Gynecological Diseases Flashcards
What are premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)? What are the symptoms?
PMS and PMDD begin when women are in their 20s and 30s. PMDD is a more severe version of PMS that will disrupt the pt’s daily activities.
Symptoms:
- Headache
- Breast tenderness
- Pelvic pain and bloating
- Irritability and lack of energy
What is the diagnostic criteria of PMDD?
- Symptoms should be present for 2 consecutive cycles
- Symptom-free period of 1 week in the first part of the cycle (follicular phase)
- Symptoms must be present in the second half of the cycle (luteal phase)
- Dysfunction in life
What is the treatment of PMS and PMDD?
Decrease consumption of caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, and chocolate and should exercise. If symptoms are severe, use SSRIs.
What causes menopause? When does it occur? What is the first symptom? What happens on a hormonal level?
Menopause is the result of permanent loss of estrogen. It occurs in pts aged 48-52. It starts with irregular menstrual bleeding. The oocytes produce less estrogen and progesterone, and both LH and FSH start to rise.
What are the symptoms of menopause? How long do they last?
- Menstrual irregularity
- Sweats and hot flashes
- Mood changes
- Dyspareunia (pain during intercourse)
Symptoms usually last for an average of 12 months, but some women can experience symptoms for years.
What are the physical exam findings for menopause?
- Atrophic vaginitis
- Decrease in breast size
- Vaginal and cervical atrophy
What is the diagnostic test for menopause? How is it treated?
Increased FSH is diagnostic.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is short-term symptomatic relief (estrogen is given for hot flashes) as well as the prevention of osteoporosis.
What are the complications of hormone replacement therapy? What are the contraindications?
HRT is associated with endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma.
Contraindications:
- Estrogen-dependent carcinoma (breast or endometrial cancer)
- History of pulmonary embolism or DVT
What are the types of abnormal uterine bleeding?
- Menorrhagia
- Hypomenorrhea
- Metrorrhagia
- Menometrorrhagia
- Oligomenorrhea
- Postcoital bleeding
What are the characteristics of menorrhagia?
- Heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding
- “Gushing” of blood
- Clots may be seen
What are the causes of menorrhagia?
- Endometrial hyperplasia
- Uterine fibroids
- Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
- Intrauterine device
What are the characteristics of hypomenorrhea?
- Light menstrual flow
- May only have spotting
What are the causes of hypomenorrhea?
- Obstruction (hymen, cervical stenosis)
- Oral contraceptive pills
What are the characteristics of metrorrhagia?
Intermenstrual bleeding
What are the causes of metrorrhagia?
- Endometrial polyps
- Endometrial/cervical cancer
- Exogenous estrogen administration
What are the characteristics of menometrorrhagia?
Irregular bleeding in terms of:
- time intervals
- duration
- amount of bleeding
What are the causes of menometrorrhagia?
- Endometrial polyps
- Endometrial/cervical cancer
- Exogenous estrogen administration
- Malignant tumors
What are the characteristics of oligomenorrhea?
Menstrual cycles > 35 days long
What are the causes of oligomenorrhea?
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Significant weight loss (anorexia)
- Tumor secreting estrogen
What are the characteristics of postcoital bleeding?
Bleeding after intercourse
What are the causes of postcoital bleeding?
- Cervical cancer
- Cervical polyps
- Atrophic vaginitis
What diagnostic tests are done for abnormal uterine bleeding?
- CBC to see if hemoglobin and hematocrit have dropped
- PT/PTT to evaluate for coagulation disorder
- Pelvic ultrasound to visualize any anatomical abnormality
Why does anovulation cause dysfunctional uterine bleeding?
The ovary produces estrogen, but no corpus luteum is formed. Without the corpus luteum, progesterone is not produced, which prevents the usual withdrawal bleeding. The continuously high estrogen continues to stimulate growth of the endometrium. Bleeding occurs only once the endometrium outgrows the blood supply.
How is dysfunctional uterine bleeding diagnosed?
There is no specific test for DUB, so:
- Rule out systemic causes of anovulation, such as hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinemia.
- Endometrial biopsy must be done in women over 35 to rule out endometrial carcinoma.
What is the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding?
Oral contraceptive pills for:
- Adolescents and young women who are anovulatory
- Women over 35 who have a normal endometrial biopsy
For acute hemorrhage, D&C is done to stop the bleeding.
How is dysfunctional uterine bleeding treated if patients have anemia, are not controlled with OCPs, or report that their lifestyle is compromised?
Endometrial ablation or hysterectomy
Do female condoms protect against disease?
Yes, they offer some protection against HIV and STDs.
Does a vaginal diaphragm without the jelly?
No; the diaphragm is ineffective without the contraceptive jelly.