Gynaecology Flashcards
What phase of the menstrual cycle does PMS affect?
Luteal phase
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder affects what 2 areas?
Physical (breast tenderness) and emotional (irritability)
3 recommendations to manage PMS
- Adopt a healthy balance lifestyle
- Continuous use of COCP
- Antidepressants
Menorrhagia refers to
> 80 ml of blood loss per month - this may be due to excessive volume or excessive duration > 1 week
3 different questions to ask to categorise ‘very heavy periods’
- How long does it take you to fill a sanitary towel? - 1-2 hours
- Bleeding lasting > 7 days
- Passing large clots
5 causes of menorrhagia
- Lack of ovulation: PCOS, hypothyroidism
- Structural: Endometriosis, leiomyomas, polyps.
- Pregnancy complication: Miscarriage
- Coagulopathies
- Iatrogenic: Anticoagulant, copper IUD
3 disorders to rule out on bloods when a patient has menorrhagia
- Anaemia (iron studies)
- Hypothyroidism (TFT)
- Coagulation screening (thrombophilia)
Management of heavy periods (4 points)
- No pain: Tranexamic acid to reduce blood loss
- Pain: Mefenamic acid (NSAID)
- Contraceptives: Particularly levonorgestrel IUD (Mirena) or POP
- Surgery: Endometrial ablation if finished having children, hysterectomy
What type of drug is tranexamic acid and what is its MOA?
Antifibrinolytic that blocks conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, thus prevents fibrin degradation
Investigations for menorrhagia
- Bloods: Rule out anaemia, thyroid disorders, coagulopathies
- Swabs: Rule out infection
- Pelvic/transvaginal ultrasound: Rule out polyps, cancer
- Hysteroscopy
Dysmenorrhoea refers to
Painful menstruation with or without pelvic pathology
Primary dysmenorrhoea refers to
Painful periods in absence of pelvic pathology
Primary dysmenorrhoea is most common in
First year after menarche as ovulation becomes established
Secondary dysmenorrhoea refers to
Pain many years after the menarche, during menstruation or in the luteal phase, due to pelvic pathology
5 causes of secondary dysmenorrhoea
- PID
- Endometriosis
- Leiomyoma
- Polyps
- Adenomyosis
Difference between primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea
Primary dysmenorrhoea is in the absence of pelvic pathology, often in 1st year post menarche.
Investigations for dysmenorrhoea
- Bloods
- STI test
- Urinalysis
- Pelvic/transvaginal ultrasound
- Laparoscopy/hysteroscopy
Amenorrhoea refers to
Transient/permanent absence of menstrual flow
Primary menorrhoea refers to
Absence of menarche by 13 years with no pubertal maturation or by 15 years with appropriate secondary sexual characteristics
Secondary amenorrhoea refers to
Lack of menses in a non-pregnant female for < 3 cycles of previous interval or < 6 months if previously having irregular periods
4 causes of primary dysmenorrhoea
- Family history of delayed periods
- Structural pathology: FGM, imperforate hymen
- Turner’s Syndrome (XO)
- Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (Kallman Syndrome - reduced/absent smell), damage to gonads (mumps, cancer)
5 causes of secondary dysmenorrhoea
- Pregnancy
- Menopause/premature ovarian failure
- Hormonal contraception
- Hypogonadotropic hypogondadism (reduced GnRH) secondary to weight loss/excess exercise/chronic disease/stress
- PCOS
Investigations for secondary dysmenorrhoea
- HCG urine test
- Measure LH/FSH or FSH:LH ratio - high LH or high LH:FSH = PCOS
- Measure TFT
- Measure androgens
- MRI for pituitary tumours (hyperprolactinaemia)
Menopause is defined as
Cessation of menses for < 12 months without a reason such as pregnancy/hormone therapy/premature menopause
5 signs/symptoms of menopause
- Amenorrhoea > 60 years (menopause likely in 2 years)
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Vasomotor symptoms - Hot flushes, night sweat
- Vaginal symptoms - Dryness, itching, dyspareunia due to reduced oestrogen causing urogenital atrophy
- Mood swings
Management for menopause (4 points)
- Contraception: If < 50 y/o for 2 years; if > 50 y/o for 1 years - does not affect menopause
- Hormone therapy (oestrogen/transdermal oestradiol and progestin patches) to prevent against endometrial hyperplasia and cancer
- Topical oestrogen and vaginal moisturisers
- Testosterone for reduced libido
PCOS triad (2 out of 3 are diagnostic)
Rotterdam Criteria
- Irregular/absent ovulation
- Hyperandrogensim
- Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound (volume > 10 cm3)
5 signs/symptoms of PCOS
- Irregular menstruation
- Infertility
- Hirsutism: Male facial hair pattern, darkened hair
- Acne
- Obesity/hypertension/diabetes
What is a risk factor of having PCOS
Endometrial cancer
Why are women with PCOS most at risk of endometrial cancer?
Obesity/diabetes/amenorrhoea reduces progesterone. Endometrial lining continues to proliferate under influence of oestrogen but is not shed - increasing risk of cancer.
Blood tests for PCOS
- Testosterone
- Serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone: Excludes adult adrenal hyperplasia
- ** High LH or high LH:FSH **
- TFT
- Prolactin
- Oestrogen
Gold-standard for diagnosing PCOS
Transvaginal ultrasound - best view of ovaries
What is not reliable in teenagers with possible PCOS?
Pelvic ultrasound
Transvaginal US PCOS findings
String of pearls - > 12 follicles/ovary and/or ovarian volume > 10cm3
Initial management of absent periods/infertility in someone with PCOS
Weight loss
Management of risk of endometrial cancer in PCOS
Contraception - Mirena coil provides continuous protection, regular withdrawal bleeds if using COCP/POP
Cervicitis is most commonly caused by
STI
What should be performed before any internal vaginal examination?
Pregnancy test
What procedure will diagnose dyskaryosis?
Smear test/cervical screening cytology results
A woman receives a diagnosis of cervical dyskaryosis. What does this mean?
Dyskaryosis describes abnormal changes in the squamous cells lining the cervix with varying degrees of severity.
What procedure diagnoses CIN?
Colposcopy
Biggest risk factor for non-HPV cervical cancer
Non-compliance with cervical screening
2 HPV strains that cause cervical cancer
HPV 16 and 18
2 HPV strains that cause genital warts
HPV 6 and 11
3 signs/symptoms of CIN/cervical cancer
- Abnormal bleeding
- Mucoid/purulent/blood vaginal discharge
- Pelvic pain and dyspareunia
Ways to prevent cervical cancer
- HPV vaccine (Gardasil)
- Regular smear testing
- Smoking cessation
- Safe sex
How often must women aged 25-49 have cervical screening?
Every 3 years
How often must women aged 50-64 have cervical screening?
Every 5 years
How often must women with HIV/previous CIN etc have cervical screening?
Every year
How long must a post-partum woman wait for a smear test?
12 weeks
Management of CIN I
Repeat smear every 3-6 months, may resolve by itself
Management of CIN II or III
Biopsy - Punch or large loop excision of transformation zone under local
Treat - Cone biopsy under GA
Most common type of cervical cancer
Squamous cell
Gold-standard management for cervical cancer
Chemoradiation
Prognosis for a woman with stage 1A cervical cancer
98%
Cervical polyps may be a sign of
Cervical cancer
3 causes of cervical polyps
- Cancer
- Increased oestrogen (tamoxifen treatment, HRT)
- Infection - HPV, herpes
When are women commonly diagnosed with cervical insufficiency?
During pregnancy or cervical screening
RF of having cervical insufficiency in a pregnant woman
Spontaneous loss in 2nd trimester - management includes progesterone supplements in 2nd/3rd trimester or cervical cerclage (stitch cervix close and re-open in 3rd trimester)