ultrasound. What thickness is an indication for biopsy to be performed?
> 4mm in postmenopausal women
16mm in premenopausal women
What is meant by the term vaginismus?
Involuntary tightening of the muscles around the vagina when penetration is attempted
What is meant by the term dyspareunia?
Pain during intercourse
What are the differentials for a uterine mass?
Endometrial cancer
Fibroids
Pregnancy
What are the differentials for a tubal swelling?
Ectopic pregnancy
Hydrosalpinx
Pyosalpinx
Paratubal cysts
What are the differentials for an ovarian mass?
Ovarian tumour/ cancer
Ovarian cysts
What are the differentials for an ACUTE presentation of a pelvic mass?
Cyst rupture
Fibroid degeneration
Ectopic pregnancy
What are endometrial polyps?
Benign outgrowths of stroma and glands
Often occur around the menopause
What hormone is responsible for endometrial hyperplasia?
Oestrogen causes endometrial proliferation
Progesterone usually causes shed at menstruation, so unopposed oestrogen causes hyperplasia
What is the biggest risk factor for endometrial hyperplasia?
Obesity
How is endometrial hyperplasia managed?
Mirena coil
What is the most common type of endometrial carcinoma?
Adenocarcinoma
What underlying conditions should you consider in young women presenting with endometrial cancer?
PCOS
Lynch syndrome - HNPCC
How does endometrial cancer present?
Post menopausal bleeding
Heavy or irregular bleeding in pre-menopausal women
What is the gold standard management for endometrial cancer
What other management options are there?
Hysterectomy
Chemo and radiotherapy
Hormonal therapy with progesterone only - mirena coil or oral progesterone
What are the 2 types of endometrial carcinoma?
Endometrioid carcinoma and serous carcinoma
What is the most common type of endometrial carcinoma?
Endometroid
Why is obesity a risk factor for endometrial carcinoma?
Adipocytes express aromatase which converts ovarian androgens to oestrogen
Oestrogen causes endometrial proliferation
What is Lynch syndrome?
Cancer predisposition syndrome
High risk of colorectal cancer and endometrial cancer in women
What are leiomyomas?
Fibroids
benign smooth muscle tumours on the uterus
When do fibroids get bigger and when do they get smaller?
Fibroids are oestrogen dependent and so enlarge in pregnancy and when on the OCP
They atrophy after the menopause
How do fibroids present?
Menorrhagia
Infertility
Pelvic mass
Pain/ tenderness
What investigations are done for fibroids?
US
MRI
Hb if bleeding is heavy
What is a leiomyosarcoma?
Malignant smooth muscle tumour
What is the most common uterine sarcoma?
Leiomyosarcoma