Gynaecology Flashcards
What is polycystic ovarian syndrome?
- condition causing metabolic and reproductive problems in women
What are the Rotterdam criteria?
- requires at least 2 of 3 key features to make a diagnosis of PCOS
- Oligoovulation/anovulation
- hyperandrogenism
- polycystic ovaries on ultrasound
What is anovulation?
- absence of ovulation
What is oligoovulation?
- irregular, infrequent ovulation
What is amenorrhoea?
- absence of menstrual periods
What are androgens?
- male sex hormones, e.g. testosterone
What is hyperandrogenism?
- effects of high levels of androgens
- characterised by hirsutism and acne
What is hirsutism?
- thick dark hair growth in a male pattern
How does PCOS present?
- oligomenorrhoea/amenorrhoea
- infertility
- obesity
- hirsutism
- acne
- male pattern hair loss
What are other common features of PCOS?
- insulin resistance and diabetes
- acanthosis nigricans
- CVD + high cholesterol
- obstructive sleep apnoea
- endometrial hyperplasia and cancer
- depression and anxiety
What is Acanthosis nigricans?
- thickened, rough, velvety skin
- typically found in axilla and on elbows
Why is insulin resistance related to PCOS?
- insulin promotes the release of androgens from ovaries and adrenal glands
- higher insulin > higher androgens
- also suppresses sex hormone-binding globulin production by liver
- SHBG normally suppresses androgens so there is hyperandrogenism
- high insulin > halts development of follicles in ovary
- leads to anovulation and partially developed follicles
What blood tests are done for PCOS?
- testosterone
- SHBG
- LH
- FSH
- Prolactin
- TSH
What do hormonal blood tests show in PCOS?
- raised LH
- raised LH to FSH ratio
- raised testosterone
- raised insulin
- normal/raised oestrogen
What scans are done in PCOS investigations?
- Pelvic ultrasound
- GOLD: transvaginal ultrasound
- follicles arranged around periphery of ovary giving a string of pearls appearance
What are the diagnostic criteria in ultrasound for PCOS?
- 12 or more developing follicles in one ovary
- ovarian volume of 10cm3+
How is diabetes screened for in PCOS?
- 2hr 75g oral glucose tolerance test
- take a baseline fasting plasma glucose and give glucose drink
- measure plasma glucose 2hrs later
What are the results of an OGTT?
- impaired fasting glucose: 6.1-6.9 mmol/l
- impaired glucose tolerance: 7.8-11.1mmol/l
- plasma glucose above 11.1mmol/l
What is the general management for PCOS?
- weight loss
- low glycaemic index
- exercise
- smoking cessation
- antihypertensives + statins where indicated
What medication can be used for weight loss/insulin resistance in PCOS?
- orlistat
- if BMI above 30
- lipase inhibitor stopping fat absorption in intestines
How is infertility managed in women with PCOS?
- weight loss
- clomifene
- laparoscopic ovarian drilling
- IVF
- metformin and letrozole to restore ovulation
What should women with PCOS who become pregnant be screened for?
- gestational diabetes
- oral glucose tolerance test
- before pregnancy and at 24-28 weeks gestation
What risk factors for endometrial cancer do women with PCOS have?
- obesity
- diabetes
- insulin resistance
- amenorrhoea
What is the physiology behind the increased risk of endometrial cancer in women with PCOS?
- normally: corpus luteum releases progesterone after ovulation
- infrequent ovulation > low progesterone and unopposed oestrogen
- endometrial hyperplasia and risk of cancer
How is endometrial cancer risk reduced in PCOS?
- mirena coil
- inducing withdrawal bleed every 3-4 months: cyclical progestogens or cocp
How and when is amenorrhoea investigated?
- for inc endometrial cancer risk
- periods with gaps of 3+ months
- pelvic USS for endometrial thickness
- cyclical progestogen to induce bleed before scan
- if >10mm then refer for biopsy
How is acne managed in PCOS?
- 1st line: cocp
- co-cyprindiol (VTE risk)
- topical Abx (clindamycin w/ benzyl peroxide)
How is hirsutism managed?
- weight loss
- co-cyprindiol (cocp - anti-androgenic effect)
- topical eflornithine
- electrolysis/laser
- spironolactone
- finasteride
What is menopause?
- the point at which menstruation stops
- a retrospective diagnosis
- no periods for 12 months
- permanent end to menstruation
What is postmenopause?
- the period from 12 months after the final menstrual period
What is perimenopause?
- includes time leading up to last period and 12 months afterwards
- may experience vasomotor symptoms and irregular periods
- typically in women over 45
What is premature menopause?
- menopause before 40 y/o
- result of premature ovarian insufficiency
What is the cause of menopause?
- lack of ovarian follicular function
- low oestrogen and progesterone levels
- LH and FSH high in response to an absence of negative feedback
What are some perimenopausal symptoms and what causes these?
- lack of oestrogen
- hot flushes
- low mood
- irregular/lighter/heavier periods
- joint pains
- vaginal dryness + atrophy
- reduced libido
Risk of which conditions are increased due to a lack of oestrogen?
- CVD and stroke
- osteoporosis
- pelvic organ prolapse
- urinary incontinence
How is menopause diagnosed in women over 45?
- without typical symptoms and no investigations
When is an FSH blood test used?
- women under 40 with suspected premature menopause
- women 40-45 with menopausal symptoms/change in menstrual cycle
How long do women need to keep using contraception in menopause?
- 2yrs after last period if <50
- 1yr after last period if >50
What are good contraceptive options for women approaching menopause?
- barrier methods
- Mirena/copper coil
- mini pill/implant
- depo injection (<45)
- sterilisation
Which is the best type of contraceptive pill in menopause?
- cocp is UKMEC2 aged 40-50
- consider pills containing norethisterone or levonorgestrel >40 due to lower risk of VTE
How does hormonal contraception affect women approaching menopause?
- doesn’t affect when it occurs/how long it lasts
- masks symptoms
- makes diagnosis more difficult
Why shouldn’t depo injection be used in women over 45/50?
- weight gain
- reduced bone mineral density > osteoporosis
- DEXA scan
How can perimenopausal symptoms be managed?
- HRT
- tibolone (cont comb HRT)
- clonidine
- CBT
- SSRIs
- testosterone (for dec libido)
- vaginal oestrogen/moisturisers
What is endometriosis?
- ectopic endometrial tissue outside the uterus
- lump is called endometrioma
What are endometriomas?
- lumps of endometrial tissue
- in ovaries: chocolate cysts
What is retrograde menstruation as a theory for the aetiology of endometriosis?
- endometrial lining flows backwards
- through fallopian tubes and out into pelvis and perineum
- seeds itself in the cavity
What is the pathophysiology of endometriosis?
- ectopic endometrial tissue cells respond to hormones in same way
- also sheds and bleeds during menstruation
- causes irritation and inflammation
- leads to cyclical, heavy pain
What are adhesions in endometriosis?
- caused by localised bleeding and inflammation
- scar tissue binds organs e.g. ovaries with peritoneum
- causes chronic, non-cyclical pain
- sharp, stabbing and associated with nausea
Why does endometriosis reduce fertility?
- adhesions around ovaries and fallopian tubes obstruct route to uterus
- endometriomas in ovaries damage eggs/prevent ovulation
What is the presentation of endometriosis?
- abdominal or pelvic pain
- dysmenorrhoea
- dyspareunia
- infertility
- cyclical bleeding
- urinary or bowel symptoms
What would be seen on examination in endometriosis?
- endometrial tissue in vaginal exam, esp in posterior fornix
- fixed cervix on bimanual exam
- tenderness in vagina, cervix and adnexa
How is endometriosis diagnosed?
- pelvic USS: can show large endometriomas and chocolate cysts
- GOLD: laparoscopic surgery: biopsy of lesions and removal of deposits
How is endometriosis managed (hormonal)?
- analgesia
- cocp, mini pill, depo injection
- implant
- mirena
- GnRH agonist
What are surgical management options for endometriosis?
- laparoscopic surgery to excise or ablate tissue and remove adhesions
- hysterectomy
What is urge incontinence?
- overactivity of the detrusor muscle
- causes sudden urge to pass urine
What is stress incontinence?
- weakness of pelvic floor and sphincter muscles
- allows leakage of urine at times of increased pressure on the bladder
- typically occurs when laughing, coughing or surprised
What is mixed incontinence?
- combination of urge and stress incontinence
What is overflow incontinence?
- occurs with chronic urinary retention due to obstruction of outflow of urine
What are possible causes of overflow incontinence?
- anticholinergic meds
- fibroids
- pelvic tumours
- MS
- diabetic nephropathy
- spinal cord injury
What is the epidemiology of overflow incontinence?
- more common in men
- rare in women so they should be referred for urodynamic testing
What are some risk factors for urinary incontinence?
- increased age
- postmenopausal
- high BMI
- previous pregnancies/vaginal delivery
- pelvic organ prolapse
- pelvic floor surgery
- dementia
- MS
How is incontinence investigated?
- bladder diary: fluid intake, urination and incontinence
- urine dipstick
- post-void residual bladder volume
- urodynamic testing
What modifiable lifestyle factors can contribute to incontinence?
- caffeine + alcohol consumption
- medications
- BMI
How is severity of incontinence assessed?
- frequency of urination
- frequency of incontinence
- nighttime urination
- use of pads and change of clothing
What should be assessed in pelvic examination for incontinence?
- pelvic organ prolapse
- atrophic vaginitis
- urethral diverticulum
- pelvic masses
How are strength of pelvic muscle contractions graded in bimanual examination?
0: No contraction
1: Faint contraction
2: Weak contraction
3: Moderate contraction with some resistance
4: Good contraction with resistance
5: Strong contraction, a firm squeeze and drawing inwards
What is cystometry?
- measures detrusor contraction and pressure
What is uroflowmetry?
measures flow rate
What is leak point pressure?
- point at which bladder pressure results in leakage of urine
- patient is asked to cough, move, jump with bladder filled to various capacities
What is post-void residual bladder volume?
- test for incomplete emptying of the bladder
What is video urodynamic testing?
- filling bladder with contrast and taking x-ray images as it is emptied
- only performed where necessary
How is stress incontinence managed?
- avoid caffeine
- restrict fluid intake
- pelvic floor exercises
- surgery
- duloxetine
What are surgical options for stress incontinence?
- tension-free vaginal tape
- retropubic mid urethral tape
How is urge incontinence managed?
- bladder retraining (min 6 weeks)
- anticholinergics
- mirabegron
- invasive procedures
What anticholinergics are used in urge incontinence?
- oxybutinin
- tolterodine
- solefenacin
What are side effects of anticholinergics?
- dry eyes and mouth
- urinary retention
- constipation
- postural hypotension
- can lead to cognitive decline, memory problems, worsening dementia
When is mirabegron contraindicated?
- uncontrolled hypertension
- β-3 agonist
- stimulates sympathetic nervous system
- can lead to inc risk of TIA and stroke
What are invasive procedures for urge incontinence?
- botulinum toxin type A
- sacral nerve stimulation
- augmentation cystoplasty
- urinary diversion
Describe the epidemiology of breast cancer
- most common form of cancer in UK
- around 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer
What are risk factors for breast cancer?
- female (99% cases)
- increased oestrogen exposure (earlier menarche and later menopause)
- obesity
- smoking
- family history (1º relative)
How do contraception/HRT affect breast cancer risk?
- COCP: small increase in risk, returns to normal 10 years after stopping
- HRT: inc risk of breast cancer, esp combined HRT
What is BRCA?
- BReast CAncer gene
- tumour suppressor genes
- mutations lead to inc risk of breast and ovarian cancer among others
What is BRCA1?
- on chromosome 17
- 70% develop breast cancer by age 80
- 50% develop ovarian cancer
- inc risk of bowel and prostate cancer
What is BRCA2?
- on chromosome 13
- 60% develop breast cancer by age 80
- 20% develop ovarian cancer
Describe ductal carcinoma in situ
- pre-cancerous or cancerous ductal epithelial cells
- localised to single area
- often picked up by mammogram
- potential to spread locally
- potential to become invasive (30%)
- good prognosis if excised and adjuvant therapy
Describe lobal carcinoma in situ
- pre-cancerous
- asymptomatic and undetectable on mammogram
- usually incidental on biopsy
- represents inc risk of invasive breast cancer in future
- managed with close monitoring
What is a vault prolapse?
- occurs in women with hysterectomy
- vault of vagina descends into vagina
What is a cystocele?
- defect in anterior vaginal wall
- bladder prolapses into vagina
What is a urethrocele and what is a cystourethrocele?
- prolapse of urethra
- prolapse of bladder and urethra
What are risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse?
- multiple vaginal deliveries
- instrumental/prolonged delivery
- age and post menopause
- obesity
- chronic resp disease > coughing
- chronic constipation > straining
What is a rectocele?
- defect in posterior vaginal wall
- rectum prolapses into vagina
- women can develop facial loading > constipation, urinary retention and palpable lump
- press lump back to open bowel
What is the presentation of prolapse?
- feeling of something coming down
- heavy or dragging pelvic sensation
- urinary symptoms
- bowel symptoms
- sexual dysfunciton
How are prolapses examined?
- empty bladder and bowel before exam
- dorsal and left lateral position
- Sim’s speculum (U-shaped single-blade)
- held on anterior wall for rectocele and posterior for cystocele
- asked to cough
How are prolapses graded?
- 0: normal
- 1: lowest part >1cm above introitus
- 2: lowest part within 1cm of introitus
- 3: lowest part >1cm below introitus
- 4: full descent and eversion of vagina
What is conservative management of prolapse?
- weight loss
- pelvic floor exercises
- lifestyle changes: dec caffeine intake
- vaginal oestrogen cream
- treat related symptoms e.g. anticholinergics for stress incontinence
Describe the types of vaginal pessaries:
- ring: sit around cervix and hold up uterus
- Shelf/Gellhorn: flat disc with stem
- cube
- donut
- hodge: rectangular hooking around posterior cervix and extending into vagina