Menstruation Flashcards
What is primary amenorrhea?
the failure of menses to occur by age 15 years (some sources say 16 years) in the present of normal growth and secondary sexual characteristics (breast development, axillary or pubic hair)
-at age 13 years, if no menses have occurred and there is a complete absence of secondary sexual characteristics, evaluation for primary amenorrhea should begin
What are the causes of primary amenorrhea?
- look for karyotype: (XX = normal female)
- Turner’s syndrome: XO karyotype, webbed neck, broad chest, high FSH
- Hypothalamic-Pituitary insufficiency: 46, XX, low FSH, LH
- Androgen insensitivity: 46, XY, high testosterone, breast development only
- Imperforate hymen: 46, XX, diagnosed on PE (patient with cyclic pelvis pain), observed on speculum exam
- Anorexia: 46, XX, very low weight
- Mullerian genesis - secondary sex characteristics, no uterus
What is secondary amenorrhea?
absence of menses for 3 months in a woman with previously normal menstruation or 6 months in a women with a history of irregular cycle
What is the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea?
Pregnancy
What also can cause secondary amenorrhea?
- also caused by weight changes, hypothyroid, prolactinoma
- always check beta HCG, TSH, and prolactin
-progesterone challenge test - medroxyprogesterone 10 mg PO x 7 days if bleeding occurs = anovulatory cycles
What is dysfunctional uterine bleeding?
excessive uterine bleeding and prolonged menses that is NOT caused by pregnancy or miscarriage, diagnosis of exclusion, look for an underlying endocrine disorder
What is polymenorrhea?
menses that occur more frequently (menses <21 days apart)
Wha is hemorrhagic or hypermenorrhea?
menses that involve more blood loss (>7 days or >80 mL) during menses
What is menorrhagia?
prolonged/heavy bleeding (>7 days or >80 mL); regular intervals
What is metrorrhagia?
uterine bleeding that occurs frequently and irregularly between menses
What is menometrorrhagia?
more blood loss during menses and frequent and irregular bleeding between menses
What is oligomenorrhea?
long intervals > 35 days
What is AUB?
in the absence of an anatomic lesion, caused by a problem with the hypothalamic-pituary-ovarain axis
- polymenorrhea, menorrhagia and/or metorrhagia
- unremarkable physical exam
How is dysfunctional uterine bleeding dx?
diagnosis of exclusion, Uterine Dilation and Curettage is the gold standard diagnosis
- urinary Beta-hCG levels - r/o pregnancy
- Labs: CBC, iron studies, PT, PTT, TSH, progesterone, prolactin, FSH, LFTs
- Progestin trial - if the bleeding stops, anovulatory cycles confirmed
- ovulation journal, Pap smear
- Pelvic U/S, endometrial biopsy, HSG, hysteroscopy
What is the tx of dysfunctional uterine bleeding?
oral contraceptives and NSAIDs
What is dysmenorrhea?
refers to uterine pain around the time of menses, which can either be primary or secondary
What are the characteristics of dysmenorrhea?
- reserved for women who pain prevents normal activity and requires medication, whether an over-the-counter or a prescription drug
- pain occurs with menses or precedes menses by 1 to 3 days
- pain tends to peak 24 hours after the onset of menses and subside after 2 to 3 days
How is dysmenorrhea dx?
pregnancy testing and pelvic ultrasonography