Menopause, Puberty, Contraception Flashcards
When does menopause occur? And what is the average?
45-60 years
Average 51-52
Why does the menopause occur?
Decline in ovarian oestrogen production
1.2 million follicles at birth, 1000 left by menopause
Mostly lost by atresia which increases from age 35
What are the sources of oestrogen? And what is the significance of this?
Ovarian 90%
Adipose 10%. Overweight women may have less symptoms of menopause as they have alternate sources of oestrogen to combat the decline from the ovaries
When is the Climacteric/perimenopause?
+/- 5 years from menopause
When is the biggest decline in fertility in women of child bearing age? And why?
Fertility wanes from age 37
Risks of miscarriage increase due to Meiotic non-disjunction
Eggs are stuck in metaphase of meiosis I
Spindle may have become sticky or disjointed over years and so daughter cells more likely to be triploid eg downs the older you are when you concieve
Why do the symptoms of menopause occur?
Falling levels of oestrogen
So symptoms will reduce over time
What blood test can be used to confirm menopause?
Increased FSH > 20IU/L
What happens to periods in menopause?
Oligomenorrhoea and eventually cease
What is the classic symptom triad of the menopause?
Hot flushes
Sweats
Vaginal Dryness
What proportion of women are bothered and affected by the menopause?
Affects 80%
Bothers 45%
>5years 25%
What can be non specific symptoms of menopause?
Headaches Migraines Palpitations Disturbed sleep Tired No energy Loss of libido Cant cope
What are urogenital symptoms of menopause?
Vaginal dryness
Cystitis
Urinary frequency
Urinary incontinence
What are psychological symptoms of menopause?
Loss of concentration Poor memory Irritability Loss of libido Panic attack
What does atrophy of connective tissue in menopause lead to?
Skin thinning Hair loss Brittle nails Aches and pains Osteoporosis
What are the effects of osteoperosis?
Loss of bone matrix Loss of height Deformity Fractures Economic cost
How do the sex hormones travel in the circulation?
Steroid hormones
Binding Proteins: Sex hormone binding globulin, Albumin
Unbound fraction active
What is the site of action of the sex hormones?
Intracellular
Receptors specific
Describe oestrogen receptors and what can be used to modulate them?
Specific transcription factors
Tissue dependent
Target specificity
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators—SERMS
What is Clomiphene?
SERM
Induces ovulation
What is Tamoxifen?
SERM used in breast cancer treatment
What are functions and properties of oestrogen?
Structural / Proliferative: Endometrium, myometrium, bone,breast, skin
Coagulation
Lipid management
Suppression of HPO axis
What local preparations of hormone therapies can be used in menopause?
Creams, gels, Vaginal rings
What systemic preparations of hormonal therapies can be used in menopause treatment?
Oral
Transdermal patches
Implants
What hormones can hormone therapies for menopause contain?
Oestrogen alone
Combined Oestrogen and Progestin
SERM
Androgen
What different time schedules can be used for menopause treatment?
Taken daily
Continuous
Cyclic or sequential
What are benefits of HRT in menopause?
Improves vasomotor symptoms: hot flushes
Improves urogenital symptoms: vaginal dryness, less infections
Reduces fracture risk / osteoporosis
What are the risks of HRT for menopause?
Breast cancer Coronary event ( e.g. MI) Venous thromboembolism Stroke Gall bladder disease Death from lung and ovarian cancer Dementia Endometrial cancer (oestrogen alone)
What are recommendations for HRT use?
Full discussion with patient Assessment of risks / benefits Lowest possible dosages/ route Shortest durations Progesterone if intact uterus Continued surveillance Not first line for bones
What can be other uses of HRT?
Premature Menopause:
What causes premature menopause?
Idiopathic: chromosomal, autoimmune, enzyme
Iatrogenic: Surgery, chemo, radiation
Infectious: viral, TB
How can SERMs be used in breast cancer treatment?
Many breast cancers express oestrogen receptors and proliferate under oestrogen stimulation
SERM used as antagonist in breast tissue
Effects are tissue dependent
Tamoxifen- antagonist in breast but an agonist in endometrium
What is the menopause?
Cessation of menses
What change in the endometrium of a woman taking Tamoxifen do you
need to be aware of?
Endometrial proliferation: Bleeding or spotting. Can monitor with transvaginal USS. Look for thickness
What should always be considered when planning tests, treatments, medications or surgery with women of reproductive age?
Possibility of early pregnancy
In whom should a menstrual history be taken?
All women of reproductive age
What are the components of a detailed menstrual history?
LMP…date of first day of last bleed Cycle length / frequency /regularity How heavy is flow? Tampons &/or pads Dysmenorrhea (pain) ( primary & secondary) Amenorrhea (primary & secondary) Clots &/or flooding Intermenstrual bleeding Post coital bleeding Age of menarche / menopause Post menopausal bleeding
What are components of a contraceptive history?
Method used: Hormonal contraceptives will influence menstrual cycle
Any unprotected intercourse
Consider method of contraception when planning tests, treatments, medications or surgery
What are key components of an obstetric history?
Previous medical & surgical conditions
Previous obstetric complications
Identify possible risks to the pregnancy and delivery
Formulate management plan for pregnancy and delivery
ICE remember this is a natural process
What are important parts of a first trimester history?
Personal information
LMP & menstrual history: EDD
Gravidity, how many pregnancies?
Parity (>24weeks +
What is Naegele’s Rule?
Way to estimate the due date of a pregnancy
Add one year and seven days to LMP and subtract three months
What are key parts to a mid trimester history?
Monitor maternal health / physiologic changes
Monitor fetal growth & well being / fetal movements
Enquire about new problems
Continue advice and education
Review results of scans / blood work / screening
Confirm EDD
What are key factors of a third trimester history?
Monitor maternal health Monitor fetal growth & well being Expectations of labour…ICE Plans for delivery Plans for feeding Advice & education
What are pregnancy notes?
Hand held green notes
Carried by the mother during her pregnancy
Contain all the information gathered including test results
Contains a lot of information about choices: delivery plans / expectations
Contains post natal plans / feeding
What is an Intrapartum Record?
Partogram
Pictorial record
Reduces problems during labour as it is a lengthy process and this allows consistent monitoring
What does a birth record contain?
Delivery details Management of Third Stage (delivery of the placenta) Perineum Apgar Score Initial exam of newborn Security / Identification
What is an apgar score?
Quick / Replicable / determines whether baby needs help
One min score (how did baby tolerate birth process)
Five min score (how is baby doing outside of uterus)
Five Categories: Score 0-2
Appearance ( Skin colour / cyanosis)
Pulse rate
Grimace (reflex irritability)
Activity (muscle tone)
Respiratory effort
Scores of 7,8,9 normal 10 is unusual…
What is the trigger for puberty?
Increased levels of pulsatile GnRH trigger puberty and maturation of the HPG axis
What factors could have an effect on the onset of puberty?
Weight: low BMI
Malnutrition
Chronic diseases: renal failure, CCF, Crohns
Exercise in females- athletes, ballerinas
Endocrine: thyroid, adrenal
Genetic factors: Black girls develop earlier than white with same SES
Psychological: emotional deprivation
What changes occur in puberty?
Endocrine hormonal changes: GnRH &HPG Physical changes (observable changes) Tanner staging Bone/skeletal changes Genetic anomalies may become apparent
What is the average range of onset of menarche?
Girls 10-14
Boys 12-16
What physical changes occur in males in puberty?
External genitalia: Increase size of penis, scrotal pigmentation, rugal folds
Hair growth: Facial hair, male pattern hair on head, Pubic hair with male escutcheon, Body and peri-anal hair, axillary hair
Linear growth: 5cms per year pre-puberty, growth spurt 8cms per year
Accessory sex organs: Prostate palpable and seminal vesicles develop secretory activity
Voice: Increase size larynx (Adam’s apple) and thickening of vocal cords, deepening of voice