Gynecology Flashcards
Menarche
- first menstrual cycle
- onset between ages of 10 and 16
Thelarche
breast development, usually between 8 and 11
Thelarche process
- breast buds begin
- breasts and areola grow
- nipple and areola separate from mound
- areola rejoins breast contour
Menstrual Cycle (steps)
- Follicular phase
- Ovulation
- Luteal phase
Follicular phase
- lasts ~13 days
- increased FSH –> growth of follicles –> increased estrogen production
- results in development of straight glands and thin secretions of uterine lining (proliferative phase)
Ovulation
- day 14
- LSH and FSH spike, leading to rupture of ovarian follicle and release of a mature ovum
- ruptured follicular cells involute and create corpus luteum
Luteal phase
- days 15 - 28
- length of time (14 days) that corpus luteum can survive w/o further LH stimulation
- corpus luteum produces estrogen and progesterone, allowing endometrial lining to develop thick endometrial glands (secretory phase)
- in absence of implantation, corpus luteum cannot be sustained and endometrial linding sloughs off
Menopause
- cessation of menses for a minimum of 12 months as a result of cessation of follicular development
Menopause: Hx and PE
- average onset at 51 years
- sx include hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, insominia, anxiety/irritabiliy, poor concentration, mood changes
Premature menopause
- cessation of menses before 40
Menopause: Dx
Labs: increased FSH then increased LH
Lipid profile: increased total cholesterol, decreased HDL
Menopause: tx of vasomotor symptoms
- HRTs (combo estrogen/progestin)
* * increases cardiovascular morbidity
Contraindications of HRTs during menopause
- Vaginal bleeding
- Breast cancer (known or suspected)
- Untreated endometrial cancer
- Hx of thromboembolism
- Chronic liver disease
- Hypertriglyceridemia
Menopause tx: hotflashes
SNRIs/ SSRIs, clonidine and/or gabapentin decreases frequency of hot flashes
Complications of menopause
- Vasomotor symptoms (tx with HRTs)
- Hot flashes (tx with SSRIs/SNRIs, clonidine, gabapentin)
- Vaginal atrophy (topical estrogen)
- Osteoporosis (tx w/ daily calcium and Vitamin D)
For which condition should postmenopausal women be screened?
Osteoporosis
Implanon (progestin-only implant)
- inhibits ovulation; increased cervical mucus viscosity
- effective up to 3 years, immediate fertility once removed
- side effects: weight gain, depression, irregular periods
IUD with progestin
- foreign body results in inflammation; progesterone leads to cervical thickening and endometrial decidualization
- effective for up to 5 years, immediate fertility once removed
- safe with breast feeding
IUD: disadvntages
- spotting (up to 6 months)
- acne
- risk of uterine puncture
Copper T IUD (ParaGard)
- foreign body results in inflammation; copper has spermicidal effect
- effective for up to 10 yrs, immediate fertility once removed
- safe with breastfeeding
Copper IUD: disadvantages
increased cramping and bleeding
- risk of uterine puncture
Surigcal sterilization (tubal ligation, vasectomy)
- permanently effective; safe with breastfeeding
Tubal ligation: disadvantages
- irreversible
- increased risk of ectopic pregnancy
Depo-Provera
- IM injection every 3 months
- advantages: lighter or no periods, each shot works for 3 months, and safe with breastfeeding
Depo-Provera: disadvantages
Irregular bleeding and weight gain
- decreass in BMD
- delayed fertility after discontinuation (up to 10 months)
Vasectomy: disadvantages
most failures due to not waiting for 2 negative sperm samples
Ortho Evra (“the patch”)
- combined weekly estroenn and progestin dermal parch
- periods may be more regular. weekly administration
The patch: disadvantages
- thromboembolism risk (especially in smokers and those > 35 years)
NuvaRing (“the ring”)
- combined low-dose progestin and estrogen vaginal ring
- can make periods more regular
- three weeks - continuous; 1 week - no ring
- safe to use continuously
NuvaRing: disadvantages
- may increased vaginal discharge
- spotting (first 1-2 months)
OCPs (combination estrogen and progestin)
- inhibit FSH/LH, suppressing ovulation
- thickening cervical mucus, decidualize endometriaum
- decreases risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers
- predictable, lighter, less painful menses
OCPs: disadvantage
- requires daily complaince
- breakthrough bleeding (10 - 30%)
- thromboembolism risk (esp in smokers and those > 35 years)
Progestin-only minipills
- thicken cervical mucus
- safe with breastfeeding
Progestin-only pills: disadvantage
requires strict complaince with daily timing
Premenstrual Syndrome: Sx
- headache
- breast tenderness
- pelvic pain and bloating
- irritability and lack of energy
Premenstrual syndrome: Dx
- no diagnostic tests for PMD or PMDD
- symptoms should be present for 2 consecutive ycles
- symptom-free period of 1 week in 1st part of cycle (follicular phase)
- symptoms must be present in 2nd half of cycle (luteal phase)
- dysfunction in life
PMD: Tx
- patient should decrease consumptom of caffeine, alcohol, cigarrettes, and chocolate
- if symptoms severe, give SSRIs
Menopause
- result of permanent loss of estrogen
- oocytes produce less estrogen and progesterone and both LH and FSH start to rise
Menopause: Sx
- menstrual irregularlity
- sweats and hot flashes
- mood changes
- dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse)
Menopause: PE findings
- atrophic caginitis
- decrease in breast size
- vaginal and cervical atrophy
Menorrhagia
- heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding
- “gushing” of blood
- clots may be seen
Primary Amenorrhea / Delayed puberty
- absence of menses by age 16 with secondary sexual development present OR
- absence of secondary sexual characteristics by 14
Causes of primary amenorrhea with absence of secondary sexual characteristics
- Constitutional growth delay
- Primary ovarian insufficiency
- Central hypogonadism
Most common cause of primary amenorrhea
Constitutional growth delay
Most common cause of primary ovarian insufficiency
Turner’s syndrome
* look for hx of radiation and chemotherapy
Causes of central hypogonadism
- undernourishment, stress, hyperprolactinoma
- CNS tumor or cranial radiation
- Kallman’s syndrome
Kallman’s syndrome
- isolated gonadotropin deficiency associated with anosmia
- central hypogonaidms
Primary amenorrhea w/ presence of secondary sexual characteristics
- estrogen production but other anatomic or genetic problems
Etiology: primary amenorrhea w/ secondary sexual characteristics
- Mullerian agenesis
- Imperforate hymen
- Complete androgen insensitivity
Mullerian agenesis
absence of 2/3 of vagina; uterine abnormalities
Imperforate hymen
- presents with hematocolpos (blood in the vagina) that cannot escape along with bulging hymen
Complete androgen insensitivity
- patients present with breast development (aromatization of testerone to estrone) but are amenorrheic and lack pubic hair
Primary amenorrhea: Dx
- GET A PREGNANCY TEST!
2. Obtain bone radiograph (PA left hand) to see if bone age in consitient with pubertal onset
Short pt has primary amenorrhea w. secondary sexual characteristics but has normal growth velocity. Likely etiology?
Constitutional growth delay (most common cause)
Pt has primary amenorrhea and has bone age > 12 yers but there are no signs of puberty. Next step?
Obtain LH/FSH levels to see if issues in HPA axis
Constitutional growth delay
- decr GnRH
- decr GnRH
- decr estrogen/progesterone (prepuberty levels)
- puberty has not started