Maternity and Reproductive Health Flashcards
When to treat with PO iron in pregnancy?
- If pt at risk of iron deficiency anaemia and serum ferritin is <30.
- If anaemic (booking Hb <110 or <105 in 2nd or 3rd trimester)
need 180-200mg elemental iron daily
if 2nd bullet point met should also receive 400mcg of folic acid daily and recheck Hb in 2-3/52-if no improvement then check Vit B12, ferritin and folate.
Most common cause of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy?
Gestational thrombocytopenia-secondary to increased blood volume, increased PLT activation and then clearance.
When should FBC be checked in pregnancy?
At booking (8-12 wks) and again at 28 wks.
Why should women not abruptly stop breastfeeding if they develop mastitis?
increased risk of abscess formation
Why should opioids be used with caution in breastfeeding women?
their presence in breast milk can cause neonatal lethargy, poor feeding, bradycardia and resp depression
*codeine no longer recommended, dihydrocodeine may be used as a safer alternative
What is required for lactational amenorrhoea to be reliable for contraception?
mother must be <6 months post partum
completely amenorrhoeic
almost exclusively on-demand breastfeeding
When can contraception be started after birth?
- immediately after-all except COCP
- POP, progesterone injection and progesterone implant can be started at any time
- Cu coil and mirena can be inserted within 48hrs of birth, if not then after 4 weeks
- COCP UKMEC 4 if breastfeeding and less than 6 weeks post partum. After 6 weeks-UKMEC2, then 1 from 6 months.
- COCP if not breastfeeding, <3 weeks post partum UKMEC 4 if VTE RFs and UKMEC 3 if no other VTE RFs, from week 3 UKMEC 2 if no other VTE RFs, UKMEC 3 if RFs. From 6 weeks post partum not breastfeeding UKMEC 1.
if commenced before 3/52 post partum no additional precautions are required
Which drugs should always be avoided in breastfeeding women?
lithium clozapine retinoids cytotoxic drugs e.g. MTX tetracyclines, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, sulphonamides aspirin carbimazole sulfonylureas amiodarone
If a patient on the COCP misses a pill, when would emergency contraception be required?
if patient has had UPSI in the 1st week of pill taking or in the pill free interval
(2 pills must have been missed)
For how long after a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or abortion are women not at risk of pregnancy?
5 days
Cautions/contraindications to Cu-IUD for emergency contraception?
48hrs-4 weeks post partum
distortion of uterine cavity
active infection e.g. PID (if previous PID the Cu-IUD is ok to use)
note higher risk of uterine perforation if breastfeeding
should NOT be inserted if woman may already be pregnant
Cautions/contraindications to ulipristal (single oral 30mg dose) for emergency contraception? (acts to delay ovulation)
severe asthma managed with PO steroids
recent use of PO medication containing progesterone (within last 1 week)
may be less effective if raised BMI or on liver enzyme inducers/PPIs (ulipristal NOT recommended if on liver enzyme inducers)
if breast feeding should bottle feed for 1 week after taking ulipristal
regular hormonal contraception must be delayed by 5 days after taking ulipristal
Cautions/contraindications to levonorgestrel for emergency contraception? (acts to inhibit ovulation) (single 1.5mg dose)
possibly less effective if raised BMI (>26 or weight >70kg) or on liver inducers (use double dose- 3mg)
What is “quick start” hormonal contraception?
starting regular hormonal contraception at any time other than the start of a normal menstrual cycle
regular hormonal contraception can be started immediately after levonorgestrel EC but must be delayed by 5 days after ulipristal
Why must regular hormonal contraception be delayed by 5 days after uliprsital emergency contraception?
because ulipristal interacts with progesterone
When are extra precautions needed if starting regular hormonal contraception?
if started after the first 5 days of the menstrual cycle (or started after 7 days for the mirena)
extra precautions for 2 days if starting POP after first 5 days of menstrual cycle
for 7 days if COCP, progesterone only implant/injection, and mirena
Age of consent to sexual activity as stated by law?
16 years
children 12 years and younger cannot legally consent to any form of sexual activity
How should a woman with lactational mastitis be managed if no sx improvement after 48 hours on flucloxacillin but pt stable (+no signs of breast abscess)?
switch to BS antibiotics e.g. co-amoxiclav or cephalexin
if still not improved after 10-14/7 of Abx then r/f urgently to breast surgeon to r/o breast abscess
Tx of candidates mastitis?
Topical miconazole 2% cream-applied to affected nipple after every feed
Combine with topical hydrocortisone if severely inflamed
Can also combine with topical Abx especially if nipple fissures
If persistent infections and spread into ductal system consider oral fluconazole.
Baby treated with PO nystatin suspension or miconazole 1.25ml gel QDS after feeds
Statin management with regards to pregnancy?
should be stopped in women 3 months prior to conception due to risk of congenital defects
Why is COCP not advised to be used in women taking lamotrigine montherapy?
risk of reduced seizure control
Up to how many days post partum is contraception not required irrespective or any other criteria?
20 days
Which contraceptive methods should not be used for women with unexplained PV bleeding?
Cu-IUD or LNG-IUS if initiating contraception
sterilization
What constitutes UKMEC4 with regards to COCP use for a woman based on age+smoking status?
if age 35 or older and smoking 15 cigarettes or more daily
other UKMEC 4 for COCP:
current breast Ca
breastfeeding and <6 weeks post partum
(UKMEC 3 if <3 weeks post partum and NOT breastfeeding, if >3weeks post partum and not breastfeeding can offer if no other risks for VTE)
How long should non-hormonal contraception, combined hormonal and progestogen-only injectable be continued for at the menopause?
-non-hormonal: if aged under 50 contraception should be continued for 2 years after LMP
If 50 and over it should be continued for 1 year after LMP
-Combined hormonal contraception and progestogen-only injectable should be stopped at age 50 and switched to non-hormonal method to continue for 2 years after LMP or POP/implant/mirena and follow advice for these.
How long should POP and progesterone implant be continued for contraception at the menopause?
- if NOT amenorrhoeic continue over age of 55 until been amenorrhoeic for 1 year
- if amenorrhoeic either check FSH twice 6 weeks apart if over age of 50 and if both FSH more than 30 stop contraception after a further year OR continue until age of 55.
How long should LNG-IUS be continued for around menopause?
if fitted age 45 or over for contraception or HMB can retain until menopause if amenorrhoeic (then test for menopause with FSH) and remove once confirmed
if NOT amenorrhoeic can use for 7 years if bleeding pattern acceptable
What UKMEC category would a woman with BMI >35 in relation to combined hormonal contraception be?
3
Relationship between topical steroid use in pregnancy and birth weight?
Association has been found with using high doses of potent or very potent topical steroids in pregnancy and low birth weight
UKMEC criteria when considering COCP if pt has 1st degree relative with VTE <45yrs of age?
3
if 1st degree relative over 45 with VTE then UKMEC 2
any personal history of VTE or known thrombogenic mutations=UKMEC 4
Management of patient who has 2 consecutive (within 3 months) inadequate samples during cervical screening?
colposcopy
Risks to baby if non-immune pregnant woman develops infection with parvovirus-B19?
fetal anaemia
hydrops fetalis
fetal death
- therefore if a pregnant lady comes into contact with child with this infection she needs to have a blood test to check for immunity-can be reassured if specific IgG detected and specific IgM not detected
- if neither detected woman not immune and should have rpt blood test in 1 month or sooner if develops sx-if both still negative can be reassured but remains susceptible to infection
- if specific IgM detected irrespective of IgG result rpt test as soon as possible and r/f for specialist obstetric assessment.
How long should cervical screening be delayed for after delivery?
12 weeks
When should FSH be considered in making a diagnosis of the menopause?
- if aged 40-45 with menopausal sx, including a change in menstrual cycle
- if under 40 in whom POI suspected
- if aged over 45 with atypical sx
- if over the age of 50 and using progestogen only contraception
should NOT be used if taking combined hormonal contraception or HRT
When can women be given continuous combined HRT?
if not had a period for at least 1 year or have been on sequential combined HRT for at least 1 year
with continuous, woman should not have any more periods but initial breakthrough bleeding can occur in the first 3 months
Breast cancer risk with oestrogen only vs combined HRT?
oestrogen only-NO increased risk
combined HRT in woman under the age of 51-NO increased risk
combined over the age of 51-excess risk is no more than 1 extra case per 1000 women per year beyond the average age of the menopause
micronised progesterone better for less risk of breast cancer
with any HRT-NO effect on risk of dying of breast cancer
How is diagnosis of premature ovarian insufficiency made?
in women aged <40 yrs (NOT on CHC) with:
- menopausal sx including no or infrequent periods AND
- elevated FSH (>30) on 2 blood samples taken 6 weeks apart
these women NEED to receive HRT until average age of menopause to reduce risk of CVD, osteoporosis and dementia, unless contraindications
HRT in these women does not have risks-these are only relevant to women over 51 years of age
these patients need r/f to gynae
Contraindications to HRT?
- current, past or suspected breast cancer
- known or suspected oestrogen dependent cancer
- current VTE or previous idiopathic VTE if pt NOT on anticoagulant tx
- active liver disease with abnormal LFTs
- active or recent arterial thromboembolic disease e.g. angina or MI
- undiagnosed PV bleeding
- untreated endometrial hyperplasia
- pregnancy
- thrombophilic disorder
How can women with diabetes reduce their risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect?
take high dose folic acid (5mg per day) from pre conception until 12 weeks of pregnancy
Monitoring of blood glucose that should be offered by GPs to women with diabetes planning a pregnancy?
offer up to monthly measurement of HbA1c-advise to aim to keep HbA1c below 48
offer blood glucose meters for self monitoring
offer blood ketone testing strips and ketometer to women with T1DM