Gynaecology Flashcards
oestrogen: production, active form and function
- produced by: theca granulosa cells surrounding follicles in ovaries in response to LH and FSH (stimulate follicles in ovaries)
- 17-beta oestradiol
- promote secondary sexual characteristics - breast tissue development, growth and development of vulva, vagina and uterus at puberty, blood vessel development in uterus and development of endometrium
progesterone: production and function
- produced by corpus luteum after ovulation
- after 10 weeks placenta is main production site in pregnancy
- function - thickens and maintains endometrium, thickens cervical mucus and increases body temperature
age of normal puberty
- 8-14 girls
- 9-15 boys
takes about 4 years start to finish
why do overweight children enter puberty earlier
aromatase is enzyme in adipose tissue that is ppart of oestrogen production - more adipose = mor oestrogen
def: puberty stages in girls in order
- breast buds
- pubic hair
- menstrual periods begin (menarche - usually 2 years from puberty begins)
tanner staging of puberty
- (under 10) no pubic hair, no breast developmet
- (10-11) light and thin PH, breast bds behind areola
- (11-13) coarse and curly PH, breast begins to elevate beyond areola
- 13-14 adult like but not reaching thigh PH, areolar mounds form and project from siurrounding breast
- 14+ hair extending to medial thigh, areolar mounds reduce and adult breasts form
hormone stages in puberty
- GH increases causing growth spurt
- hypothalamus secretes GnRH during sleep initially then throughout day later in pubery, stimukating FSH adn LH from pituitary gland
- FSH plateus 1 year before menarche, LH continues to rise and spikes just before menarche
- oestrogen suppresses GH stopping growth spurt at menarche
arterial blood supply to pelvis
BRANCHES OF INTERNAL ILIAC:
pudendal
obturator
uterine: branches to ovarian and vaginal
venous drainage of pelvis
mirrors arterial supply except:
left ovarian vein drains to left renal vein - right vein and aorta drain striaght to aorta and IVC)
nerve supply pelvic region (suprapubic and inguinal regions)
ilioinguinal and iliohypogastroic L1
nerve supply pelvic region pudendal nerve
S2-4
supplies skin and muscle of perineum and ends at clitorus
3 zones ureteric course
zone 1: between renal pelvis and iliac arteries
zone 2: between ureteral crossover of iliac arteries and uterine artery crossing over ureter (water under the bridge)
zone 3:between uterine artery crossing over ureter and entry into bladder
phases of mentrual cycle
follicular phase and luteal phase
follicular - start of menstruation to moment of ovulation (first 14/28 days)
luteal - moment of ovulation to start of menstruation (final 14 days)
define: follicular phase inc 4 keey stages of development)
- primordial 2. primary 3. secondary 4. antral
* once follicles reach secondary stage, FSH receptors allow further development
* theca granulosa cells around secondary follicles secrete oestradiol which has negative feedback to pituitary gland to reduce LH and FSH production
* rising oestrogen causes cervical mucus to become permeable to sprem around ovulation
* one of follicles develops further and becomes dominant follicle
* LH spikes just before ovulation causing dominant (Graafian) follicle to release ovum 14 days beore end of cycle
define: luteal phase
- after ovulation, follicle that released ovum collapses and becomes corpus luteum secreting high levels progesterone maintaining endometrial lining
- progesterone also causes cervical mucus to become thick and inpennetrable
- small amount oestrogen secreted by corpus luteum
- when fertilisation occurs, syncitiotrophoblast of embryo secretes hCG aintaining corpus luteum
hormonal changes if no fertilisation
- no production of hCG from syncitiotrophoblast causes corpus luteum to degenerate
- fall in oestrogen and progesterone (from no longer being secreted by corpus luteum) causes endometrium to break down
- stromal cells from endometrium release prostoglandins encouraging endometrium to break down and uterus to contract
- negative feedback from oestrogen and progesterone stops to hypothalamus and LH and FSH begin to rise again
def: PMS
pre-menstrual syndrome
* psychological, emotional and physical symptoms occuring during luteal phase of menstrual cycle
* symtpoms resolve once menstruation begins
* not occuring pre-menarche, during pregnancy or after menopause
pathophysiology: PMS
fluctuation in oestrogen and prgesteone levels
exact mechanism unknown but ?increased sensitivity to progesterone or interaction between sex hormones and serotonin and GABA
presentation: PMS
- low mood
- anxiety
- moodswings
- irritability
- bloating
- fatigue
- headaches
- breast pain
- reduced confidence
- cognitive impairment
- clumsiness
- reduced libido
PMS symptoms can occur after hysterectomy, mirena coil, endometrial ablation
def: progesterone-induced premenstrual disorder
PMS symtpoms while on progesterone therapy = COCP and HRT
diagnosis: PMS
symtpom diary spanning 2 menstrual cycles demonstrating cyclical symtoms occuring just before menstruation and resolveing on onset of menstruation
definitive diagnosis with GnRH analogues to halt menstrual cycle and see if symptoms resolve
rx: PMS
- general healthy lifestyle changes (diet, excercise, smoking, alcohol, stress and sleep
- COCP
- SSRI antidepressants
- CBT
COCP recommended in: PMS
containing drospirenone - antimineralocorticoid effects similar to spironalactone
use continuously and not cyclical
def: primary amenorrhoea
not starting menstruation by 13 with no evidence of puberty or by 15 with other signs of puberty
causes: primary ammenorrhoea
- hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism
- hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism
- congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- androgen insensitivity syndrome
- structural pathology (imperforate hymen)
def: hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism
- not enough gonadotrophins to stimulate ovaries to produce oestrogen
- hypothalamic (not enough GnRH) or pituitary problem (not enough FSH or LH)
causes: hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism
- hypopituitarism
- significant chronic conditions
- excessive excercise/dieting
- constitutional delay
- endocrine disorders
- Kallmann’s syndrome
def: hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism
problem with ovaries themselves - pituitary gland goes into overdrive to try and combat this so increased amounts of FSH and LH
causes: hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism
- previous damage to gonads (torsion, cancer or infections)
- congenital absence of ovaries
- Turner’s syndrome
rx: primary ammenhorroea
- investigate for underlying cause: bloods, hormone profile, imagine
- treat underlying cause: constitutional - reassure, low body weight - advise weight gain
- replace hormones where needed (hypo hypo - pulsatile GnRH or COCP)
rx: hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism
- pulsatile GnRH
- COCP
def: secondary ammenorrhoea
no menstruation for 3+ months after previous regular menstrual periods
causes: secondary ammenorrhoea
- ovarian pathology - pregnancy, menopause and premature ovarian failure, hormonal contraception and PCOS
- pituitary pathology - tumours, hyperprolactinaemia, trauma/srugery/sheehan syndrome (damage to pituitary following large blood loss during childbirth)
- hypothalamic pathology - excessive exercise, low body weight and eatind disorders, crhonic disease and psychological stress
- uterine causes - Asherman’s syndrome (intrauterine adhesions)
- thyroid pathology - hyperthyroidism
ovarian causes: secondary amennorhoea
- pregnancy
- PCOS
- menopause/pof
- hormonal contraception
pituitary causes: secondary amennorhoea
- tumours
- trauma/surgery/sheehan syndrome
- hyperprolactinaemia
hypothalamic causes: secondary amennorhoea
- excessive exercise
- eating disorders
- low body weight
- chronic disease
- psychological stress
uterine causes: secondary amennorhoea
asherman’s syndrome
thyroid causes: secondary amennorhoea
hyperthyroidism
rx: secondary amenorrhoea
- treat underlying cause
- replace hormones
- if 12 months amenorrhoeic - bone protection
- PCOS - COCP for 3 motnhs and 1 week break for withdrawal bleed
causes: menorrhagia
fibroids
endometriosis
adenomyosis
PID
copper coil
extremes of reproductive age
anticoagulants
bleeding disorders
endocrine disorders - DM and hypothyroid
connectivetissue disorders
endometrial hyperpasia/cancer*
dysfunctional uterine bleeding (diagnosis of exclusion - no other identifiable cause)
hx: menorrhagia
- age of menarche
- cycle length
- IMB and PCB
- contraceptive hx
- sexual hx
- ?pregnancy
- plans for pregnancy
- cervical screening hx
- migraines (with ot without aura)
- pmhx and dhx
- smoking and alcohol
- fhx
ix: menorrhagia
- speculum and bimanual
- FBC
- TFss
- coagulation screen if ?bleeding disorfer
- ferritin is clinically anaemic
hormonal rx: menorrhagia
mirena coil
COCP
cyclical oral progesterones
POP/implant/depot
non hormal rx: menorrhagia
- TXA - not pain relief but reduces bleeding
- mefanamic acid - pain relief and reduces bleeding
secondary rx: menorrhagia if initial rx not worked
- endometrial ablation
- hysterectomy
def: fibroids
- benign tumours or uterine smooth muscle
- oestrogen sensitive - grow during pregnancy and smaller after menopause
- submucosal most common type
symptoms: fibroids
- asymptomatic
- heavy menstrual bleeding
- bloating/feeling of fullness
- urinary/bowel symptoms
- deep dyspareunia
types of fibroid
- intramural - within myometrium (these change shape and distort uterus with growth)
- subserosal - below outer layer of uterus (can fill abdominal cavity, growing outwards and becoming very large)
- submucosal - just below lining of uterus (endometrium)
- pedunculated - on a stalk
ix: <3cm fibroids
- OP hysteroscopy
rx: <3cm fibroid
- manage HMB - mirena coil if <3cm and no uterine distorion, NSAIDs and tranexamic acid, COCP
surgery: - resection during hysteroscopy
- endometrial ablation
- hysterectomy
ix: >3cm fibroid
- pelvis USS
rx: >3cm fibroid
- manage HMB
surgery - uterine artery embolisation
- myomectomy (improves fertility)
- hysterectomy
importnat rx: endometriosis and mirena coil
only if <3cm and no uterine distorion
rx: large fibroids pre-surgery
GnRH agonists - goserelin reduce size pre-surgery
def: red degeneration of fibroid
- fibroid rapidly increases in size in pregnancy
- outgrows blood supply - becomes infarcted and necrosed
- causes severe abdo pain
- supportive management
def: endometriosis
ectopic endometrial tissue outside of uterus
def: endometrioma
lump of endometrial tissue outside of uterus
keyword: endometriosis
chocolate cyst
symptoms: endometriosis
cyclical pelvic pain
becomes chronic and non-cyclical as adhesions form
deep dyspareunia
blood in urine/stools during menstruation
subfertility