Gynaecology Flashcards
What are the 2 types of incontinence?
Stress and urge incontinence
What is Stress incontinence?
Small losses of urine due throughout the day, often caused by coughing, sneezing or exercise.
What is urge incontinence?
An overactive bladder, leading to an increasing urge to go to the toilet
What 4 pieces of lifestyle advice would you give a patient to manage stress incontinence?
Reducing caffeine intake
Weight loss
Reduce fluid intake
Stop smoking
What treatments are used alongside lifestyle advice in stress incontinence?
Pelvic floor exercises
What conditions should you refer a patient with incontinence on a 2ww?
Unexplained visible haematuria without UTI
Persistent visible haematuria that occurs after UTI has been treated.
Aged over 60 with non visible haematuria and dysuria or raised WCC
What is the non-pharmacological treatment for urge incontinence?
Referral for bladder training
What class of medication and which drug specifically should be trialled for urge incontinence?
Antimuscarinic/anticholinergic such as oxybutynin
What are the 4 main risk factors for a uterovaginal prolapse?
Vaginal delivery
Older women
High BMI
Previous surgery for prolapse
What symptoms do women tend to experience with a uterovaginal prolapse?
Feeling of pressure in the vagina
Urinary incontinence
Constipation
What is the management for a uterovaginal prolapse?
Pessary initially
Surgery if symptoms persist
What is a rectocele?
A prolapse between the posterior wall of the vagina and rectum
What are the 4 main causes of a rectocele?
Chronic constipation
Chronic cough
Repeated heavy lifting
Being overweight or obese
What is the management of a rectocele?
Treating constipation (lots of water, fibrous foods etc)
Pelvic floor exercises
Maybe pessaries if prolapse is higher up
What is a cystocele?
A prolapse between the anterior vaginal wall and the bladder
What is the management of a cystocele?
Pessaries
Pelvic floor exercises
Surgery if severe
What is a genitourinary fistula?
An abnormal connection that forms between your bladder/urethra and vagina/uterus
What can cause a genitourinary fistulae?
Labour and delivery
Gynaecological or pelvic surgery
What are the symptoms of a GU fistulae?
Continuous/intermittent leakage of urine
Vagina smelling of urine
Foul smelling discharge shortly before leaking urine
UTI’s
Voiding smaller amounts of urine as bladder never fills
What is the treatment of a genitourinary fistulae?
Usually surgical treatment
If caught early can drain bladder with catheter and it may close on its own.
At what age do fibroids typically appear?
Within the childbearing years
When do fibroids tend to regress?
After the menopause
What are fibroids?
Benign tumours of the uterus composed of smooth muscle and connective tissue
What are the 3 main risk factors for fibroids?
Increasing age
Black ethnicity
High BMI
Name 5 most common symptoms/signs of uterine fibroids.
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Pelvic pain/pressure/discomfort
Increased frequency of urination
Bloating/constipation
Subfertility/infertility
What is the typical management for uterine fibroids?
Most are asymptomatic and do not need treatment.
Mirena coil
Tranexamic acid to control bleeding
What are some possible complications of uterine fibroids?
Iron deficiency anaemia
Bladder/bowel compressive symptoms
Obstetric complications
Pedunculated fibroid
What are ovarian cysts?
A fluid filled sac within the ovarian tissue which come and go throughout the menstrual cycle.
Why are nulliparous women more likely to develop ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer?
The more you ovulate the greater the risk of developing an ovarian cyst or cancer. This is because the tumour arises from surface epithelial irritation caused by ovulation.
Name 2 symptoms of ovarian cysts.
New onset pelvic pain
Chronic bloating that does not change throughout the day.
What are the characteristic symptoms of ovarian cancer?
Bloating/abdo distention
Early satiety
Pelvic/abdo pain
Increased frequency
PV bleeding
Which investigations can be used to differentiate between ovarian cysts and tumours?
Ca 125
Transvaginal USS
Abdo USS
Name 3 risk factors for ovarian cancer.
Nulliparity
Early menarche
Smoking/obesity
Late menopause
What is ovarian torsion?
Twisting of the ovary around its ligamentous supports
What happens when the ovary is twisted around the ligaments?
Loss of blood supply to both the ovary and fallopian tube. This is a surgical emergency
What is the most common reason that ovarian torsion occurs?
Ovarian mass which causes the torsion
Why does oedema of the ovary occur in ovarian torsion?
Veins have thinner walls than arteries. Therefore venous return is occluded more so than arterial supply, leading to oedema.
What are the symptoms of ovarian torsion?
Acute pelvic/abdo pain.
N&V
Palpable mass
What investigations should be done in acute onset pelvic pain?
Pregnancy testing
Urinalysis
FBC
Transvaginal USS
Surgical visualisation
What is lichen sclerosis?
Pale white, itchy patches on the genitals or other parts of the body
Is lichen sclerosis contagious?
No, and it cannot be spread through sexual intercourse
Which age group does lichen sclerosis most commonly affect?
Females between the ages of 40 and 60.
What are the 4 most common symptoms of lichen sclerosis?
Itching
Burning
Pain
White patches on skin
How is lichen sclerosis treated during a flare up?
Potent corticosteroid creams for 2 weeks daily, then reducing based on symptoms
How is lichen sclerosis managed in the longterm?
Annual follow-up to check for squamous cell carcinoma.
Moisturise regularly
Use an emollient soap substitute
What is the most common cause of cervical cancer?
HPV
Name 3 risk factors for cervical cancer.
Multiple sexual partners
Immunosuppression (HIV)
Age 45-49
What is the biggest sign of cervical cancer?
Post coital bleeding
What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?
Abnormal PV bleeding
Post coital bleeding
Pelvic pain
Purulent vaginal discharge
What type of epithelium makes up the mucosa of the ectocervix?
Non-keratinising, stratified squamous epithelium
What is the epithelium of the endocervix?
Mucus secreting, simple columnar epithelium
When may someone have a cold coagulation treatment on their cervix?
When they have some abnormal cells on their cervix but its not carcinoma. CIN1 or CIN2
Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer?
Post menopausal bleeding
Abnormal menstruation/bleeding
Name 4 risk factors for endometrial cancer.
Unopposed oestrogen therapy
Over 50 years
Tamoxifen use
Diabetes mellitus