O&G Flashcards
Describe how to calculate estimated delivery date?
280 days (40 weeks) from the 1st day of the LMP
Describe the hormone levels of - oestrogen - progesterone - beta-hCG in early pregnancy
After ovulation and fertilisation, oestrogen and progesterone continue to gradually rise, but bHCG peaks around week 12 of pregnancy and then plateaus
Define miscarriage (early and late)
Miscarriage = spontaneous termination of pregnancy <24 weeks gestation
- early = <12 weeks
- late = 12-24 weeks
Define stillbirth
Any foetus born dead >24 weeks gestation
Define livebirth
Any foetus born at any gestation showing any signs of life after delivery
Define the following types of miscarriage:
- Threatened
- Inevitable
- Incomplete miscarriage
- Complete miscarriage
- Missed (silent)
- Septic
- Recurrent
- Anembryonic
- Threatened = vaginal bleeding, closed cervix, alive foetus with continuing intrauterine pregnancy
- Inevitable = vaginal bleeding and open cervix, non-continuing intrauterine pregnancy
- Incomplete miscarriage = retained POC in the uterus after miscarriage
- Complete miscarriage = all pregnancy tissue expelled after miscarriage and uterus now empty
- Missed (silent) = foetus no longer alive but no symptoms have occurred
- Septic = miscarriage complicated by intrauterine infection
- Recurrent = 3 or more consecutive miscarriages (before 24 weeks) with the same biological father
- Anembryonic = Gestational sac is present, but contains no embryo
What is the rate of miscarriage?
1/5 pregnancies
Describe how a miscarriage may present
- pelvic pain
- vaginal bleeding (from brown spotting to heavy +/- tissue)
- asymptomatic
Describe how to investigate a miscarriage
Hx - quantify pain, bleeding, LMP…
Ex - are they haemodynamically stable?, is the cervix open or closed?
USS TV - look for 3 things…
Describe how USS is used as the gold standard method of investigating miscarriages
Look for 3 things:
- mean gestational sac diameter
- fetal pole and crown-rump length
- fetal heartbeat
Heartbeat should be expected when CRL is >7mm (-> if there is no heartbeat, check 1 week later on scan before confirming non-viable pregnancy)
Fetal pole is expected once mean gestational sac diameter is >25mm (-> if the sac diameter is >25mm with no fetal pole, repeat scan one week later before confirming an anembryonic pregnancy)
List differentials of a miscarriage
Ectopic pregnancy
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
Describe the management flowchart of miscarriage
<6 weeks gestation = expectant management
>6 weeks gestation = refer to early pregnancy assessment service, USS to rule out ectopic, then one of three management options (expectant, medical, surgical)
Describe the 3 management options of miscarriage
- Expectant - spontaneous passage with follow up scans 7-10 days later. Further referral if continued pain or bleeding.
- Medical - Mifepristone (an anti-progesterone drug) to prime and then 24-48hrs later… Misoprostol (a prostaglandin analogue - binds to prostaglandin receptors and activates them) which softens the cervix and stimulates uterine contraction, given orally or as a vaginal suppository, dose depending on gestation) can then do at home
- 70% success
- S/Ex: GI upset and pain, heavy bleeding, diarrhoea and vomiting -> provide anti-emetics - Surgical - for unacceptable pain/bleeding or retained POC on scan
- Can be MVA (manual vacuum aspiration = LOCAL ANAES.) or EVA (electric vacuum aspiration = GENERAL ANAES.) -> both >98% success
- Requires cervical priming (usually misoprostol is given to soften the cervix)
Define an ectopic pregnancy
When a pregnancy is implanted outside of the uterus (most commonly in fallopian tube but can occur at entrance to fallopian tube/ovary/cervix/abdomen)
List RFx for ectopic pregnancies
Previous ectopic
Endometriosis
Pelvic infection particularly chlamydia/PID (causes scarring)
Previous STI - causes scarring
Pelvic surgery – including C-sec, sterilisation, appendicectomy
Contraception – progesterone only pill, IUD (contains copper)/IUS (contains progesterone)
Assisted conception techniques
Cigarette smoking
Age 40+
What is the incidence of ectopic pregnancies?
1/200 women
Describe how an ectopic pregnancy may present
Should be a differential for any sexually active woman who presents with pain, irregular bleeding and/or amenorrhea!!!
- Missed period
- Constant lower abdominal pain in the right or left iliac fossa
- Vaginal bleeding
- Lower abdominal or pelvic tenderness
- Cervical motion tenderness (pain when moving the cervix during a bimanual examination)
How are ectopic pregnancies investigated?
Are they haemodynamically stable? (if not this could be an emergency)
Hx - possibility of pregnancy, unprotected sex, missed periods
Examination (bimanual)
USS - Transvaginal
□ May see an empty uterus
□ May see a gestational sac containing a yolk sac or fetal pole may be seen in the fallopian tube (or may see an empty gestational sac)
□ A mass moving separately to the ovary represents a tubal ectopic pregnancy
□ A mass moving with the ovary represents the corpus luteum
Describe pregnancy of unknown location and how a blood marker can be tracked to help with diagnosis
PUL = when woman has +ve pregnancy test but there is no evidence of pregnancy on USS scan
An ectopic cannot be excluded in this case, so the hormone hCG is measured (two readings taken 48hrs apart)
Normally the developing syncytiotrophoblast will produce this hormone.
- In an intrauterine pregnancy, hCG will double every 48hrs
If >63% increase in hCG after 48hrs - intrauterine pregnancy (repeat USS 1-2 weeks later)
If <63% increase in hCG after 48hrs - ectopic
Fall of <50% = miscarriage (repeat urine pregnancy test 2 weeks later to confirm pregnancy has ended)
At what hCG hormone level should a pregnancy be visible on USS?
> 1500 IU/L
Describe the management of ectopic pregnancy
All ectopics need to be terminated as they are not viable pregnancies!
3 options depending on clinical situation and the location of the ectopic
Describe expectant management of ectopic pregnancies and the criteria
Criteria:
- Follow up needs to be possible to ensure successful termination
- The ectopic needs to be unruptured
- Adnexal mass < 35mm
- No visible heartbeat
- No significant pain
- HCG level < 1500 IU / l
Describe medical management of ectopic pregnancies and the criteria
Methotrexate, can only be used if the following criteria are met:
- HCG level must be < 5000 IU / l
- Confirmed absence of intrauterine pregnancy on ultrasound
- Able to return for follow up
- No medical contraindications (e.g. anaemia, renal, hepatic impairment, UC, peptic ulcer)
- Pain free
- Unruptured ectopic
- <35mm
- No fetal heartbeat visible
Method:
- Antifolate medication (injection) -> stops DNA synthesis
- No new pregnancy until 3 months after HCG<5 (time required to replenish folic acid) methotrexate is teratogenic
- Must use a reliable form of contraception for 3 months after as any future pregnancy could be harmed by remaining folate antagonist in the system! (omen advised not to get pregnant in these 3 months)
Describe surgical management of ectopic pregnancies and the criteria
Criteria:
- If ruptured
- Pain
- Adnexal mass > 35mm
- Visible heartbeat
- HCG levels > 5000 IU / l
Methods:
- Laparoscopic salpingectomy - removal of tube (where contralateral tube looks healthy no need to remove)
- Laparoscopic salpingotomy - opening of affected tube and removal of POC
- Requires HCG follow up
- 1 in 5 require further management as pregnancy may not be removed (may need methotrexate or salpingectomy)
Anti-rhesus D is given to women who are rhesus negative and requiring surgical management of their ectopic
What are the side effects of methotrexate
S/Ex of methotrexate:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth)
Describe the need for rhesus immunisation
RH- mother and RH+ father
Mother carried first RH+ child
RH + antigens from developing fetus can enter mothers blood stream during delivery
Mother then makes anti-RH antibodies
If a second baby then grows in the mother who is RH+, her pre-made antibodies will cross the placenta and damage this second fetus’ RBC’s
List the criteria which may mean a mother needs to receive anti-Rhesus D immunisation
- Anti-D is required if mother is Rh negative
- After management of ectopic pregnancy
- Therapeutic termination of pregnancy
- <12w vaginal bleed which is heavy, repeated or associated with severe pain
- <12w medical or surgical management of miscarriage
Any potentially sensitising event >12w
Describe haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), and how it may present antenatally and postnatally
When maternal RH antibodies cross the placenta and attack the developing foetus who is RH+ve
As these antibodies destroy the fetus’ RBC’s, chemicals are released (particularly bilirubin)
This causes jaundice -> kernicterus, and a haemolytic anaemia
Jaundice + haemolytic anaemia = HDN
Antenatal signs -> polyhydramnios, thickened placenta
Post-natal signs -> jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, kernicterus
Give a basic recap of fertilisation and embryo formation:
- Fertilised egg = zygote
- 16 cell divisions = morula
- Morula is surrounded by glycoprotein coat called zona pellucida (prevents tubal implantation on way to uterus)
- Morula becomes blastocyte
- > Cells of the inner mass are now called the embryoblast -> gives rise to embryo and embryonic tissues
- > Cells of the outer mass are collectively called the TROPHOBLAST -> gives rise to placenta
What is gestational trophoblastic disease?
A group of conditions characterised by abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue with production of HCG
- affects 1/700 livebirths in the UK
- has premalignant and malignant forms
What are the risk factors for GTD?
- Extremes of maternal age (<20 or >40)
- Previous molar pregnancy
- Ethnicity (higher incidence in Asia and USA)
Describe the two ‘premalignant’ forms of GTD
- Partial hydatidiform mole
- triploid (2 sperms and 1 egg) - Complete hydatidiform mole
- diploid (46 chromosomes all from father e.g. 2 sperms, and empty ovum)
Describe the ‘malignant’ forms of GTD
- Invasive mole
- Choriocarcinoma
- PSTT - placental site trophoblastic tumour
What are the clinical features of GTD?
- PV bleeding
- Enlarged uterus
- Hyperemesis gravidarium
- Hyperthyroidism
- Early onset pre-eclampsia
How is GTD diagnosed and treated?
- US features ‘snowstorm appearance’
- Histology – ideally following suction curettage
- > BHG tracking and registration with specialist centres (Dundee) for follow up and co-ordination of care
Describe N&V in pregnancy
Most common in 1st trimester (affects >50% women in 1st trimester)
Very severe in some cases with high hCG
- Multiple pregnancy
- Molar pregnancy
90% settle by 16w
Cause is unknown but may be associated with serum hCG levels (similar subunit to TSH)
What is hyperemesis gravidarium?
Persisitent vomiting in pregnancy causing weight loss (more than 5% of body mass) and ketosis
Hyperemesis affects 1% of pregnancy women associated with increased bHCG (i.e. twins)
What are the effects of hyperemesis gravidarium on mum and baby?
Mum:
- Wernices (thiamine deficiency)
- Central pontine myelinolysis (rapid correction of hyponatraemia)
- Maternal death (rare)
Baby:
- Higher incidence of intrauterine growth restriction
- Significantly smaller at birth
How is hyperemesis gravidarium investigated?
Investigate if unable to keep food or fluids down, so check weight, hydration, electrolytes, BP
- Urine – ketones, other causes (e.g. UTI causing vomiting)
- Serum – renal, liver and thyroid function, transaminases may be abnormal and albumin low
- US scan – multiple pregnancy, molar pregnancy?
How is hyperemesis gravidarium managed?
Admit if unable to keep anything down despite oral antiemetics – rehydration and correction of metabolic disturbances
- Oral intake advice/ dietician
- IV fluids (avoid dextrose as glucose can exacerbate Wernickes) tailor to correct electrolyte imbalance
- Regular antiemetics – cyclizine, ondansetron
- Thromboprophylaxsis
- Vitamin replacement e.g. K, thiamine, folic acid
- Total parenteral nutrition (extreme)
- Psychological support
- Assessment of fetal growth
Define gravidy
Total no. pregnancies, including misscarriages or stillbirths, and the current pregnancy
Define parity
The number of potentially viable pregnancies beyond 24 weeks that have been delivered, NOT including the current pregnancy, AND including still and livebirths
What does para 3 mean?
Three term deliveries
What does para 2 + 1 mean?
Two term pregnancies, and a miscarriage at 20 weeks
What does multiparous mean?
Has delivered live/potentially viable babies >24 weeks gestation
What does nulliparous mean?
Never delivered a live or potentially viable baby >24 weeks gestation
Describe how to term a woman who is currently pregnant (16 weeks) and has had two miscarriages in the past
Gravidum 3, parity 0 + 2
Define infertility
Also called subfertility
= inability of a couple to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse
Primary = no previous pregnancy Secondary = at least 1 previous pregnancy
List some factors affecting fertility
Age
Timing of intercourse (sperm lives 72hrs inside female and needs to be there before ovulation)
Body weight
How is infertility investigated?
History - previous pregnancies - ask about female cycles, previous STD's, smears - sexual habits Examination - look at ovaries with USS - sperm testing Primary care - BMI, STI screening, semen analysis, hormone testing Secondary care - Pelvic USS - Hysterosalpingogram (check tubes using x-ray + dye) - Laparoscopy + dye
What is the cut off parameters for suitable semen?
- concentration > 15 million/ml
- total motility >40%
- normal forms >4%
- volume >1.5mls
What are the management options for infertility?
- ovulation induction
- egg retrieval
- intra-uterine insemination
- IVF
- ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm infection)
What is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?
- serious complication of fertility treatment (esp. IVF)
- ovaries over-respond to gonadotrophin injections
- vasoactive hormones and chemicals released systemically from the ovaries
- fluid accumulates in 3rd spaces causing abdominal swelling, N&V, abdo pain, thirst, dehydration (intravascular depletion)
- patient can become prothrombotic and develop a DVT/PE
- affects 1/3rd of women having IVF
- managed conservatively
What is the main differential for a 40yr old woman presenting with weight loss and bloating with no obvious cause?
Ovarian cancer? -> SEND FOR SCAN
What is the most common pathological type of ovarian cancer?
EPITHELIAL (90%)
‘Serous’ epithelial is the most common type
Serous tumours can be high or low grade
- high grade, resemble fallopian tube mucosa, has P53 mutations, often need BSO (to remove both ovaries and tubes)
- low grade arise from ovarian surface epithelium
List some germ cell ovarian tumours
Teratoma (dermoid) = contain hair/teeth/cartilage, common 20-30 years
How can ovarian cancer spread?
- direct (transcoelemic)
- exfoliation into peritoneal cavity
- lymphatic
List RFx for ovarian cancer
- smoking
- low parity
- old age
- FHx
- HRT
- obesity
- early menopause/late menarche
- genetics (BRCA 1/2)
Describe how the BRCA genes increase your risk of ovarian cancer
They are TSG’s which normally hault the cell cycle if there are faults
- However when mutated, they allow abnormal cells to continue cycling, leading to cancer development
Other than BRCA, what other gene mutation can increase your risk of ovarian/colon/endometrial cancers?
Lynch (HNPCC) cancer
List protective factors against ovarian cancer
Not smoking
COCP
Multiparity
Breast feeding
How may an ovarian cancer present?
B symptoms Vague Bloating Loss of appetite GI upset Painful intercourse Pleural effusion/ascites (Meig's syndrome)
What is Meig’s syndrome
Triad:
Ovarian fibroma (a type of benign ovarian tumour)
Pleural effusion
Ascites
How is ovarian cancer investigated?
Bloods (FBC, LFT, U&E, tumour markers)
- CA125 (non-specific), CEA, LDH, b-HCG, AFP
USS (TV)
CXR (look for pleural effusion or metastasis)
CT (to determine initial treatment)
Calculate RMI = USS findings x menopausal status x ca125 level
- RMI > 250 = high risk of cancer
- RMI < 250 = low risk of cancer
Describe the difference between staging and grading
Staging = the gross size of the tumour and how it has spread through the body
Grading = microscopically, how differentiated the cells are (higher grade = less differentiated)
Describe roughly the FIGO staging for ovarian cancer
Stage 1 = limited to ovaries (Tx = surg)
Stage 2 = peritoneal deposits in pelvis (Tx = surg them chemo)
Stage 3 = peritoneal deposits outside pelvic (Tx = surg them chemo)
Stage 4 = distant mets (Tx = palliative surg)
Describe the major treatment options for ovarian cancer
- Surgery
- Chemo/radio/hormonal (neoadjuvant or adjuvant)
- Palliative
What is the most common type of endometrial cancer
~80% = adenocarcinoma
There are 2 types of adenocarcinoma
- type 1 = oestrogen dependent
- type 2 = non-oestrogen dependent
What is endometrial hyperplasia?
- Pre-cancerous thickening of the endometrium
- diagnosed on USS as thickening <4mm
- can be
- > hyperplasia without atypia
- > atypical hyperplasia
How is endometrial hyperplasia treated?
Progesterone encourages regression!
- mirena coil
- oral progesterones
List risk factors for endometrial cancer
(UNOPPOSED OESTROGEN)
- obesity
- early menarche/late menopause
- PCOS
- diabetes
- tamoxifen
- oestrogen only HRT
- HNPCC (breast/colon cancer)
List protective factors for endometrial cancer
- COCP
- copper IUD
- SMOKING! (smokers metabolise oestrogen differently)
How may endometrial cancer present?
- any abnormal bleeding e.g. PMB, PCB, IMB
- vaginal discharge
- altered menstrual pattern
- anaemia
List differentials of PMB based on anatomy
- ovarian cancer
- uterine fibroids
- cervical changes
- atrophic vaginal changes
- haematuria
- vulvitis, vulval malignancy
How is endometrial cancer investigated?
- Bloods
1 - TV USS (measure endometrial thickness)
2 - Pipelle biopsy
3 - Hysteroscopy and biopsy
Describe the FIGO staging of endometrial cancer
- Stage 1 = tumour confined to uterus
- Stage 2 = cervical stroma invasion (not beyond uterus)
- Stage 3 = tumour outside uterus
- Stage 4 = invasion of bladder/bowel mucosa
Describe how endometrial cancer is treated
Surgical
Adjuvant treatment (chemo/radio/hormonal)
Palliative
Define the following procedures:
- Hysterectomy
- Subtotal hysterectomy
- Radical hysterectomy
- BSO
- Hysterectomy = removing uterus and cervix
- Subtotal hysterectomy = removing uterus, leaves cervix
- Radical hysterectomy = uterus, cervix and vaginal cuff removed
- BSO = removing ovaries and tubes
Describe the lining of the cervix
- > squamous epithelium of outer cervix (continuous with vagina)
- > then transformation zone
- > then inner surface of cervix is lined with columnar epithelium
What is the
1. ectovervix
2. endocervix
lined with?
- Ectocervix - outer surface, squamous lining
2. Endocervix = inner surface = columnar, glandular cells
What is a cervical ectropion?
Extension of the endocervical columnar epithelium downwards, which bleeds easily
Common in pregnancy due to increased oestrogen
Can be cauterised with silver nitrate sticks if necessary
Describe CIN
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
- precancerous changes
- CIN grading looks at the level of DYSPLASIA in the cervix cells
CIN1 = mild dysplasia, affects 1/3rd thickness of the epithelial layer (return to normal without treatment) CIN2 = moderate dysplasia, affects 2/3rd thickness of the epithelial layer (likely to progress to cancer without treatment) CIN3 = severe dysplasia (likely to progress to cancer if left untreated, sometimes called cervical carcinoma in situ)
Describe the most common type of endometrial cancer
80% = squamous cell carcinoma 20% = adenocarcinoma
Describe the HPV vaccine
- Ideally given to girls and boys before they become sexually active, with the intention of preventing them contracting and spreading HPV once they are sexually active
- 80% of general population will be infected with the virus at some point in their life
- Nearly 99.7% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV = HPV IS THE BIGGEST RFx
- Vaccine - 2 injections (6-12 months apart)
- Currently ‘GARDISAL’ vaccine – covers for HPV 6, 11, 16, 18
- 6 and 11 = genital warts
- 16 and 18 are the high risk strains associated with cervical cancer
List RFx for cervical cancer
- HPV - think of factors which increase exposure!
- smoking
- early 1st sexual intercourse
- COCP (because then not using condoms??)
- FHx
- multiple sexual partners
- immunosuppression
Describe clinical features of cervical cancer
Post-coital bleeding Intermenstrual bleeding Post-menopausal bleeding vaginal discharge asymptomatic (found on smear)
List some differentials of cervical cancer
E.g. causes of IMB and PCB
- cervical ectropion
- cervical polyp
- fibroids
- endometrial hyperplasia
- endometrial malignancy
- hormonal breakthrough bleeding
How is cervical cancer investigated?
- Bloods
- Speculum and smear (DO NOT SMEAR IF CERVIX APPEARS ABNORMAL as smears are for screening only!)
- Colposcopy (carried out following an abnormal smear)
Describe the purpose of colposcopy
Can be used to diagnose CIN
(remember smear tests show cell dyskaryosis = abnornal nucleus)
Can use
- acetic acid (causes abnormal cells to appear white as they have a higher nuclear:cyto ratio e.g. cancerous/CIN cells)
- Iodine (stains healthy cells a brown colour and abnormal cells will not stain)
- a punch or loop biopsy can also be carried out
- a Cone biopsy can be carried out to treat CIN
Describe the FIGO staging of cervical cancer
Stage 1 = limited to the cervix
Stage 2 = involves upper 2/3rds vagina
Stage 3 = involves lower 1/3rd vagina
Stage 4 = tumour has spread to other organs
Describe cervical screening, and possible smear results
- aims to detect and treat abnormal changes in a woman’s cervix that may develop into cervical cancer
- 3yrly 25-49
- 5yrly 50-64
Smear results:
- sample tested for HPV first (if HPV negative then not examined!)
Inadequate sample - repeat in 3/12
HPV -ve = return to normal screening programme
HPV +ve, normal cytology = repeat in 1 year
HPV +ve, abnormal cells -> colposcopy!
- Cells are either normal or the cells can be:
- cancerous, or precancerous (low or high grade), and also borderline smear (i.e. they are abnormal but not sure if associated with precancer or not), can also be glandular abnormality (meaning the abnormal cells are arising from the glandular epithelium – i.e. arising from the endocervix)
What is lichen sclerosis?
- Most common of vulval dystrophies
- Usually presents in postmenopausal women but can affect any age
- Thought to be an immune reaction - an autoimmune condition
- Affected skin usually can be a figure of 8 pattern around the vulva and perianal area.
- Skin is thin, shiny and can be white (leukoplakia) or red (due to inflammation)
- Uncontrollable scratching an pruritis (worse at night)
- Anatomical changes include shrinkage or loss of labia minora, shrinkage of introitus (opening of vagina), labial fusion due to adhesions
- Diagnosis histologically made from vulval biopsy but typical appearance can be treated.
- Treatment goal is to treat the itch and soreness
- Simple emollient Rx may relieve mild symptoms
- If severe – may need course of potent topical steroid
- Tapering regime of every day for one month, alternate days for one month, then 2x weekly for one month.
Complications:
- Unusual but include permanent anatomical change (labial fusion may persist)
- Can cause dyspareunia, and if fusion is in the midline then may cause issues with micturition requiring separation of the labia.
- Risk of malignancy – these ladies need to remain under annual review by GP to rule out conversion to VIN/vulval cancer