Obs and Gynae Flashcards
Explain the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis
- Hypothalamus releases GnRH
- GnRH stimulates the pituitary to produce LH and FSH
- LH and FSH stimulate the development of the follicles in the ovaries
- Theca granulosa cells around the follicles secrete oestrogen which then has a negative feedback on the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary, which then suppresses GnRH, LH and FSH
What are the actions of oestrogen?
- breast tissue development
- growth and development of the female sex organs at puberty
- blood vessel development in the uterus
- development of the endometrium
When is progesterone produced/what by?
- corpus luteum
- after ovulation
- when pregnancy occurs it is produced by the placenta from 10 weeks onwards
What is the role of progesterone?
- thicken and maintain the endometrium
- thicken the cervical mucus
- increase the body temperature
What is the follicular phase?
start of menstruation to the moment of ovulation
What is the luteal phase?
moment of ovulation to the start of menstruation
At what point do follicles develop FSH receptors?
When they reach secondary follicle stage
Describe what happens in the follicular phase
- FSH stimulates development of secondary follicles
- Granulosa cells around the follicles secrete increasing amounts of oestrogen (making the cervical mucus more permeable)
- oestradiol has a negative. feedback effect on the hypothalamus which then reduces LH and FSH
- one follicle develops and becomes the dominant follicle which then releases an ovum when LH spikes
Describe the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle
- follicle that released the ovum collapses ->corpus luteum
- corpus luteum secretes progesterone (and a small amount of oestrogen)
- if fertilised, the embryo secretes HCG which maintains the corpus luteum, without it will degenerate
- if no fertilisation occurs then the progesterone and oestrogen drops and causes the endometrium to break down and menstruation to occur
What is the definition of menorrhagia?
Whatever the woman considers to be excessive and impacting on quality of life
What are the uterine causes of heavy menstrual bleeding?
- fibroids
- endometrial polyps
- adenomyosis
- pelvic infection
- endometrial malignancy
What medical disorders can cause heavy menstrual bleeding?
clotting disorders
Investigations for heavy menstrual bleeding
- coagulation disorders
- serum ferritin
- thyroid testing if other symptoms
- consider biopsy to exclude endometrial cancer or atypical hyperplasia
- transvaginal USS if suspected structural or histological abnormality
Explain the management of heavy menstrual bleeding
- no contraception needed/wanted: mefenamic acid or tranexamic acid (take during menses)
- contraceptive: IUS firstline, COCP, progestogens
What is primary amenorrhoea?
- failure to mensturate by age 15
- may be associated with normal or delayed/absent development of secondary sexual characteristics
What is secondary amenorrhoea?
- established menses stop for ≥6 months in the absence of pregnancy
What is the definition of oligomenorrhoea?
- cycle persistently greater than 35 days in length
Investigations for primary amenorrhoea
- plasma FSH, LH, oestrodiol, prolactin, TFT
- karyotype
- X ray for bone age
- cranial imaging
Explain the causes of primary amenorrhoea in someone with secondary sexual characteristics, and a present uterus on USS
- Outflow tract obstruction: imperforate hymen or transverse vaginal septum
- normal anatomy: hormone profile
What are the physiological causes of secondary amenorrhoea?
- pregnancy
- lactation
- menopause
What are the hypothalamic causes of secondary amenorrhoea?
- weight loss/anorexia
- heavy exercise
- stress
What are the ovarian causes of secondary amenorrhoea?
- PCOS
- premature ovarian failure
What is the rotterdam criteria?
- Clinical or biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism (high free androgen index)
- Oligomenorrhoea/amenorrhoea
- USS features of PCOS
What are the consequences of PCOS?
- reduced fertility
- insulin resistance and diabetes
- hypertension
- endometrial cancer due to unopposed oestrogen
- depression and mood swings
- snoring and daytime drowsiness
What is the management of PCOS?
- education
- weight loss and exercise
- endometrial protection
- fertility assistance
- lifetime awareness ± screening for complications
What is primary dysmenorrhoea
- begins with onset of ovulatory cycels
- typically within first 2 years of menarche
- pain is most severe on the day of or the day prior to start of menstruation
What is the treatment of dysmenorrhoea?
- prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors (NSAIDs)
- COC
- depot progestogens
- levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system
What is secondary dysmenorrhoea?
- associated with pelvic pathology
- endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic infection and fibroids
What is the definition of post menopausal bleeding?
Bleeding occurring >12 months after LMP
Cells of ectocervix
Squamous
Cells of the endocervix
columnar epithelium/glandular epithelium
What is the most common cancer of the ectocervix?
Squamous cell cancer
What is the most common cancer of the endocervix?
Adenocarcinoma
What is the transformation zone of the cervix?
Area at the junction of the ectocervix and endocervix (squamo-columnar junction)
Describe the NHS cervical screening programme
Age group 25-64
- those age 25-49 every 3 years
- those 50-64 every 5 years
- anyone who has a cervix
What are the 3 types of results from smear test?
- HPV negative, return to routine screening
- HPV positive wiht no abnormal cells -> repeat HPV test in one year
- HPV positive with cell changes -> refer to colposcopy
Which HPV viruses are the most common causes of cervical cancer?
- 16
- 18
What are the preventative measures for HPV infection
- barrier contraception
- HPV vaccine (6,11, 16, 18)
What are the risk factors for cervical cancer?
- HPV (16, 18, 33)
- smoking
- HIV
- early first intercourse, many sexual partners
- high parity
- lower socioeconomic status
- COCP use
For how long should cervical screening be delayed in pregnant women?
until 3 months post partum
What happens if a cervical smear sample is inadequate?
- repeat sample in 3 months time
- if two consecutive samples are inadequate then refer to colposcopy
Treatment of CIN
Large loop excision of the transformation zone
CIN 1
mild dysplasia, affecting 1/3 the thickness of the epithelial, likely to return to normal without treatment
CIN 2
moderate dysplasia, affecting 2/3 the thickness of the epithelial layer, likely to progress to cancer if untreated
CIN 3
Severe dysplasia, very likely to progress to cancer if untreated
What are the possible cytology results
- inadequate
- normal
- borderline changes
- low grade dyskaryosis
- high grade dyskaryosis moderate or severe
- possible invasive squamous cell carcinoma
- possible glandular neoplasia
Role of acetic acid in colposcopy
- abnormal cells appear white
- CIN and cancer cells
Iodine in colposcopy
- stains healthy cells brown
What is endometriosis?
Chronic condition, growth of ectopic endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity
What are the clinical features of endometriosis?
- chronic pelvic pain
- secondary dysmenorrhoea (pain often starts days before bleeding)
- deep dyspareunia
- subfertility
- can have urinary symptoms or painful bowel movements
Endometriosis signs on pelvic examination
- reduced organ mobility
- tender nodularity in the posterior vaginal fornix
- visible vaginal endometriotic lesions may be seen
Investigation for endometriosis
Laparoscopy is the gold standard
Management of endometriosis
- NSAIDs and/or paracetamol
- COCP or progestogens if analgesia doesn’t help
What are the secondary treatments of endometriosis
- DnRH analogues
- surgery: laparoscopic exciison or ablation of endometriosis plus adhesiolysis
What is pelvic inflammatory disease?
Describes infection and inflammation of the female pelvic organs including the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and surrounding peritoneum
What is the most common cause of PID?
Chlamydia trachomatis
What are the causes of pelvic inflammatory disease?
- chlamydia trachomatis
- neisseria gonorrhoeae
- mycloplasma genitalium
- mycoplasma hominis
What are the features of PID?
- lower abdominal pain
- fever
- deep dyspareunia
- dysuria and mentrual irregularities
- vaginal or cervical discharge
- cervical excitation
Investigations for PID
- pregnancy test to exclude ectopic pregnancy
- high vaginal swab
- screen for chlamydia and gonorrhoea
What is the management of PID?
- oral doxycycline
- oral metronidazole
- intramuscular ceftriaxone
What are the complications of PID?
- perihepatitis: right upper quadrant pain
- Infertility
- chronic pelvic pain
- ectopic pain
What hormone are fibroids sensitive to?
Oestrogen (so can grow during pregnancy)
Fibroid degeneration symtpoms
Often occurs during pregnancy
- low grade fever
- pain
- vomiting
What are fibroids?
Benign smooth muscle tumours of the uterus
What are the symptoms of fibroids?
- may be asymptomatic
- menorrhagia
- lower abdominal pain: cramping
- bloating
- urinary symptoms
- sub-fertility
Investigation for fibroids
transvaginal USS
Management of fibroids
- symtpomatic management with levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system
- GnRH may reduce size
- myomectomy, hysteroscopic endometrial ablation, hysterectomy
What are the physiological cysts?
- follicular cysts: due to non rupture of the dominant follicle
- corpus luteum cyst: corpus luteum fails to break down
What are the benign germ cell tumours?
Dermoid cysts
What are the benign epithelial tumours?
- serous cystadenoma
- mucinous cystadenoma
What cyst is most common with torsion?
Dermoid
What is the most common benign tumour in women under 30?
Dermoid cysts
What is ovarian torsion?
- partial or complete torsion of the ovary on its supporting ligament
- this may compromise blood supply
What are the risk factors of ovarian torsion?
- ovarian mass
- being of reproductive age
- pregnancy
- ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
What are the features of ovarian torsion
- sudden onset, deep colicky abdominal pain
- vomiting and distress
- fever in minority
- vaginal exam may demonstrate adnexial tenderness
USS of ovarian torsion
may show free fluid or whirlpool sign
What is the management of ovarian torsion?
Surgical detorsion (laparascopically) or salpingo-oophorectomy
Who should be referred to gynaecology in relation to ovarian cysts?
- any postmenopausal woman with any cyst
- premenopausal women with a simple cyst can be referred if persists after 8-12 weeks
- complex cysts should be biopsied
What is infertility?
The inability of a heterosexual couple to conceive in 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse
What is primary infertility?
Never conceived
What is secondary infertility?
at least one previous pregnancy
What are the factors that can affect fertility?
- age (mostly female)
- weight
- timing of intercourse, sperm needs to be deposited before ovulation due to progesterone
- duration of sub-fertility
Directions on sample for semen analysis
- 3-5 days of abstaining
- then give sample
What is assessed in a semen analysis?
- volume
- concentration
- total motility
- progressive motility
- normal forms
- vitality
What further testing should be carried out if semen analysis demonstrates oligospremia or azoospermia
- karyotype
- Y microdeletions
- CF status
- FSH
What options can be considered if oligospermia?
- Surgical sperm retrieval
- ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
What are the types of azoospermia?
- obstructive (normal spermatogenesis but unable to leave)
- non-obstructive(testicular failure, high FSH)
What are the causes of obstructive azoospermia?
- congenital absence of vas deferens (test CF)
- blockage of the epididymis or vas deferens
Group 1 no or irregular cycle
- primary or secondary amenorrhoea
- low levels of endogenous gonadotropins
- negligable levels of endogenous oestrogen activity
- low FSH, LH, E2
- normal/increased prolactin
Group 2 no or irregular cycle
- anovulation with a varitey of menstrual disorders
- endogenous oestrogen activity
- normal urinary gonadotropins
Group 3 no or irregular period
- primary or secondary amenorrhoea
- primary ovarian failure
- low endogenous oestrogen activity
- pathologically high gonadotropin levels
What are the causes of group 3 amenorrhoea/oligomenorrhoea
- Idiopatihic
- Chemo/XRT
- Surgical removal of ovaries
- Autoimmune
- Chromosomal
- Turners (45XO)/ Turners mosaic
- Pure gonadal dysgenesis
- Androgen insensitivity (46XY)
- Fragile X
How do you assess tubal patency?
- hysterosalpingogram
- laparoscopy and dye test
- Hysterosalpingo-contrast-ultrasonography
What is the NHS scotland criteria for fertility treatment?
- woman must be under 43 by the time treatment is complete and under 42 by the time screening is carried out
- womans BMI must be under 30 and over 18.5
- both must have stopped smoking for a period of at least 3 months
- couple must have been in a cohabiting stable relationship for 2 years
- neither person sterilised
- at least one of the couple must not have a biological child
What are the assisted conception techniques?
- intrauterine insemination ± ovulation induction
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
What is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?
- Ovaries ‘over respond’ to gonadotrphin injections
- Systemic disease resulting from release of vasoactive products from hyperstimulated ovaries
- higher risk in PCOS
Symptoms of menopause
- change in periods: length change, dysfunctional bleeding
- vasomotor symptoms: hot flushes, night sweats
- urogenital changes: vaginal dryness and atrophy, urinary frequency
- psychological: anxiety, depression, short term memory impairment
- longer term: osteoporosis, increased risk of ischaemic heart disease
What are the types of HRT?
- combined
- cyclical
- continuous
- oestrogen only
- patch/gell/tablet
Who should not receive oestrogen only HRT and why?
- any woman with a uterus
- increases endometrial cancer risk
when would you give continuous vs cyclical hrt?
- continuous if no period for 12 months
- cyclical if still getting a period
What are the cons of HRT?
- Increased breast cancer risk in combined
- increased VTE/stroke risk if tablet
- Side effects: nausea, breast tenderness, fluid retention and weight gain
What are the pros of HRT?
- relieves menopausal symptoms
- prevents osteoporosis
- maintains muscle strength
What are the non hormonal options to help with menopausal symtpoms?
- lifestyle changes: exercise, diet, stop smoking, reduce alcohol and caffeine consumption
- CBT
- clonidine for vasomotor symptoms
- SSRI
- gabapentin
What are the causes of post menopausal bleeding?
- vaginal atrophy
- HRT
- endometrial hyperplasia
- endometrial cancer
- cervical cancer
- vaginal cancer
- ovarian cancer
- trauma
- bleeding disorders
When to refer for PMB
- women over 55
- 2 week USS
Acceptable depth of endometrial lining in post menopausal women
<5mm
What is the most common cause of PMB?
Vaginal atrophy
Treatment of vaginal atrophy
topical oestrogens, lubricants
Risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia
- obesity
- unopposed oestrogen
- tamoxifen use
- diabetes
- PCOS
Treatment of endometrial hyperplasia
dilatation and curettage
Cystocele
Anterior vaginal wall defect, bladder prolapses in to vagina
Rectocele
Posterior vaginal wall defect, rectum prolapses into the vagina. Can result in faecal loading causing constipation
Vault prolapse
In women with a hysterectomy and no uterus the top of the vagina (vault) descends into the vagina
What are the risk factors for urogenital prolapse?
- multiple vaginal deliveries
- traumatic delivery
- increasing age and postmenopausal
- obesity
- chronic resp condition resulting in cough
- chronic constipation resulting in straining
What are the treatments for urogenital prolapse?
- conservative: physio, weight loss, lifestyle changes, vaginal oestrogen
- vaginal pessary
- surgery
enterocele
prolapse of the upper posterior vaginal wal (posterior fornix) and pouch of douglas, usually contains loops of small bowel
What provides support to the uterus?
- vaginal walls
- transverse cervical ligaments
- round and broad ligaments
- indirect support from pelvic floor
What supports the cervix and upper 1/3 vagina?
- transverse cervical ligament
- uterosacral ligaments
Symptoms of prolapse
- sensation of heaviness/dragging/pressure
- sensation of bulge
- bleeding/discharge
- backache
- dyspareunia
- urinary incontinence/frequency/urgency
- constipation/straining
- faecal incontinence or urgency of stool
Stage 0 prolapse
No prolapse
Stage 1 prolapse
more than 1cm above hymenal ring
stage 2 prolapse
prolapse extends from 1cm above to 1cm below hymenal ring
Stage 3 prolapse
Prolapse extends 1cm or more below the hymenal ring, no vaginal eversion
Stage 4 prolapse
Vagina completely everted