Menstrual Disorders Flashcards
What is an absence of menstruation called?
Amenorrhea
What is the difference between primary and secondary amenorrhea?
primary = no periods by age 16, secondary = no periods for 6 months or more
What is the most common cause of primary amenorrhea?
Turners syndrome, missing sex chromosome. Ovary does not develop properly so doesn’t react normally to FSH and LH
What anatomical cause could cause primary amenorrhea?
Imperforate hymen, transverse vaginal septum or mullerian agenesis
What is complete androgen insensitivity syndrome?
X-linked recessive disorder, where a genetic male looks phenotypically female due to defect in androgen receptor.
What is an anatomical cause of secondary amenorrhea?
Scarring via operations or infections, ovarian disorders such as premature menopause
What are the signs and symptoms of PCOS?
Elevated LH, raised insulin resistance, polycystic ovaries on ultrasound and obesity
Name 2 endocrine causes of secondary amenorrhea
Thyroid disease and Hyperprolactinemia (suppresses GnRH)
What are the 2 causes of physiological amenorrhea?
Pregnancy and menopause
What is the name for an infrequent period?
Oligomenorrhea
What is the name for an irregular period?
Metrorrhagia
What is the name for a heavy period?
Menorrhagia
What is a fibroid?
Benign tumour of the uterine smooth muscle = leiomyoma. Not usually painful but can cause heavy bleeding
What is the name given to painful menstruation?
Dysmenorrhea
What is endometriosis?
Cause of Dysmenorrhea, endometrial glands outside of the uterine cavity.
